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Autism Speaks Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Tool Kit
In March 2010, Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization, launched the Autism Speaks Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Tool Kit (AS/HFA Tool Kit). The AS/HFA Tool Kit was created specifically to assist families in getting the critical information...
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Parent Voices Drove Autism Certification Standards
It was a VERY troubling message” says Paul Andrew, remembering what he heard from a group of autism parents, advocates, and providers about the state of social services for people with autism in 2005. And it moved him to action. As Managing Director of Community Services for the accrediting...
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Assisting Parents in the Struggle to Access Science-Based Information and Treatments for their Children with ASD
Families of children who receive a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are faced with profound challenges, and many feel a tremendous burden (Mulligan, Steel, Macculloch & Nicholas, 2010). The time of diagnosis may represent a pivotal point for both the child and the individuals...
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How to Combine Cooperation and Advocacy at Your IEP Meeting
The IEP season is now in “full swing” and parents often wonder how they should conduct themselves at their child’s IEP meeting. It truly is a balancing act to be “cooperative” with your child’s IEP team while also advocating for the educational supports that are appropriate for your...
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The Man Who Understood Autism When Nobody Else Did – A Tribute to Leo Kanner
In 1956, my younger son was born. He was about five years old before we finally found a name for the problem he had. We had visited many professionals and asked them to diagnose his condition and tell us what we could do. “There is no name,” most of them said, “and the only thing to do is...
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New Autism Charity Hopes to Carve Out Its Niche, Despite Tough Times
Few nonprofit leaders would consider 2009 an ideal time to start up a charity. But Alison Tepper Singer isn’t letting the recession deter her. What she believes is an important gap in autism research can’t wait for the economy to rebound, she says. Ms. Singer created the Autism Science...
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Autism Advocacy Groups Join Together for the Advancing Futures For Adults With Autism Initiative
Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), an initiative led by a consortium of leading autism advocacy organizations, today announced the launch of a new web site, www.AFAA-us.org, that will provide updates on AFAA's ongoing efforts to improve housing, employment, recreational and social...
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Strategies for Effective Advocacy
How can one person’s voice make a difference? That question is often posed, or at least thought about by most people. You read something in the paper and know for a fact it is misinformation; you hear about an incident that reeks of injustice; you are personally impacted by thoughtless and...
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Autism Advocacy Groups Join Together for the “Advancing Futures for Adults” Initiative
Autism Speaks to Host AFAA Web Site with Updates and Links to Resources and Information Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA), an initiative led by a consortium of leading autism advocacy organizations, today announced the launch of a new web site, www.AFAA-us.org, that will...
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Autism Speaks Offers 100 Day Kit for Families
Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, is offering families of children newly diagnosed with autism a “100 Day Kit”, a personalized resource to assist families in getting through the critical time following an autism diagnosis. In addition to receiving the contents of...
