Resources and References

American Academy of Pediatrics​
American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Whether you're looking for general information related to child health or for more specific guidelines concerning a pediatric issue, you've come to the right place. Here, you'll find information regarding the Academy's many programs and activities' our policies and guidelines’ our publications and other child health resources’ and much, much more.

American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Since 1876, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has been providing worldwide leadership in the field of mental retardation. We're a powerful community of leaders with a strong voice and important mission. AAIDD, (formerly AAMR: American Association of Mental Retardation) is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and citizens concerned about intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all programs, activities, and services of public entities. It applies to all State and local governments, their departments and agencies, and any other instrumentalities or special purpose districts of State or local governments.

The Arc of the United States
The Arc is the world’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides an array of services and support for families and individuals and includes over 140,000 members affiliated through more than 780 state and local chapters across the nation. The Arc is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Asperger Syndrome Education Network
http://www.aspennj.org/
ASPEN is a national volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization with headquarters in New Jersey. Our fifteen chapters meet monthly, alternating parent support meetings with speaker presentations. ASPEN offers professionals the opportunity to join us at meetings where speakers are scheduled and provides Professional Development Hours to those who attend. ASPEN is registered with the NJ Department of Education (registration #1619) as a Professional
Development Provider.

Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)
ASAT is a not-for-profit organization of parents and professionals committed to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism. Since ASAT was established in 1998, it has been their goal to work toward adopting higher standards of accountability for the care, education and treatment of all individuals with autism. ASAT’s mission is to disseminate accurate, scientifically sound information about autism and treatments for autism and to
improve access to effective, science-based treatments for all people with autism, regardless of age, severity of condition, income or place of residence.

Autism Family Services of New Jersey
Autism Family Services of New Jersey is dedicated to ensuring a better quality of life for individuals and their families affected by autism and related disorders throughout the lifespan. Autism Family Services of New Jersey (AFSNJ) is a leading provider of family support services to the autism population under contract with the New Jersey State Division of Developmental Disabilities. AFSNJ has developed after school programs that are designed to provide quality care to children on the autism spectrum. Autism Family Services of New Jersey also provides recreational programs which are designed to offer young people with disabilities individualized and group recreational and socialization opportunities.

Autism New Jersey
Autism New Jersey is a nonprofit agency providing information and advocacy, services, family and professional education, and consultation. Autism New Jersey encourages responsible basic and applied research that may lessen the effects of, and potentially prevent, autism. Autism New Jersey is dedicated to ensuring that all people with autism receive appropriate, effective services to maximize their growth potential and to enhancing the general public's overall awareness of autism.

Autism Research Institute (ARI)
The Autism Research Institute (ARI), a non-profit organization, was established in 1967. For more than 40 years, ARI has devoted its work to conducting research, and to disseminating the results of research, on the triggers of autism and on methods of diagnosing and treating autism. We provide research-based information to parents and professionals around the world.

Autism Society of America (ASA)
The ASA presents information about ASD: its diagnosis, treatment, education approaches, and impact on family life. Includes information about environmental health and autism, an online directory of local resources, Spanish language resources, and contact information for local ASA chapters.

Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

Autism Spectrum News
Autism Spectrum News is a new publication from the award-winning Mental Health News Education, Inc. The vision to create Autism Spectrum News began in the fall of 2006 when we met with and began following the life of a parent of a young adult on the spectrum.

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a non-profit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN's supporters include autistic adults and youth, those with other distinct neurological types and neurotypical family members, professionals, educators and friends. ASAN was created to provide support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum while working to change public perception and combat misinformation by educating communities about persons on the autism spectrum. Our activities include public policy advocacy, community engagement to encourage inclusion and respect for neurodiversity, quality of life oriented research and the development of autistic cultural activities and other opportunities for autistic people to engage with others on the spectrum.

The Center for Disease Control
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and health education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. For more information about the DC’s Study to Explore Early Development (SEED).

Children’s Specialized Hospital
The Autism Program at Children's Specialized Hospital 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 Syndrome). The Program is dedicated to improving the lives of children, adolescents and families with autism spectrum disorders by providing comprehensive assessment, treatment, community education and research. Children’s is the nation’s largest provider of pediatric medical rehabilitation with services including both inpatient, outpatient and long-term care for children from birth-21 with various developmental, medical and mental health needs.

