DealerKnows Supports Autism Research

Although many are quiet about it, several people in the automotive community have children who are coping with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as other related conditions, including our own. Joe and I have experienced the struggles to get testing, treatment, therapy, medications, school accommodations, and insurance coverage. We also know about the sometimes terrifying reality that the affected children and their parents go through. We’re incredibly fortunate to have children who are high functioning and responding well to treatment, but know many others are not so fortunate. We want to help families impacted by Autism, and we want to do it now.

It’s been a long-standing policy that DealerKnows Consulting does not take kick-backs on sales, referral fees, or reseller agreements as a way to maintain objectivity with its clients. Most of our colleagues think that we’re absolutely crazy for leaving tens of thousands of dollars on the table, but that’s just how we are wired. We strive to make a positive difference in retail automotive, and that desire for unmanipulated growth has always driven us forward. However, we know there are bigger differences that need to be made outside of automotive dealerships.

Since January 2019, DealerKnows has accepted the referral fees and commissions it has historically turned down, and donated 100% of that money to organizations that support Autism research, publicly disclosing when and where those donations were made.

Accepting these fees does not mean that we’ve changed our stance on putting vendor relationships before client relationships. We will maintain our “rule of three,” and will continue to support the vendor choices that our clients make. Transparency is a point of pride for DealerKnows. We want to make it clear, as these opportunities arise after the fact, those allocated funds will now be directed to the right place.

Above and beyond the contributions, DealerKnows will also work to raise awareness at the various conferences its members so often attend. We will work closely and transparently with our dealership and vendor partners to ensure those impacted by ASD have a chance to thrive. We individually support local, regional, and national Autism charities. We’ll now do our part help raise awareness about those companies throughout the retail automotive ecosystem who share our passion. By working together, we can make a greater impact.

As a training and consulting company, we know it’s hard for organizations to make a dramatic change. However, we are willing to make a change if that means an autistic child has a greater chance of living a rich, independent, and fulfilling life.

Thanks in advance for your support,
The Playford and Webb families,
and the whole team at DealerKnows