So You Want to Give Money to Autism. . .

I have money burning a hole in my pocket (ICHIRO, Getty Images)

I do.  I really do.  Every year my company (through United Way) encourages my fellow employees to give.  While United Way is my company's charity of choice, the pledge process allows you to select any charity you find worthy.  Excellent!  So every year I give.  I'll be honest, before I knew I had a child on the spectrum I didn't give money to Austism organizations.  I've sorta just flitted from charity to charity depending upon the cause du jour.  For example:  After 9/11, I gave to the Red Cross.  After Katrina, I gave to flood relief.  Before that I gave to the National Hemophilia Foundation (a relative has hemophilia).  Now I'm giving to autism.  

But. . . I really know nothing about the charities in question.  Autism Speaks?  ABOARD?  A local non-profit school for autistic children?  It's pretty confusing stuff, and I really haven't been in a position to utilize a lot of any of their services.  So. . . despite not really having the kind of readership that will allow me to get any kind of meaningful consensus about what folks in the community feel are the 'worthy' austism charities, I'm asking:  Who do I give my millions hundreds to?  

If you read this blog, and have a favorite, please name them, and let me know why.  I really am not wedded to any (as I said) and your input may* actually impact my decision.  And if nobody responds I'll almost certainly waste it on hookers and blow gadgets and lunches out with colleagues.

*author reserves the right to blow off any opinions and go with his gut