Avondale House is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides a school, a day habilitation program and residential services for children and young adults with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Founded in 1976 by parents of children with autism, the program was originally located on Avondale Street. Since 1984, the school and day habilitation program have been housed in property owned by Central Presbyterian Church in the Greenway Plaza area. The three residential homes are in the southwest area of Houston. Avondale House is funded with approximately 6% of the budget received from the United Way, the Mental Health Authority of Harris County, local foundations, individual and corporate contributions, fees for service from referring school districts, and special events.

The Small Miracles Capital Campaign was launched to build a new facility in the Stella Link area to house the school and day habilitation program. On December 27, 2007, we moved into our new facility.

Autism is a baffling and complex neurological disorder for which there is no singularly known cause and for which there is no cure. It is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the country. The number of children diagnosed with autism has doubled, on average, every two years between 1976 and 2001. Across the United States, 1 in 150 children are being diagnosed with autism.

Each child with autism is unique, with their own individual range of symptoms and behaviors. However, as a result of extensive study over many years, it is possible to make some basic general statements about what children with autism are like as a group. Most often children diagnosed with autism:

Avondale House programs are effective in promoting change in children and young adults with autism. At Avondale House, the students major in small miracles.