Variety Club

Website: http://www.varietyphila.org/serve/autism-initiative/

Autism Services, Education, Research and Training (ASERT) Regional Centers

These regional collaborations have been established by the Pa Bureau of Autism Services to improve regional access to quality services and interventions, provide information and support to families, train professionals in best practices and facilitate collaboration among providers of services throughout the commonwealth.

ASERT Contact Information:

PA ASERT Eastern Region
Director – Peter Doehring, Ph.D.
1-866-506-5841
aserteast@email.chop.edu

PA ASERT Central Region
Director - Shiyoko Cothren, M.H.A.
1-877-231-4244
www.AutismCentralPA.org

PA ASERT Western Region
Director - John McGonigle, Ph.D.
412-235-5407
cramerrd@upmc.edu

Autism / PDD Support Groups

Bucks County

The Autism Support Network

The Autism Support Network provides support, advocacy, community awareness and family activities for families who have children on the autistic spectrum. For more information go to: www.autismsupportnetwork.org or contact us at 215-453-9070.

Indian Creek Foundation
420 Cowpath Rd.
Souderton, Pa 18964

Sharing and Caring

Sharing and Caring of Bucks County meets on the 2nd Thursday at 7:00PM in the Education Bldg., St. Vincent De Paul Church in Richboro, meeting September to May, nine times a year.

For directions, visit http://www.svdp-richboro.org/directions.htm

The Sibshop, a sibling support group, ages 7+ is conducted by a social worker who specializes in counseling for families with special needs children. Current membership includes parents with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information, visit our website at www.sharingcaringbuckscounty.org, or by email at info@sharingcaringbuckscounty.org.

Autism Spectrum Support Group

This group meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month at: Keller Williams Realty, 36 Richboro Rd., Newtown, PA Information about the group: This is a support group for parents and families that have a child with Autism / Aspergers/Pervasive Developmental Disorders. This is a chance to talk to other parents working with similar issues. During our meetings, parents can discuss the topics that pertain to their child. For more information contact Theresa Lux at tlux2@verizon.net Please join our yahoo online site at: www.bucksautism.com

Bucks County Autism Support Coalition

The Bucks County Autism Support Coalition is a community-based group focused on maximizing the personal development of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This group is comprised of educators for local school districts and intermediate units, mental health professionals, physicians, behavior specialists, and parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information call: 267-885-4500 or visit our site: http://www.bcasc.org

Autism Spectrum Support Group

Bio Med & nutritional focus Meets at the Goodnoe Elementary School monthly (2nd Wed. 7-9PM) For more info contact Theresa Lux at: eljoco99@comcast.net

Penn Foundation Autism Family Support Center

Debra Springer (215)453-5178

Chester County

Chester County ASD Support Group

Coordinator: Jane Thurston
Website: http://chestercountyasdsupportgroup.com/

Vanguard School Parent Group

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 7-9PM in the new "All-Purpose Room" on the Vanguard campus. All parents are welcome, whether or not you have a child attending Vanguard. For more information, contact (610) 296-6700.

ASCEND Group Inc.

ASCEND, the Asperger Syndrome alliance for Greater Philadelphia, holds meetings in Delaware, Chester and Bucks counties. Support/information gathering meetings (for family members and caregivers of both children and adults) are free of charge. Families affected by Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses are welcome. Speaker meetings ($5 for non-members) are held in Delaware County bi-monthly and all are welcome. Visit the ASCEND website at http://www.ascendgroup.org for up-to-date information on dates and locations for all meetings. Or call 610/449-6776. Chester County ASCEND meetings take place every third Wednesday of the month, 9:30-11:30 am, at Grove United Methodist Church, 490 West Boot Road, in West Chester. Chapter Coordinator: Barb Sullivan (610-701-0466 or barbas@erols.com).

Delaware County

Delco Family P.A.S.S. (PDD/Autism Spectrum Support)

meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00PM at the Springfield Hamby Masonic Hall on Woodland Ave. (Rt. 420). Delco Family PASS hosts informative speakers and has a parents only listserv. For more information go to our website www.delcofamilypass.com phone: (610) 626-9511; or email barbzimmerman@delcofamilypass.com

ASCEND Group Inc.

ASCEND, the Asperger Syndrome alliance for Greater Philadelphia, holds meetings in Delaware, Chester and Bucks counties. Support/information gathering meetings (for family members and caregivers of both children and adults) are free of charge. Families affected by Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses are welcome. Speaker meetings ($5 for non-members) are held in Delaware County bi-monthly and all are welcome. Visit the ASCEND website at http://www.ascendgroup.org for up-to-date information on dates and locations for all meetings. Or call 610/449-6776. Delaware County ASCEND meetings take place on the second Tuesday of each month (except July and August), 7:30 pm, at Grace Chapel, which is located at Eagle and Darby Roads in Havertown. Chapter coordinator: Beth Zuckowski (610-789-7360 or mamazuk@hotmail.com).

