Adult Autism Spectrum Friends is an activity, advocacy, etc. group for Adults on the Autism Spectrum (18 years and older) in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC. We are run by Autistic Adults, for Autistics Adults. Being an Adult on the Autism Spectrum means that it is harder for us to get to know people and make friends than our NT counterparts, the aim of this group is to make it easier in a more relaxed atmosphere where you can be yourself, stims and all! Eye contact isn't essential to be part of this group; all you need is a desire to do neat things! The kinds of activities that we will host will be anything from playing board games to going to exhibits, etc. This is our group, ideas are always appreciated! Join us, share your experiences, learn about the best resources, and keep updated on Autism Activism. Think of us as a group of friends that help each other cope with a world that doesn't always understand us. Come and let your hair down and relax among your true peers who require no explanations.

AJE was formed to motivate and educate parents, and those working with parents about the laws that govern special education and related services, and the consequences of institutional negligence and/or inappropriate classification of students with special needs.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is a professional medical organization comprised of child and adolescent psychiatrists. The mission of the AACAP is the promotion of mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.

This is a non-sectarian support group for parents of AS and high-functioning autism children (all ages)

Who is it for: Parents. JSSA also sponsors a number of activities including: Social Skills Therapy specifically for children with AS/PDD. Parenting Groups, and a variety of workshops on AS, ADHD, effective discipline, etc.

We have two offices. In addtion to the Washington, DC location, as set forth above, we are also in Bethesda, MD at Wildwood Medical Center, Suite 208, 10401 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814. We provide assessment (diagnosis and school evalutations), therapy and consultation for children on the spectrum, and their families. We work in partnership with families from diagnosis to advocacy. Social skills, and parent support groups, and individual interventions are also available.

DC Autism Parents
"Where Parents Empower Parents"

The Mission of DC Autism Parents is to improve the lives of all affected by autism in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area through advocacy, education, support, services, and research in order to promote community inclusion and awareness.

This group is open to parents, professionals, and members of the autism community.

We provide monthly support meetings, an autism playgroup, and DC Autism Parents Yahoo Group.

DCASA is a non-profit organization of parents, professionals, and friends of persons with autism, designed to promote the general welfare of persons with autism in the District of Columbia.

The Center serves organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. We offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technology (AT). Whether you're an organization, a parent, an educator, or an interested friend, we hope you'll find information that supports you in your efforts to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities.

Connecting families with Autism. Provide monthly gatherings for families to enjoy, such as pumpkin patch field trip, bowling days, rock wall climbing day, zoo outing.

This is a social and support group for adults with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism. This group serves individuals from the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Maryland.

We welcome new members to our group and also invite them to join our listserv:

Works to build communities that value, engage, and challenge children and adults with developmental disabilities from all ethnic and cultural groups.

The mission of NCC is to provide a lifetime of opportunities for people in the community with developmental disabilities to live full, meaningful and productive lives. Supported Employment, Vocational Day Program/Sheltered Workshop, Individual Support Services, Community Supported Living Arrangements, Residential Services, Transportation

In-depth and timely news related to educating students with disabilities. Offers unique resources to special education professionals and parents.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of all persons with mental retardation and their families through supports and advocacy.

CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.

The Training and Advocacy Support Center (TASC) is a centralized repository for training and technical assistance information and coordination for federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Programs. TASC is a federal interagency project of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Center for Mental Health Services and Rehabilitation Services Administration. Funding for TASC comes from the 2 percent set-aside in the federal appropriation for each P&A program. Congress created the 2 percent set-aside to ensure that P&A staff receive appropriate training and skill development.

Services provided by ULS under the protection and advocacy grants include information and referral; education and training; investigation of reported or suspected instances of abuse or neglect; legal counsel; technical assistance, and litigation services; and technical assistance regarding legislative and policy concerns. All services are offered free of charge to eligible individuals in accordance with ULS' available resources and policies.

Zero to Three is a national resource organization focusing on the first 3 years of life that aims to strengthen and support families, practioners, and communities to promote the healthy development of infants and toddlers.