Post and Courier48%
A Beaufort-based nonprofit helps parents of children with autism spectrum disorder find help 47%
By Ruth Roberts Special to The Post61% Courier26%
7/24/2026, 9:00:00 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 21 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Emotion, Negativity Bias, and Unattributed Quote, with Attempt to Sell a Product or Service as the most egregious example at 16.5% saturation with 134 hits. Analysis detected 787 faulty-reasoning hits from 814 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 48.6% and a BS Rank of 47% (11,351 of 21,197 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 53.50% of the article peer group.
BEAUFORT — If necessity is the mother of invention, then determination is the father of solutions.
Just ask Justin Palmer.
When Palmer, a Beaufort resident and former Marine, discovered a severe shortage of developmental resources in the Lowcountry for his young son, he refused to accept a broken system.
Instead, he took matters into his own hands, launching the Lowcountry Autism Evaluation Fund.
The private nonprofit, launched in March, is designed to help local families pay for diagnosis evaluations and assist in navigating the sometimes overwhelming world of treatment.
Palmer’s journey began with enlistment, not advocacy.
The South Carolina native spent 11 years in the U.S.
Marine Corps and was eventually stationed in Beaufort.
While serving, he pursued a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, a field widely recognized as the gold-standard therapy for autism spectrum disorder.
At the time, he had no idea how deeply personal that degree would soon become.
Shortly after earning his degree, Palmer and his wife learned they were expecting a baby, a boy they named River.
Around River's second birthday, Palmer noticed the early signs of autism in his son, and a pediatrician confirmed the family's fears.
The doctor suggested they find a specialist to help treat River’s condition.
It was a task easier said than done.
“What we discovered is that the standard length of time for insurance companies that even cover evaluations like this, is a year, and we know how critical early intervention is,” Palmer said.
“It’s also very expensive, around $2,000 to $3,000 for around three visits.”
Palmer opted to bypass the insurance companies, and the family covered the out-of-pocket expenses.
Realizing that many families were unable to do the same, Palmer was inspired to found the Lowcountry Autism Evaluation Fund.
LAEF aims to drastically reduce wait times and alleviate stress for families seeking answers.
While traditional autism diagnoses typically don’t occur until age 8, early warning signs, such as speech delays or a child not responding to their name, frequently appear by age 2.
“Our main purpose is to get a diagnosis but we don’t just abandon them after that,” Palmer said.
“We help families discover what kind of therapies they need and try and find some in their area.
… In some of these smaller towns it takes over an hour to get to a hub that can help them and get them connected.”
LAEF also educates the community, partnering with local schools and businesses to teach the public about the signs of autism and potential treatment options.
Nationally, about one in 31 children are diagnosed annually, according to Palmer.
Locally, he estimates that 2 percent to 7 percent of children in South Carolina's Lowcountry will be diagnosed this year.
Jennifer Chapman’s daughter was one of those children.
At age 6, Chapman’s daughter began experiencing severe behavioral meltdowns that disrupted her schooling and upended life at home.
Initial medical testing and a psychiatric evaluation offered no answers, leaving the family in crisis.
The child's outbursts escalated, sometimes requiring police intervention.
Desperate for help, Smith connected with Beaufort-based support organizations, who referred her to Palmer’s new organization.
“We were at our wit’s end,” Chapman said.
“Our daughter wouldn’t sit on the bed and she would tear down doors in the house.
And it got to the point where she was spitting at me and hitting me.”
Palmer was able to secure an appointment for assessment in a matter of weeks.
The tests revealed a rare form of autism characterized by developmental delays rather than typical symptoms.
The diagnosis finally unlocked the critical wraparound services needed for the struggling, but highly intelligent child.
Chapman credits Palmer and the LAEF for changing their lives.
“After my husband and I met with Justin, we cried the whole way home because we were so thankful and grateful,” said Chapman.
“This was the first time we had gotten some real help.”
Hannah Schademan, owner of Custom Behavioral Solutions in Beaufort, is LAEF’s newest board member and she is excited to make a difference.
“I joined the board in July to help families overcome barriers to early evaluation and care,” Schaderman said.
“Through my work with local children and families, I've become all too familiar with the challenges many families face when trying to access services."
For Palmer and the LAEF team, the work continues with outreach programs and fundraisers to sustain the mission.
The group’s next event will be held 9-11 a.m.
July 25 at the Sunshine Playhouse, 4375 Bluffton Parkway, Suite C, in Bluffton.
Admission is $20 for the first child and $15 for siblings.
Ten percent of all proceeds will be donated directly to the Lowcountry Autism Evaluation Fund.
Because space is limited, organizers recommend booking early.
For more information on LAEF or to register for the event, visit https://laefsc.org/we-are-here-to-help/ or email j.palmer@laefsc.org.
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