The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) National Autism Organization. The all volunteer-run organization, was established to develop, advocate for and support programs through grant awards that enrich the lives of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The guiding principle of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is to honor the individuality of each person with ASD so that each may participate throughout their lifetime in vocational, recreational, educational and residential opportunities that are suitable, stimulating and sustainable and allow for maximum integration in the community. Quality of life issues, including health and wellness throughout the lifespan, awareness about co-morbid health conditions and the development of positive support systems for adults on the spectrum are an integral part of our mission.

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities.

Easter Seals Disability Services - Autism
Easter Seals programs across the country provide a wide variety of interventions that help individuals of all abilities, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Easter Seals currently has a combination of services specifically targeting individuals with the diagnosis of ASD as well as other services that include individuals with ASD among their service recipients.

The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center
The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities is New Jersey’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD). The Boggs Center is part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Pediatrics. Since its inception in 1983, The Center has emphasized a community based, life span approach to meeting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Interactive Autism Network
The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) is an innovative online project bringing together tens of thousands of people affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and hundreds of researchers in a search for answers. Individuals with ASD and their families can share information in a secure setting to become part of the largest online autism research effort in the United States. The data collected by IAN both facilitates scientific research and empowers community leaders to advocate for improved services and resources. In addition, anyone impacted by an ASD can become part of IAN's online community to stay informed about autism research and make their voices heard.

Libraries and Autism - We’re Connected
The Scotch Plains Public Library and the Fanwood Memorial Library, together with our partners, produced a customer service training video primarily for library staff to help them serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism and will empower you with specific techniques to offer more inclusive service to this growing and underserved population.

MAAP Services for Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and PDD
MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome, a nonprofit organization, is a global information and support network for more advanced persons with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

National Autism Center
The National Autism Center's mission is to provide leadership and comprehensive evidence-based resources to families, practitioners, and policymakers, to programs and organizations, and to the national community by adhering to the following commitments: provide unparalleled resources to individuals and families affected by autism; support best practice models for nationwide implementation; and shape the national dialogue through the transfer of expertise and
knowledge.

National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH)
The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For the Institute to continue fulfilling this vital public health mission, it must foster innovative thinking and ensure that a full array of novel scientific perspectives are used to further discovery in the evolving science of brain, behavior, and experience. In this way, breakthroughs in science can become breakthroughs for all people with mental illnesses.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Information Clearinghouse

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the Federal government's focal point for the support of biomedical research. NIH's mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Organization for Autism Research
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) was created in December 2001–the product of the shared vision and unique life experiences of OAR’s seven founders. Led by these parents and grandparents of children and adults on the autism spectrum, OAR set out to use applied science to answer questions that parents, families, individuals with autism, teachers and caregivers confront daily. No other autism organization has this singular focus.

Parents of Autistic Children (POAC)
POAC (Parents of Autistic Children), a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, was formed to help address these needs. Founded in 1999, POAC's mission is to provide scientifically-based training to parents, teachers, and related personnel who provide direct services to children with Autism. In order to fulfill its mission, POAC offers targeted and sustained training to parents, professionals and paraprofessionals. This training focuses on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the only research-based treatment recognized by the U.S. Surgeon General for children with autism, and specifically B.F. Skinner’s analysis of Verbal Behavior (VB).

Parent to Parent
Gives contact information for statewide parent-to-parent programs. The programs provide emotional support and information to families of children with special health care needs, most notably by matching parents seeking support with a trained and experienced veteran parent who has shared the experience of disability in the family. Also offers technical assistance and resources to parents interested in building, improving, and evaluating a parent-to-parent program.

Recreation Accessibility Consultants
Recreation Accessibility Consultants, LLC began assisting agencies with accessibility issues in 2008. Our staff has a wealth of experience and has helped shape the new revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2009. Our relationship with the W-T Family of Companies has assisted our clients because of our “one-stop” approach to service for busy staffs and boards.

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
The mission of the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey is to empower and support families and inform and involve professionals and others interested in the healthy development and education of children and youth.

U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

Disclaimer

We have provided a link to these sites because they have information that may be of interest to you. Make Friends with Autism does not necessarily endorse the views or information presented on these sites. Make Friends with Autism does not endorse any commercial products or information that may be presented or advertised on these sites.

For more information about this program contact: KohlsAutismAwareness@childrens-specialized.org

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