National Autism Resources or Organizations

A

Association for behavior Analysis (ABA)
www.abainternational.org

Association for Positive Behavioral Support (APBS)
www.apbs.org

Association for Person with Severe Handicaps, The (TASH)
www.tash.org

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The
3615 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016-3007
Phone: 202-966-7300
Fax: 202-966-2891
 www.aacap.org
They provide important information as a public service to assist parents and families in their most important roles.

Autism Options
3435 Camino Del Rio South
Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 619-280-8585
 www.autism-options.com
They offer families with autistic children ways to improve attention, motivation, behavior, and motor skills using sensory techniques.

Autism Research Institute (ARI)
4182 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
Phone: 619-281-7165
Fax: 619-563-6840
 www.autism.com/ari
ARI, a nonprofit organization, was established in1967.  ARI is primarily devoted to conduction research, and to disseminating the results of research, on the causes of autism and on methods of preventing, diagnosing, and treating autism and other severe behavioral disorders of childhood.  They provide information based on research to parents and professionals throughout the world.

Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814-3067
Phone: 301-657-0881 or 800-3AUTISM
www.autism-society.org
A national organization with over 200 chapters in nearly every state of parents and professionals that promotes a better understanding of autism, encourages the development of services, supports research related to autism, and advocates on behalf of people with autism and their families.  Acts as information clearinghouse about autism and services for people with autism.  Publishes the Advocate, a bi-monthly newsletter.  Coordinates a national network of the state or local chapters.  For the location of the state of local chapter nearest you, call the 800 number listed above.

Autism Speaks
2 Park Avenue
11th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 252-8584
Fax: (212) 252-8676
contactus@autismspeaks.org
www.autismspeaks.org
Autism Speaks and National Alliance for Autism Research (or NAAR and could be found at www.naar.org) have merged together.  Autism Speaks is 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 a nationwide alliance of families, researchers and others concerned with autism united in their efforts to fund and accelerate autism research.

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B

BHARE Foundation, The
523 Newberry
Elk Grove, IL 60007
Barefoundation@aol.com
www.bhare.org
The Brenen Hornstein Autism Research & Education (BHARE) Foundation’s top priority is to fund research that will lead to a cure for autism.  Good summaries for parents are available along with information regarding project funding.

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C

Center for the Study of Autism
PO Box 4538
Salem, OR 97302
Phone: 503-538-9045
www.autism.org
The center provides information about autism to parents and professionals, and conducts research on the efficiency of various therapeutic interventions through its website.  Affiliated with the Autism Research Institute.

Children’s Rights Council
6200 Editors Park Drive
Suite 103
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Phone: 301-559-3120
Fax: 301-559-3124
www.gocrc.com
The CRC is a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that works to assure children meaningful and continuing contact with both their parents and extended family regardless of the parents’ marital status.

Cure Autism Now
5455 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2250
Los Angeles, CA 90036 – 4272
Phone: (888) 8-AUTISM or (323) 549-0500
Cure Autism Now - Fax: (323) 549-0547
www.canfoundation.org
Cure Autism Now is an organization of parents, physicians and researchers dedicated to promoting and funding research with direct clinical implications for the treatment and a cure for autism.

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D

E

F

Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT)
PO Box 255722
Sacramento, CA 95865-5722
Phone: 916-843-1536
www.feat.org
FEAT is a California-based organization with chapters in several states (links to the state websites can be found at their website).  Among other things, FEAT publishes one of the most comprehensive, informative, and activist newsletters in the autism community.

Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc. (FSMB)
PO Box 619850
Dallas, TX 75261-9850
Phone: 817-868-4000
Fax: 868-4098
www.fsmb.org
The FSMB website allows you to research if there have been any serious disciplinary actions or professional peer review against a physician you are considering for your child.

From Emotions to Advocacy (FETA)
www.fetaweb.com
FETA, The Special Education Survival Guide by Pam and Pete Wright, is an excellent resource for special education information.  Fetaweb.com is the companion website to WrightsLaw.com

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G

H

Habitat for Humanity International, Partner Service Center
121 Habitat Street
Americus, GA 31709-3498
Phone: 229-924-6935, ext 2551 or 2552
publicinfo@hfhi.org
www.habitat.org
This is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need.

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I

Introduction to the Individualized Education Plan for Educators, An
www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome.htm
This site discusses developing an IEP for your child with special learning needs for children who are taught at home.  If you home school a child with autism, you need to read this website.  Although written for children with Down syndrome, it is a very useful resource.

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K

KeepKidsHealthy.com
www.keepkidshealthy.com
This website is an excellent pediatric medicine website.

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L

Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention (LIFE)
11500 West Olympic Boulevard
Suite 318
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (310) 914-5433
Fax: (310) 914-5463
info@lovaas.com
www.lovaas.com
LIFE is a research-based program that specializes in teaching children with autism, pervasive developmental disorders, and related developmental disabilities.  They also specialize in developing and implementing behavior modification treatment programs for children with autism.  Backed by 35 years of research; the methodologies utilized by the clinic were developed by Dr. Ivar Lovaas, professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.  The program provides services nationwide.

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M

Medicine Program, The
PO Box 515
Doniphan, MO 63935-0515
Phone: 573-996-7300
www.themedicineprogram.com
They Medicine Program may be able to help you with medication expenses.  This organization was established by volunteers dedicated to alleviate the plight of an ever-increasing number of patients who cannot afford their prescription medication.

MyCityMyPlace.com
Philadelphia Mental Retardation Services
1441 Sansom Street, 2^nd floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215-686-0253
http://mycitymyplace.com
This website is a directory of resources for people with mental retardation, families, and professionals.  Although this site is not specifically geared toward those with ASD, it has plenty of good information.

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N

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
PO Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013-1492
Phone: 800-695-0285 or 202-884-8200
Fax: 202-884-8441
nichcy@aed.org
www.nichcy.org
NICHCY provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues.  This is an invaluable organization that can link parents to practically every government, nonprofit agency, and organization involved in any way with disabilities. NICHCY’s website provides extensive links and resources, organized into “State Resource Sheet.”

National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)
800-431-2804
www.nosscr.org
NOSSCR@wordnet.att.net
NOSSCR has a referral service for claimants looking for a private attorney and Social Security benefit information and representation.  They also have a caller hotline number for SSI children’s benefits.  The referral is free, the attorney will charge for the representation if the claim is successful.

National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC)
421-E Church Street
Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: 703-938-DPT3
Fax: 703-938-5768
www.909shot.com
NVIC is a national, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1982.  It is the oldest and largest national organization advocating reformation of the mass vaccination system.  Vaccines or immunizations are recommended for every child born in the United States.  Vaccinations shouldn’t hurt a child but sometimes they do.  Before your child takes the risk, find out what it is.

Neuro-Immune Dysfunction Syndromes (NIDS) Research Institute
NIDS Medical Advisory Board
Phone: 888-540-4999
www.nids.net
NIDS Research Institute is dedicated to increasing the public’s awareness of the likely connection between neuro-immune and/or autoimmune dysfunction and conditions such as autism, ADD, Alzheimer’s, ALS, CFS/CFIDS, MS, and other immune –mediated diseases.  If your family has an autoimmune illness situation as well as autism, you will want to check this out.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
US Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: 888-814-NCLB
Fax: 202-401-0689
www.nochildleftbehind.gov
NCLB website includes a simple overview of the legislation, key dates to remember, frequently asked questions, information about what is happening in states across the country and more importantly, where you can go to learn more and become involved.  The goal of NCLB is to create the best educational opportunities for our nation’s children and to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed.

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O

P

Parenting Special Needs
http://specialchildren.about.com
The Special Children site at About.com contains just about everything you need to know about raising children with special needs.

Patient Centered Guides’ Autism Center
O’Reilly Customer Service
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA95472
Phone: 800-998-9938 or 800-889-8969
Fax: 707-829-0104
www.patientcenters.com/autism
This center is for families of those living with pervasive developmental disorder.  Much of the material here is for those in the middle of the autistic spectrum, particularly those with a diagnosis of PDD-NOS or Atypical PDD or those still trying to find a correct diagnosis.  You can find articles and resources about PDDs, diagnosis, drug treatments, therapies, supplements, education, insurance, family life, other coping topics, and resources.

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R

S

Social Security Administration
www.ssa.gov.
The Social Security Administration website.

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U

V

W

WrightsLaw.com
www.wrightslaw.com
WrightsLaw.com is one of the most thorough websites regarding autism and special education.  Parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.