Local Autism Resources

• Achieva – Helping people with disabilities lead lives of personal significance through gaining access to quiality education and community services. Provides families with access to information, support, and advocacy.

• Associates in Behavioral Diagnostics & Treatment -A group of independent psychologists and professional counselors specializing in assessment and treatment of neurobehavioral disorders for children, adults and families. Services include early learning developmental testing, autism spectrum, ADHD/ADD, wraparound and learning disability evaluations.

• Autism Connection of PA. – Autism Connection of Pa provides autism support across the state of Pa.  Their services include autism support groups, autism resources and autism conferences and events.  They also provide assistance to parents on where to find autism services, treatments, get a diagnosis and much more.

 

• Autism Urban Connections – Helps families receive individualized supports and education to access resources and services that enhance the quality of life for families with autism and address the disparities in our most marginalized communities.

 

• Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders (CADD) – Specializes in the evaluation of children, adolescents, and adults with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders.

 

• Child Devlopment Unit (CDU) – Specializes in assessing a child’s delays developmentally, behaviorally, or emotionally. The center provides a continuity of care and/or research opportunities for families.

 

• The Children’s Institute – Provides a wide variety of special needs resources and care for children and families that help to transform lives.

 

• EVOLVE Coaching – Evolve is committed to helping adults with autism and other developmental disabilities and differences advocate for themselves and lead more independent lives. Evolve works with neurodiverse individuals to help them meet their personal and professional goals and work with businesses and organizations to promote inclusion in the workplace.

 

• Family Behavioral Resources – Therapists work in local schools, homes, and communities, serving children with diagnosed behavioral and mental health disorders. Also provides Outpatient Mental Health Therapy in numerous locations throughout the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

 

• John Merck program – specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. The Merck Program also provides services for children and adults with a multitude of disabilities such as blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy.

 

• Watson Institute– Website includes a searchable database of questions and answers delivered by experts in the field to provide valuable information for families and educators.

 

• Wesley Spectrum Services – Provides behavioral healthcare services and support programs to individuals and families throughout the course of their lifespan.

 

General Autism Information

• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Autism Services – This website provides information on services available to enhance the quality of life and independence for Pennsylvanians with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training (ASERT) – This website provides useful information for autistic individuals living in the state of Pennsylvania and their families. It includes information on Pennsylvania support and advocacy groups, research projects and how to get involved, guides for parents who suspect their child has autism, available age-specific services for autistic individuals, and autism training for law enforcement personnel.

 

• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Autism Resource Center – Provide resources for families to help find the proper treatment plan that best fits their child’s strengths and weaknesses.

 

• Autism Gateway-This website has five cases of individuals with autism, Richard 54 years old, Jeff 35 years old, Ryan 23 years old, Ethan 13 years old and Adam eight years old. The videos are downloadable, and if you are a medical doctor, you can receive CME credits.

 

• The Autism Science Foundation (ASF)– The Autism Science Foundation Channel on YouTube features interview with top autism researchers, ASF grantees, autism book authors and others in the field of autism. The site also includes presentations by ASF pre-doctoral grant recipients including Sarah Hannigen form the University of Pittsburgh.

 

• Autism Speaks (AS) – Autism Speaks’ goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. They fund research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism and raise public awareness about autism. Autism Speaks offers a 100-day kit, which is created specifically for newly diagnosed families, to make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis of autism. The kit contains information and advice collected from trusted and respected experts on autism as well as from parents of children with autism. For more information, click here Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit.

 

• Asperger Syndrome Education Network (ASPEN) – ASPEN® is a non-profit organization in New Jersey. They provide families and individuals whose lives are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS, High Functioning Autism), and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities: with Education about the issues surrounding the disorders, support in knowing that they are not alone, and in helping individuals with ASD’s and NLD achieve their maximum potential and advocacy in areas of appropriate educational programs, medical research funding, adult issues and increased public awareness and understanding.

 

• Autism Research at the NICHD – The NICHD, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is one of several Institutes doing research into various aspects of autism, including its causes, prevalence, and treatments. The goal of this site is to provide easy access to the most current information about NICHD research projects, publications, news releases, and other activities related to autism and similar disorders.

 

• Autism Society of America (ASA)– has resources for the autism community in education, advocacy, services, research and support. ASA accomplishes its ongoing mission through close collaboration with a successful network of chapters, members, supporters and organizations.

 

• Demystifying Autism From the Inside Out – William Stillman is an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome who has written a number of books and has given numerous presentations on autism. His message of reverence and respect has touched thousands nationally through his acclaimed autism workshops and private consultation.

 

• Geneva Centre For Autism – Geneva Centre for Autism empowers individuals with autism spectrum disorders, and their families, to fully participate in their communities.

 

• Gift of Hope Autism Tissue Program – is an organization determined to understand autism spectrum disorders by providing approved scientists access to the most fundamental, rare, precious and most necessary of resources; human brain tissue. Our national outreach program makes families aware of the need for this Gift of Hope.

 

• Help Autism Now Society (HANS) – was founded in 2002 by a physician and nurse, Paul and Linda Lee, parents of a child severely affected with autism from birth. Despite over 40 years of combined medical experience they discovered that they had not received any training in autism. As a result they decided to develop a program that would greatly facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of autism, so that families would not suffer needlessly as a result of delayed diagnosis. For parents, HANS has developed television-advertising spots and these started airing in September 2006 throughout the Northwest. Concurrently, all the pediatricians, family practitioners and child psychiatrists, almost 2000 physicians throughout Oregon, will be provided with a package of materials that HANS has created. Over 20,000 pediatricians West of the Mississippi received the package in December 2007.

 

• Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning Disorders (ICDL)  – founded by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder, the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders has been a pioneer in its work to advance the identification, prevention, and treatment of developmental and learning disorders. Through its research, training and publications, ICDL has created a cadre of world-class professionals across multiple areas of expertise who are extending the reach of the DIR®/Floortime Model.

 

• National Database for Autism Reserach (NDAR) – This center contributes to the National Database for Autism Resarch, a secure research data repository promoting data sharing and collaboration among ASD investigators. The following video will give you a better understanding of the goals of NDAR.

 

• National Fragile X Foundation and Guide to Understanding Genetic Conditions-websites can help individuals understand the link between Fragile X Syndrome and Autism. Fragile X Syndrome is a family of genetic conditions that can impact individuals in various ways. Fragile X Syndrome is the most common “known” cause of autism or autistic-like behaviors.

 

• OASIS (Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support) and MAAP –  This site is a resource  for families of children diagnosed with AS and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS, professionals working with individuals diagnosed with AS and individuals with AS who are seeking support, so they have access to information.

 

• Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) – mission is: to enable individuals with autism to function as meaningfully and as independently as possible in the community; to provide exemplary services throughout North Carolina to individuals with autism and their families and those who serve and support them; As a member of the university community, to generate knowledge; to integrate clinical services with relevant theory and research; and to disseminate information about theory, practice, and research on autism through training and publications locally, nationally and internationally.

 

• The Color of Autism – This website provides education and assistance to African American families with children with autism spectrum disorder.

 

Autism Signs and Symptoms

• What is Autism? – This site provides a brief description of autism spectrum disorders and early signs of social, communication, and behavioral differences.

• Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource Toolkit for Clinicans – This site details the resource toolkit available for clinicians. The toolkit can help professionals with identification and continued management of children with autism spectrum disorders. The toolkit is divided into areas that contain an introduction, identification, referrals, physician fact sheets, and family handouts.

• Centers for Disease Control: “Learn the Signs, Act Early” – This site details the resource toolkit available for clinicians. The toolkit can help professionals with identification and continued management of children with austism spectrum disorder. The toolkit is divided into multiple areas including clinical signs, screening, biology of ASD, coexisting conditions and health issues, family handouts, referrals, and information about the transition to adulthood.

• CDC Signs and Symptoms of ASD – This site provides early warning signs for social, communication, and behavioral differences.

• CDC Developemental Milestone Checklist – This checklist is broken down by age and includes milestones and tips and activities to help your child learn and grow at each age.

For resarch trainees

• UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Clinical Psychology Internship Program – Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine offers an American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited internship in clinical psychology. This program is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science and adheres to a “clinical science” model of training and professional development which emphasizes the integration of research and clinical training and a commitment to empirically informed approaches to clinical work. Dr. Mazefsky is available as a primary research mentor for WPIC clinical psychology interns.

• Post-doctoral Training Programs – The Psychiatry Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine offers a number of post-doctoral training programs and opportunities.

• University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry – The Psychiatry Department website offers information on faculty, education and training opportunities, research, clinical care, news, and events.