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Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger's Syndrome

For an introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders, see Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) at the Massachusetts General Hospital's School Psychiatry Program site.

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Resource Organizations » Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger's Syndrome

20 listing(s), including 1 offering support groups

In Massachusetts

Asperger's Association of New England

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.

Autism Alliance of Metrowest

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.

Autism Resource Center of Central Massachusetts

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 DMR Central-West Region. This encompasses North Central, Worcester, and South Valley areas.

This program is funded by the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) 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

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.

Autism Society of America - Massachusetts Chapter

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.

Charles River Center

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

Community Autism Resources

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

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.

Family Autism Center, South Norfolk Family Arc

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

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.

First Signs, Inc.

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.

My Gym

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.

NLDline

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.

Sibling Support Project

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.

TILL, Toward Independent Living and Learning, Inc.

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

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.

Outside Massachusetts

Autism and PDD Support Network

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.

Autism Speaks

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

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

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.

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Additional Sources of Information

Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, published Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders in October, 2007.

Overwhelmed No More. A free newsletter published by special needs parent coach Joan Celebi that offers tips, info, ideas, and resources to help you successfully navigate life as a parent of a child with special needs. Sign up at http://www.specialneedsparentcoach.com/freeresources/ (scroll down to item 2).

Publications

List of books, articles and other publications on Autism Spectrum Disorders/Asperger's Syndrome.

36th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week, September 5th - 11th, 2010. See Families, Community Systems and Suicide, from the American Association of Suicidology.

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Need a referral? Call us at 617-332-3666 x 411.

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The work of Project INTERFACE is supported in part by the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP).