Areva Martin founded Special Needs Network, Inc. (SNN) in 2005 when her son was diagnosed with autism at age three. Ms. Martin saw the void that existed for other parents in underserved communities and took action to not only mobilize parents, but to cause policy makers and funders to make autism and other developmental disabilities a priority in these communities. SNN’s mission is to raise public awareness of autism and developmental disabilities and impact public policy, while providing education and resources to families, children and adults.