Montgomery County

The Autism Support Network

The Autism Support Network provides support, advocacy, community awareness and family activities for families who have children on the autistic spectrum. We are a 501c3 organization and all are welcome to join - no membership fees. Our meetings are held on the first Monday of every month from September to June from 7:00-9:00pm at the Life Path building behind Grandview Hospital. We have open discussions and speakers throughout the year. We also hold a sibling support group at the same time for school-aged children. For more information go to: www.autismsupportnetwork.org or contact us at 215-453-9070.

Indian Creek Foundation
420 Cowpath Rd.
Souderton, Pa 18964

Abington Support on the Spectrum - bring kids!

Meets monthly 4th Saturday 10 AM -- 11:30 New Life Presbyterian Church at Limekiln Pike & Susquehanna Rds. Dresher. Contact Stacy at stacie@andrewrunion.com or (215) 346-2542

ASD Support Group

Meets monthly 2nd. Friday at 7PM at Columbikill's Church at 414 Sunny Ridge Road , Gilbertsville. Contact Toni Pederson at (610)367-9317 or dajaped@comcast.net

ASCEND

Meets every other month 3rd Thursday at 7PM at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church; 132 E. Valley Forge Rd. King of Prussia. Bill Carroll can be reached at (610)491-9383 or fourcarroll@verizon.net

Norristown Autism Support Group

Meets monthly September through June at Variety's Camp & Development Center near the intersection of Rts. 363 & 73. Contact Cindi Sharma at CJMSharma@comcast.net or Gail Stein at (610)584-4366 x1044

ASCEND Group, Chapter of Families of Adults

Meets monthly, the 1st Saturday each month from 10AM to noon at the Montgomery County Human Services Building at 1430 Dekalb St. in Norristown. Contact Diane Pringle. She can be reached at dianep@pobox.upenn.edu Support meetings are held in several locations for parents/caregivers of children Asperger Syndrome & similar diagnoses (HFA, PDD, etc.) Check with www.ascendgroup.org for updates on scheduled meetings (e.g., some chapters do not hold meetings during the summer months) and contact info for chapter coordinators. ASCEND can be reached at 610/449-6776)

Upper Dublin --Special Education Advisory Council (SPEAC)Autism Committe

For more information visit their website or contact them at SPEACofUD@yahoogroups.com http://www.speacofud.org/

Philadelphia County

Autism Sharing and Parenting

www.autismsharingandparenting.org Renee Henderson 215-413-7106 2 locations: Center for Autism and Community Behavioral Health 8th & Market Sts., 7th fl.

ASCEND

www.ascendgroup.org 610-449-6776 Nazareth Hospital - Marian Conference Room B 2601 Holme Ave. Phila.

WEST PHILA P.A.C.S. Parents of Autistic Children

Roberta Bellamy 215-472-2764 Huey Elementary School 52nd & Pine

PEEA Project Elijah Empowering Autism

Eric D. Williams Sr. elijah@peea.org 267- 258-8687 William A. Sayre High School 58th & Walnut St. West Philly

Philadelphia Autism Network/Elwyn

Karen Krivit 215-222-7344

Autism-Related Support Groups:

Philadelphia Interagency Coordinating Council

www.philadelphiaicc.org 215-731-2464

Philadelphia Right to Education Task Force

www.philadelphialtf.org

Special Parents of Exceptional Children

Jean McCoubrey jfmccou@aol.com 215-913-9027 Chestnut Hill Library

Best Nest

Dina Mitchellor Diane Jackson 215-546-8060

Kensington Spanish-English Hotline

215-751-1800

ABRIENDO CAMINOS A LOS LATINOS CON FAMILIAS EXCEPCIONALES

215-923-3349 Comar Inc. 3825 Whitaker Ave. Phila, Pa 19124

HUNE

(Spanish-English) www.huneinc.org helpline 215-425-5112

Hearts for Autism

Robin Schwoyer 267-231-7585 robin@well-th.com

Holy Terror STARS

Cindy Hinchey chincheystars@yahoo.com 215-331-9876 John Perzel Community Center 2990 St. Vincent St. Phila, Pa

Play-N-Share

Ilona i_naroditskaya@yahoo.com 267-992-8802

Community Council Parent Support Group

This is a support group for all developmental disabilities. There are a number of families involved who have children with autism/PDD. Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 7-9PM at 5120 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. For more information, call Almeata at (215) 473-8744.

E-Mail Group for Dads

The Delaware Chapter of ASA has formed a Dads' e-group, for fathers who have children with autism. The group is an extension of the ASA conference presentation, "For Dads Only". Hopes to be a valuable asset to the autism community, and offer ideas, support and information to all the Dads out there.

• To subscribe, go to: AutDads-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
• To post a message: AutDads@yahoogroups.com