If you are among the 1.5 million Americans living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder or a family member of someone with the disability, you know how devastating it can be. The Autism Society of America (ASA) estimates that autism currently affects 1 out of every 150 children in America, with males 4 times more likely to suffer from the disability than females.

There is no known cure for autism, but individuals with the disability can be treated to lessen the effects and increase their quality of life and functional independence in the future. Because most children with autism have grown up in an environment where the family must provide full-time specialized care, they often lack social support, meaningful outside relationships and opportunities for employment. It's a tough life for both the individual and the family.

Autism is a brain development disorder that not only affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others; it places a major financial hardship on the family of those affected. Current estimates place the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism upwards of $3.5 million per individual. In the United States alone, almost $90 billion is spent annually towards autism-related costs, and they are increasing every year as more and more children are diagnosed with the disorder.

Because of the huge financial burden related to autism, much of the necessary funding and support comes from individuals and families of people with autism, or people and organizations who are aware of people with the disorder. One such organization is AirWorx Construction Equipment & Supply, an equipment rental, sales and service company in Indianapolis, Indiana. Scott Huggins, Vice President of AirWorx, has a child who was diagnosed with autism. He, along with AirWorx president Dick Kagy decided that they wanted to do something to help ease the burden on families affected by autism.

After reading a story about a rental company in Iowa that used boom lifts to raise money for breast cancer awareness, Huggins contacted Tim Morris, vice president, market development and sales for the Americas for JLG Industries, one of AirWorx's largest equipment suppliers. Huggins wanted to see if JLG would work with AirWorx to produce a uniquely designed boom lift that could help promote autism awareness. Morris has a 6-year old son who is also affected with autism and both he and his wife are champions of the cause so they knew how much work is needed to help promote awareness.