Accomplishments
History
2000
November – First TACA meeting held in the Ackerman living room with 10 families
2001
November – TACA establishes Chapters in San Fernando Valley, CA & San Diego, CA
2002
TACA sends out its first e-news letter and launches www.TACAnow.org
TACA’s Costa Mesa (Orange County) Chapter moves to larger location due to the increasing number of parents attending meetings
The first version of the Parent Binder is available; it later becomes the Autism Journey Guide
TACA establishes two California Chapters in the Inland Empire and South Bay
200,000 of TACA’s “My Child Has Autism” cards are distributed for the first time
2003
Coffee Talk is held at the Costa Mesa Chapter for the first time
2004
Lisa Ackerman becomes full-time, volunteer TACA Executive Director
TACA establishes the Visalia and Santa Rosa Chapters
Grandma Sharon & Julie Ward present at the first Recovered Kids Meeting
First TACA Picnic is held at Camp James in Irvine, CA
2005
TACA’s 1st Family & Friends Campaign raises $30,000
TACA establishes the 1st Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program
2006
TACA’s first printed newsletter is distributed
Autism Journey Guide & DVD released
TACA & Jack FM team up for Jack’s FIRST Show concert
2007
First TACA Leadership Conference held
TACA establishes the Los Angeles Chapter
1st Ante Up for Autism raises $370,000
2008
2nd Annual Leadership Conference with 60 in attendance
TACA goes nationwide: new chapters in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin
TACA’s Live Chat launched at TACAnow.org
2009
3rd Annual Leadership Conference with 70 in attendance from 20 states
TACA receives a $300,000 grant from Pacific Life Foundation to begin three new programs for families
TACA adds new chapters in Arizona, Alabama, California, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee
2010
Oakley – TACA sunglasses become available
4th Annual Leadership Conference with 60 in attendance from 22 states