RESOURCES

Autism Connections is the Autism Resource Center for western Massachusetts, serving Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties as well as the North Quabbin area. Our two main offices are located in Easthampton and Pittsfield, but our Autism Specialists are available throughout western Massachusetts.

The Autism Alliance is a Massachusetts-based organization providing support, programs, and resources to families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders.

TILL provides services to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders, with and without intellectual disabilities, and their families, across the life span.

HMEA’s Autism Resource Central was conceived in 1996 by a group of parents to serve as a source of information for children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our vision is to be the center of the autism community in Central Massachusetts.

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To carry out this mission, we provide vital services such as education, family activities, referrals, and support to families affected by ASD. We offer information on a great variety of issues, so that parents and professionals have what they need to provide effective support to individuals with ASD.

The Autism Project is a unique collaboration of parents, professionals and community members who provide quality support, training, and programming that is accessible to all for children and adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families, and those who work with them.

We provide resources for families, and medical professionals who deal with the challenges of Asperger Syndrome, Autism, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder / Not Otherwise Specified. (PDD/NOS)

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. 

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. 

TACA provides education, support and hope to families living with autism.

The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all affected by autism for over 50 years and envisions a world where individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. We provide advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state and local levels through our strong nationwide network of Affiliates.

Information and links regarding the developmental disabilities autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Autism.com is a new online resource directory working to connect families and individuals on the autism spectrum with the therapeutic and educational services they deserve.

Autism Care Today is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to raise awareness and provide treatment services and support to families to help their children with autism be able to achieve their full potential.

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.® (BACB®) has been the leader in behavior analyst certification for over two decades. The BACB is a nonprofit corporation that was established in 1998 to meet professional certification needs identified by behavior analysts, governments, and consumers of behavior-analytic services. The BACB’s mission is to protect consumers of behavior-analytic services by systematically establishing, promoting, and disseminating professional standards of practice.

The mission of the National Autism Association is to respond to the most urgent needs of the autism community, providing real help and hope so that all affected can reach their full potential.

Autism Today is now the world’s largest information and resource center all in one place for anyone affected by autism spectrum disorders. The site features top experts like Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Tony Attwood, Dr. Jed Baker, Dr. Stephen Shore, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the list goes on.It also provides much needed support to millions of parents, caregivers, para-professionals, therapists, educators, community members and those on the autism spectrum through books, CD’s, online education, audio seminars, tele-seminars, webinars, on site conferences and workshops and an interactive membership based community for blogs, podcasts and forums.The theories and practices that help the autism spectrum are being used in many other special needs areas such as Down syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Non Verbal Learning Disorder, Tourette Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

With a rich 25+-year tradition of providing education, training, resources, and connection to support and serve individuals affected by autism, their families, and those who work to support them, the US Autism Association took on new leadership in 2020 and began expanding its accumulated wealth of expertise to more fully expand into the the online learning and social media environments. Offering ongoing live webinars, podcasts, online training videos, opportunities to connect within several different social media platforms, and online conference and content streaming opportunities, the US Autism Association is expanding and growing while maintaining its “small, family of support model.” At US Autism, we hold the belief that if you want to understand autism, ask someone who is diagnosed. For this reason, the US Autism Association draws heavily from its Advisory Board, a majority of whom are either parents of those diagnosed or diagnosed as on the autism spectrum themselves.

The Schafer Autism Report is a non-profit and non-commercial news service. It is produced entirely by volunteers. The mission is to promote autism awareness and education towards finding the best treatments, preventions and cures for the range of disorders labeled as the  autism spectrum.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

NCSL, founded in 1975, represents the legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the U.S. Its mission is to advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information among legislatures.

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NCSL also represents legislatures in dealing with the federal government, especially in support of state sovereignty and state flexibility and protection from unfunded federal mandates and unwarranted federal preemption. The conference promotes cooperation between state legislatures in the U.S. and those in other countries.

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In addition, NCSL is committed to improving the operations and management of state legislatures, and the effectiveness of legislators and legislative staff. NCSL also encourages the practice of high standards of conduct by legislators and legislative staff.

Being armed with information about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) helps families feel more comfortable as they face new challenges. Some families need to know where to start when one member of the family has been recently diagnosed. Other families face unexpected difficulties as their loved ones with ASD learn to live effectively in home, school, or community settings. We are dedicated to supporting families by making information and resources more readily available.

In the U.S., 1 in 54 children is diagnosed on the autism spectrum (ASD). In fact, almost every school and university in the country has students with autism. While the diagnosis is common, public understanding of autism is not. The lack of understanding about the condition can make life even more difficult for children with autism. A recent study reveals that they are five times more likely to be bullied than their peers—treatment no child should endure. While it’s true there can be significant differences between people with autism and their peers, all children want the same things: to feel safe, happy, and loved. And all children have something to contribute—unique perspectives and talents that help make the world a richer and more interesting place.

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That’s why Sesame Workshop created Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, a nationwide initiative aimed at communities with children ages 2 to 5. Developed with input from parents, people who serve the autism community, and people with autism, See Amazing in All Children offers families ways to manage common challenges, to simplify everyday activities, and to grow connections and support from family, friends, and community.

Trying to understand the experience of sensory overload is a powerful first step in helping your loved one as well as preparing you to identify the specific triggers and struggles they go through while working to ease it, possibly even preventing it from flaring up.

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Having some handy action items on hand to avoid sensory overload as well as accommodate someone experiencing it can help assuage the episode and keep everyone calm.

We naturally think of a child’s growth as height and weight, but from birth to 5 years, a child should reach milestones in how he or she plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves. A delay in any of these areas could be a sign of ASD or other developmental disability.

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Through the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program, CDC and its partners aim to improve early identification of children with ASD and other developmental disabilities by promoting developmental monitoring, so children and families can get the services and support they need.

Operation Autism is a web-based resource specifically designed and created to support military families that have children with autism. It is the shared product of the vision and energy of the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and the funding support of the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation. OAR’s intent in developing this resource is to:

• Provide military families touched by autism with access to quality, evidence-based information about the disorder,

• Identify sources of treatment and support on and off base,

• Offer tips for dealing with some of the unique challenges military life poses for military dependent children with autism and their families,

• Inform parents about their child’s educational rights and offer some practical strategies for success in the classroom.

The DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education. It promotes awareness and accessibility—in both the classroom and the workplace—to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities and make our communities more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive.

The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community welcomes the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands as the seventh research center starting July 1, 2020. Established in 1993, the Eppley Institute partners with recreation, park, and public land organizations in order to enhance access, choice, and quality of natural, cultural, and recreational experiences for all people.