Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger's Syndrome

Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts strives to assure the human and civil rights of individuals of all ages across the entire Autism Spectrum and promote the availability of essential supports so that they may live fully and enjoy the same opportunities as other citizens of the Commonwealth. Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts provides education to individuals with ASD, their families and other AFAM members/supporters to be effective, vigorous agents of change. In addition, this organization provides legislative advocacy on behalf of individuals and families of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their website provides up to date information on legislative changes impacting these individuals and their families. They also provide a newsletter and host events to raise awareness about the need for services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, including advocacy for the growing and anticipated number of adults who will need support.

The Asperger's Association of New England (AANE)'s mission is to foster awareness, respect, acceptance, and support for individuals with AS and related conditions and their families.
We invite parents, adults with AS, teachers and professionals to call the Asperger's Information Line - 617-393-3824 - for information, support, resources and referrals. Be sure to ask about our three Family Grant Programs, funded by the generousity of the Edwin Philips Foundation, the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, and an esteemed private donor.

Chelmsford, MA — Parent Support Group
Greater Lowell Psychiatric Associates, LLC
1st Saturday, 10am-12pm
9 Acton Road, Suite 17, Chelmsford, MA 01824
April Farley: (978) 256-6579 x21 or afarley@glpaonline.org

The mission of the Autism Alliance of MetroWest, Inc. is to provide families in the MetroWest area of Boston with information, education and support. We plan and implement programs and events which will aid those families while increasing public awareness regarding autism. To date, we have grown to almost 625 families and 125 specialists in the field of Autism.

The Autism Resource Center was conceived in 1996 by a group of parents to serve primarily as an information and referral service for children and families affected by disorders within the Autism Spectrum. The Center services the eastern portion of DDS Central-West Region. This encompasses North Central, Worcester, and South Valley areas.
This program is funded by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and administered by Horace Mann Educational Associates, Inc. The Autism Resource Center is designed to help parents, educators, service providers, and medical professionals provide effectively for those diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum.

Autism Services Association (ASA) is a private non-profit human service agency, which provides community employment services, supported employment, Day Habilitation programs, and other clinical supports to young adults and adults with autism and other challenging developmental disabilities. Admission criteria are: 1) age 16 or older, 2) a diagnosis of autism and/or other developmental disability, 3) in need of vocational services, integrated into the community.

The mission of the Autism Society of America is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community. Education, advocacy at state and federal levels, active public awareness and the promotion of research form the cornerstones of ASA's efforts to carry forth its mission.

The Autism Support Center (ASC) was created in July, 1991 to support parents and professionals who expressed a need for assistance finding information and support about autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and Asperger's Disorder. The Autism Support Center empowers families who have a member with autism or related disorder by providing current, accurate, and unbiased information about autism, services, referrals, resources, and research trends. In addition, the ASC will provide educational opportunities for families, professionals and our communities; promote networking; increase community awareness; and advocate for services and opportunities. General information is available to any parent, professional or person who contacts the ASC - However, our primary service area is Northeastern Massachusetts and the suburbs of Boston. It is directed by a Parent Advisory Policy Committee comprised of parents of children with autism/PDD. We also maintain a comprehensive resource list of professionals with interest and experience in autism/PDD. At the family's request, ASC arranges home visits, in our service area, to help parents best understand how to help their child. Support groups are also offered throughout our geographic area for parents and siblings. Parents, grandparents, and brothers and sisters are able to find others who understand their concerns and gain strategies for home, school, and community integration.

The Charles River Center (formerly Charles River Arc) is a private, nonprofit human service agency in Needham, Massachusetts, providing employment and job training, residential homes, therapeutic day programs, and recreational programs for children and adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Founded by a group of parents of children with special needs in 1956, the mission of Charles River has always been to improve the quality of life by helping each individual with a developmental disability achieve his or her highest possible level of independence so that he or she can fully participate, benefit, and become a contributing member of the community.
The Charles River Center serves over 500 families from many communities including Needham, Wellesley, Weston, Newton, Dedham, Cambridge, Brighton, Brookline, Framingham, Natick, Westwood, Dover, Waltham, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Roxbury, Watertown, Quincy, Norwood, West Roxbury and many more

The College Internship Program at the Berkshire Center provides individualized, post-secondary academic, internship and independent living experiences for young adults with Asperger's Syndrome, ADHD and other Learning Differences.

Community Autism Resources (CAR) is a Southeastern Massachusetts based Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) project. We are families and professionals strengthened by our experiences of ASD in our lives, dedicated to supporting individuals with ASD and their families.

Community Resources for People with Autism provides support, information, and practical help for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families living in Western Massachusetts.
Community Resources was founded in 1989, and continues to be directed by, parents of children with autism. Their goal is to help families, schools, professionals, agencies and communities understand autism, promote the well-being of individuals with autism, and foster their inclusion in the community.

