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Autism News and Resources

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At the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, we recognize that families, educators and healthcare professionals can benefit from additional information and resources. We have put together a list of news and resources that you may find useful.

You can use these resources to find general information on ASD, including national and regional informational sources and outreach programs.

Regional Autism Support and Services Centers

General Autism Resources

  • Autistic Self Advocacy Network A network that advocates for equality and empowerment for people diagnosed with autism.
  • 100 Day Kit for Newly Diagnosed Families of School Age Children The time immediately following an autism diagnosis can make you feel concerned about what happens next. The 100 Day Kit helps families of children between the ages of five and 13 make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis.
  • National Autism Association This association provides guidance for individuals with autism and aims to help each individual reach their full potential when navigating the world around them.
  • Autism Society This society provides advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state and local levels.
  • Autism Speaks Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions for individuals with autism, as well as their families, through advocacy, support, research and interventions for ASD and related conditions.
  • OC Autism Events Calendar A calendar for OC Autism, a nonprofit designed to empower children and families through monthly events, services and educational programs.
  • Help Me Grow Help Me Grow connects children and their families to developmental services to enhance the development, behavior and learning of children birth through age 8.
  • Autism Resource Mom Autism Resource Mom was created by a mother as she learned how to navigate an autism diagnosis. This site provides support, guidance and hope to families of children with autism spectrum disorder.
  • Autism Response Team The Autism Response Team (ART) offers a toll-free phone number and email for families, providing information in a way and at a time that works best for you.
  • Friendship Circle of Orange County Friendship Circle provides an environment designed to enhance family dynamics and build friendships through a wide variety of fun-filled recreational programs, sports leagues, support groups, respite care, and social opportunities.
  • Autism Navigator Autism Navigator is a collection of web-based tools and courses developed to bridge the gap between science and community practice.
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Autism Spectrum Disorder This institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health, offers information on autism, current research, potential research projects, and information on treatment options.
  • VIETNAMESE: Understanding Autism/Hiểu thêm về bệnh tự kỷ Trong bộ phim này, một người mẹ đi qua kinh nghiệm của mình để khám phá những gì là chứng tự kỷ và cuộc hành trình của gia đình trong việc chẩn đoán bệnh tự kỷ.
  • Healthy Smiles Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County offers dental services with sedation for children with special needs.

Resources for a Successful School Experience

When your child is diagnosed with ASD, you can request an individualized education program (IEP) from your child’s school to optimize their potential for success. The tools below can help you research the best ways to advocate for your child.

Behavior Support

There are times when a child with autism will act out and have behaviors that create issues within the family and the school dynamic. You are not alone. Below are some tools and information you can use when these behaviors arise.

Family Support

Having a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder can feel overwhelming. But it is important to know that you are not alone. Below are some trusted resources that can help you connect to other families and learn tips and tricks to make life easier.

  • Parents’ Guide to Autism A Parent’s Guide to Autism was developed as part of Autism Speaks’ series of Family Support Tool Kits to support you and promote a positive future for your child and family during an often-challenging time.
  • Siblings’ Guide to Autism This guide is written by Autism Speaks to help siblings understand autism and what they can do to help their brother or sister and take care of themselves.
  • Grandparents’ Guide to Autism An Autism Speaks guide that provides grandparents with a better understanding of autism, and tips, tools and real-life stories to guide you as you support your family immediately after the diagnosis and beyond.
  • Grandparents Autism Network The Grandparent Autism Network informs grandparents and family members about autism and the medical, educational, legal and social issues that affect their families.
  • Family Autism Network The Family Autism Network is a program to increase access to resources for families affected by autism.
  • Comfort Connection Family Resource Center The Comfort Connection Family Resource Center at Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) connects families who have children with special needs to resources and support.
  • Autism Resource Mom Autism Resource Mom was created by a mother as she learned how to navigate an Autism diagnosis. This site provides support, guidance and hope to families of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Transitioning into Adulthood

The transition to adulthood in children diagnosed with autism is usually more complex. Below are some resources you can use to explore what the transition will look like for your child.

  • Transition Toolkit The Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit will help guide children with autism on the journey from adolescence to adulthood, providing suggestions and options to consider on the path to adulthood. Topics covered include self-advocacy skills, legal issues, housing and employment options.
  • Employment Toolkit Autism Speaks created this kit to help a teen or adult research, find and keep employment.
  • GOT Transition This site offers guidance on making sure health care and insurance needs are being met as a child with autism transitions into an adult.
  • North Orange County Continuing Education Disability Support Services This website provides information on The Disability Support Services (DSS) for North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE), which offers programs and services to enable students with disabilities help in achieving their educations, vocational and personal goals.
  • VIETNAMESE: Transitioning to Adulthood/Chuyển sang tuổi trưởng thành Bộ phim này sẽ hiển thị kinh nghiệm của một cá nhân như là một bác sĩ và một người mẹ của một đứa trẻ bị bệnh tự kỷ.

Medical Research and Studies

The Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center is involved in the research community, paving the way for even better treatment options for ASD in the future. While the options we have now allow children to progress to become a successful member of society, we understand that research and studies can improve on that. Below are websites that can help you stay abreast of some of the latest research being done on ASD and its treatment.

  • SPARK for Autism SPARK stands for Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research, and its mission is to speed up research and advance the understanding of autism.
  • Interactive Autism Network This network was created to facilitate research of ASD, but no longer accepts applications. While it is no longer in the research realm, the website is full of information on past studies to help you expand your knowledge.

We have compiled the following resources to help educators work with children who have ASD.

Tool Kits

This tool kit from Autism Speaks provides helpful information about students with autism to promote understanding and acceptance at school. It includes tools and strategies to increase learning for all members of the school community.

Download the School and Community Tool Kit

Healthcare Professional Resources

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)
NTACT assists state education agencies, local education agencies, state VR agencies and VR service providers in implementing evidence-based and promising practices ensuring students with disabilities.

Identifying and Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Course for Pediatric Clinicians
This free course from the American Academy of Pediatrics will increase knowledge among pediatric clinicians on evidence-based practices for screening, evaluation, referral for diagnosis and management of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Social Interaction Preference Assessments
Dr. Casey Clay, director of the Behavior Program at the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, discusses social interaction preference assessments in this ABA podcast.