Resources for All People Affected by Autism and the Community-at-Large

Autism Response Team - consists of three coordinators who are trained to respond to family inquiries and requests by phone and email on a daily basis. 
familyservices@autismspeaks.org or (888) AUTISM-2

Resource Guide - consists of over 30,000 resources across the country. Families are able to search by their zip code for local resources in over 75 categories, including developmental pediatricians, service providers such as Applied Behavior Analysis professionals, support groups, and recreational activities.

Resource Library - consists of hundreds of resources that can be used by all families including books, blogs, websites, and developmental tools and toys.

Autism Safety Project - designed to provide First Responders with information on how to communicate with individuals with autism in emergency situations, as well as to help families to best prepare for these potentially dangerous encounters.

Community Connections Monthly Newsletter - explores a relevant topic with practical tips on dealing with everyday situations, links to local resources, and stories from experts and families about their successful experiences. Recent topics include resources for siblings of individuals with autism, traveling tips for families, and information regarding special education laws and regulations.

Dental Toolkit - provides information to dentists about how to effectively treat individuals with autism.

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Resources for Families and Individuals across the Lifespan

For Families of Recently Diagnosed Children:

100 Day Kit Version 2.0 – an enhanced version of our original 100 Day Kit created based on feedback from families who received the kit in the last 2 years. This kit includes updated information, new resources for families, and helpful information for individuals diagnosed with autism at a variety of ages.

Asperger’s Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism Toolkit – created based on feedback from families who received the 100 Day Kit as a separate kit to provide information specifically for families of children with these diagnoses. This kit also contains separate information and resources for all ages, up to the transition to adulthood.

Talking to Parents about Autism Action Kit - consists of materials to help prepare early childhood educators to talk with parents about their child’s developmental milestones.

For Families of School-Age Youth

School Community Toolkit - assists members of the community in understanding and supporting students with autism within their schools. Targeted information is available for bus drivers, lunch/recess aides, office staff, administrators and peers.

Aging with Autism – Defining the Future DVD Series - consists of autism presentations focusing on a variety of topics from housing and transition issues to sexuality and employment. The reproduction of the DVDs is handled by individuals with autism as part of a work training program.

For Young Adults/Adults

Autism in the Workplace - includes employment information, local resources, as well as information for employers regarding the employment of adults with autism in their workplaces.

Aging with Autism – Defining the Future DVD’s - also directed toward young adults and adults. The series contains topics specific to the needs of these individuals.

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) - a national initiative consisting of a wide array of national autism groups who have come together to set national priorities to expand the rights and improve the lives of adults on the autism spectrum.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - To answer parents' questions about autism spectrum disorders, the AAP offers a collection of interviews with pediatricians, researchers and parents.

Autism New Jersey - Grounded in science, strengthened by knowledge, and devoted to creating a society of compassion and inclusion for all those touched by autism.

Autism Science Foundation- Provides funding to scientists and organizations conducting, facilitating and promoting autism research.

Autism Society of America - Dedicated to increasing awareness about day-to-day issues faced by people with autism, advocating for appropriate social services across the lifespan and providing the latest information on treatment, education and research.

Caldwell College - New Jersey's only college or university that offers a Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis, a science-based approach to teaching children with autism spectrum disorders.

Center for Autism Research - The Center for Autism Research (CAR) is a collaborative effort between The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. CAR’s goals are to identify the causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and develop effective treatments.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The CDC is working to find out how many children have autism spectrum disorders, discover the risk factors, and raise awareness of the signs.

Child Mind Institute - The New York-based Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of children with psychiatric disorders through the integration of ground-breaking research, evidence-based treatment and advocacy.

Children’s Hospital Boston - As one of the largest pediatric medical centers in the United States, Children's Hospital Boston offers a complete range of health care services for children from birth through 21 years of age.

The Children’s Institute - Based in Verona, NJ, The Children's Institute provides educational and therapeutic programs for children with learning, language and social/emotional challenges to achieve their maximum potential as responsible adults in society.

Children’s Specialized Hospital - The Autism Program at Children's Specialized Hospital in New Jersey works with children from birth through 21 years of age, who have an autism spectrum disorder (Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder or Rett's Syndrome).

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) - Since its start in 1855 as the nation's first hospital devoted exclusively to caring for children, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has been the birthplace for many dramatic firsts in pediatric medicine.

Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center – A Rutgers University-based program that works with individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families

Eden Autism Services - New Jersey-based nonprofit organization provides a cost-effective, community-based alternative to institutionalization and offers programming that would meet the changing needs of children and adults with autism.

Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) - EOHSI in Piscataway, NJ is an international resource that supports environmental research, health education and public policy.

The Garden Academy - Established in 2004, this non-profit organization, based in Maplewood, NJ, is dedicated to educating individuals with autism, increasing community awareness of the disorder, and supporting research towards greater advancements in the field of autism education.

Governor’s Council on Medical Research and Treatment of Autism - The mission of the Governor's Council is to establish a Center of Excellence in the State of New Jersey where basic science and clinical research studies, and clinical diagnosis and treatment initiatives can take place. To this end, the Council awards grants and contracts to public and private nonprofit entities.

Harvard School of Public Health - From advancing scientific discovery to educating national and international leaders, the Harvard School of Public Health has been at the forefront of efforts to benefit the health of populations worldwide.

Kennedy Krieger Institute - The mission of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD is “to unlock a child’s potential.” Its autism program, called CARD, is a multi-faceted approach that combines clinical assessment, research, intervention services and community education.

The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) - Based in Orangeburg, NY, NKI is one of the nation’s premier facilities for mental health research that is designed to improve the care of people with severe, disabling mental disorders.

The National Institutes of Health - The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important medical discoveries that improve health and save lives.

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities - A lead change agent in the State responsible for a vision of what the lives of people with developmental disabilities should be.

New York University Child Study Center - The Center was founded in 1997 to improve the treatment of child psychiatric disorders through scientific practice, research, and education, and to eliminate the stigma of being or having a child with a psychiatric disorder.

Parents of Autistic Children (POAC) - One of New Jersey’s leading providers of free autism training and community education, offering recreational activities and support services to individuals with autism and their families.

Princeton Child Development Institute - A private, nonprofit program offering a broad spectrum of science-based services to children, youths, and adults with autism.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, is committed to the pursuit of excellence in education, research, health care delivery and promotion of community health.

Thursday’s Child - Thursday's Child in New York City is an Early Intervention program serving the needs of children diagnosed with PDD/Autism.

UC-Davis MIND Institute - The Sacramento-based MIND Institute (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) is a collaborative international research center, committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care and cure of neurodevelopmental disorders.

University of California, San Francisco - The Autism and Neurodevelopment Program (ANP) at University of California, San Francisco combines clinical excellence with innovative research and provides services and resources for individuals with autism and related disorders.

University of Louisville Autism Center - Experts at the University of Louisville Autism Center offer a premier program of treatment, evaluation, intervention, training and comprehensive research.

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey's state-wide system of health sciences education, biomedical research and HealthCare.

Yale Child Study Center - The Autism Program at Yale is an interdisciplinary group of clinicians and scholars dedicated to providing comprehensive clinical services to children with autism spectrum disorders and their families.