The Family Autism Center was created in 1996 by SNCARC. We have a Steering Committee made up of family members of children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our mission is to provide advocacy, supports and services to people with ASD and to their families.

Family TIES of Massachusetts is a program for families of children with special needs and chronic illness, and the professionals who support them. Family TIES offers parent-to-parent support, information and referral services, and workshops to ensure that parents feel confident in caring for their children's special needs. The website offers information about services and supports, as well as personal experiences from early intervention through transition to adulthood. In addition, Family TIES offers regional coordinators who help parents of children with special needs get connected to support groups in their area.

First Signs is dedicated to the early identification of and intervention for children with autism and other related disorders. Our organization aims to educate parents, healthcare providers, early childhood educators, and other professionals in order to ensure the best developmental outcome for every child. Our goals are to improve screening and referral practices and to lower the age at which young children are identified with autism and other related disorders.

The Superstars class is designed for children on the autism spectrum. Gross motor and social skills are developed through fun exercises, tumbling, games and relays. Appropriate visual supports are used. A one-on-one aide or parent is required.

A parent group being offered by the New England Center for Academic Success and Pediatrics West.The goal of this group is to provide support, build friendships, and offer a safe place to exchange ideas with others in similar situations. The group will meet monthly at Pediatrics West in Westford and will be lead by parents Crystal Carden and Terri Packard. Once per quarter, the New England Center for Academic Success and Pediatrics West will provide an expert group facilitator who will give an informal presentation on a specific topic and will also be available for questions. Pediatrics West, PC, 133 Littleton Road, Suite 301, Westford, MA 01886. Please call Jeannie at 978-577-0483 for more information, the scheduled dates and times or to sign up for this group.

Started ten years ago, NLDline was the first website to address the complex issues of people with Nonverbal Learning Disorders, and has received more than 5,000,000 inquiries worldwide. Judy Lewis, a true NLD pioneer, created and facilitates NLDline which shares information and resources with callers from all over the world, primarily parents and educators of children with NLD.

The Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS) center has joined with MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome to create a single resource for families, individuals, and medical professionals who deal with the challenges of Asperger Syndrome, Autism, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Not Otherwise Specified (PDD/NOS). This web site provides articles, educational resources, links to local, national and international support groups, sources of professional help, lists of camps and schools, conference information, recommended reading, and moderated support message boards. The web site resources are an addition to the annual conference, newsletter email and phone support provided by MAAP Services.

The Sibling Support Project is a national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns. We believe that disabilities, illness, and mental health issues affect the lives of all family members. Consequently, we want to increase the peer support and information opportunities for brothers and sisters of people with special needs and to increase parents' and providers' understanding of sibling issues. Our mission is accomplished by training local service providers on how to create community-based peer support programs for young siblings; hosting workshops, listservs, and websites for young and adult siblings; and increasing parents' and providers' awareness of siblings' unique, lifelong, and ever-changing concerns through workshops, websites, and written materials. Visit the website for local listings of "Sibshops", i.e. sibling support programs.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness maintains a helpline for informaion on mental illnesses and referrals to local groups. The local self-help groups have support and adocacy components and offer education and information about community services for families and individuals. For information about the Alliance's affiliates and activities in MA, contact NAMI Massachusetts.

Toward Independent Living and Learning's (T.I.L.L.) mission is to create community based residential, vocational, and support services to help people reach their full potential and attain an optimal quality of life. We offer an extensive and comprehensive range of residential, clinical, family support services and day and vocational programs that meet the needs of individuals and their families of all ages with disabilities throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Understanding Our Differences, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to increase information, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and individual differences. Since 1978, Understanding Our Differences has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults in Newton, Massachusetts through the delivery of a unique and creative disability awareness curriculum in collaboration with the Newton Public Schools. This award-winning program has been disseminated to more than 200 schools and organizations nationwide.

Autism-PDD.Net is an information and resource site for parents of children and caregivers coping with Autism. We provide an online support community forum parents to express thoughts, ideas and seek help. We will continue to provide the most current information to help you.

We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.
It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle. Autism Speaks. It's time to listen.

Do To Learn is an online collection of hands-on resources for children with autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and learning disabilities. Most of the materials on the website are free; they include games, puzzles, songs, and charts that help children learn social skills, emotion recognition, verbal communication, and other important skills. There are also extensive resources for teachers, such as classroom activities and organizational plans. In addition, the website offers information to parents on autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities.

Organization for Autism Research is the only autism organization which focuses solely on applied research. Putting research to work providing answers to questions for those confronted directly and indirectly by autism and funding research studies that investigate treatments, educational approaches, and statistical aspects of autism.

The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression) is committed to alleviating the suffering of mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. The BBR Foundation offers news on the research it funds as well as information (documents and videos) about these and other disorders in children and adults. It also provides guidance and resources for families coping with a child or parent with mental illness.