• Local Chapters
• Advocacy
• Public Policy
• Autism Waiver
• Education
• Community Resources
• Events
• Autism Source

Local Chapters

Autism Society chapters are your best source of information and support. Most chapters are volunteer-led by parents, care providers and other professionals. The Autism Society has chapters in nearly every state reaching out to individuals with autism and their families with information, support, and encouragement.

Contact a Pennsylvania Autism Society chapter.

Visit Autism Source to find local doctors, service providers and other useful resources in your area.

Advocacy

Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania

The mission of the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania is to advance, protect and advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council is a group made up of people with disabilities, family members, advocates and state department representatives who work to create favorable conditions for people with developmental disabilities and their families in the Commonwealth. Created under a federal act and Governor’s Executive Order, the Council is both a planning group and a funding body.

Pennsylvania Health Law Project

PHLP provides free legal services to lower-income consumers, seniors and persons with disabilities who are having trouble accessing publicly funded health-care coverage or services. If you are denied or have been terminated from enrollment in a publicly funded health-care program or have had a service denied, reduced or terminated, PHLP may provide you free direct representation on your appeal.

*Please note that in the context of Special Education Law, an "advocate" differs from an attorney in several ways. By definition, an "advocate" is one that supports or promotes the interests of another while an "attorney" is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on behalf of his or her clients. Although both may be able to help with your legal situation, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) only attorney's fees are recoverable to families prevailing in lawsuits. This delineation was the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision in Arlington Central School District Board of Education v. Murphy, 548 U.S. 291 (2006). There is currently legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would reverse this outcome (the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, HR 434).

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2008 State Autism Profiles - Pennsylvania

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Autism Waiver

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Education

Pennsylvania Department of Education

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network


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Community Resources

Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders

ABOARD helps those with autism achieve their maximum social, educational and vocational potential. If you live in or are moving to Pennsylvania, contact ABOARD for individual and confidential support and guidance.

ASCEND

Browse this site for information about ASCEND Group, Inc., the Asperger & Autism Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. ASCEND members receive many excellent benefits.

Autism Support Network

ASN is a non-profit, parent-run organization that provides support and information to families with children who have a diagnosis on the autistic spectrum. We also provide education and advocacy to parents through informal monthly meetings, conferences and community activities.

Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare- Autism Services

Keystone Human Services

The Keystone Children & Family Services agency is an integrated delivery system for services geared toward children and families. Striving to incorporate the concerns of home, family, school and community from an innovative, multi-dimensional and holistic perspective, KC&FS provides a variety of supports to help children succeed in these realms.

NHS Human Services

NHS Human Services (NHS), through its subsidiaries, is a community-based, non-profit organization with 40 years of experience serving the special needs of children and adults. As a leading provider of community-based behavioral healthcare for the public sector, NHS offers a full range of integrated services in the areas of behavioral health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, addictive diseases, therapeutic foster care, juvenile justice and elder care.

Parent Education Network

PEN is part of a national system of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs), serving north central, northeast, southeast and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PEN is a coalition of professionals and parents of children representing a range of disabilities and ages. We are committed to serving parents of all special- needs children--birth to adulthood--including parents of children in preschool, regular education classes, educational/residential placement, adult systems and those not yet identified as needing service.

The Center for Autism

The Center for Autism is the oldest specialized autism treatment and evaluation center in the nation. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.


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Autism Source

To find more information in your state, please visit www.autismsource.org.

The Autism Society welcomes your comments: If you would like to make a suggestion or share beneficial resources not included in this page, please click here to fill out our contact form.

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Last updated: 22 January 2009