The American Occupational Therapy Association advances the quality, availability, use, and support of occupational therapy through standard-setting, advocacy, education, and research on behalf of its members and the public.

A online network uniting parents and professionals interested in using theatre to help individuals with autism. ATRAN's main site contains research topics, network member contact information, and links to upcoming and related events.

AUCD's mission is to advance policy and practice for and with people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and their communities by supporting our members in research, education, and service activities that achieve our vision.

Autism Salisbury support group offers support, IEP Assistance, Trainings and Conferences.

Mission Statement: Provision of low cost yearly conference for autism and lyme sufferers and their caregivers to know of advocacy, bio-medical, educational, life-plan, and safety services available nationally.

The DBTAC (Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center) provides training, information, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, consumers, schools, and government agencies within the Mid-Atlantic Region (PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, and DC).

Retired Spec. Ed. Director- Now Ed Consultant working with school systems and parents of autistic students.
Adjunct professor - UMES and Chesapeake College
Grandparent of asperger's child

The Epilepsy Foundation will ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; and will prevent, control and cure epilepsy through research, education, advocacy, and services.

The Center serves to foster communication, coordination, and collaboration among a multi-disciplinary team of researchers around the epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Developmental Disabilities (DD).

Dr. Katherine C. Holman is Co-Investigator for the STAART Early Achievements Intervention study for the REACH program at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders and the Assistant Director of our Outreach and Training Program. She is also a faculty member in Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Speech-language pathologist and researcher focusing on early identification and early intervention of autism spectrum disorders.

More than 35 different outpatient clinics, three inpatient units, several home and community programs and clinical laboratories all address the specific conditions of children with a wide range of disorders. Kennedy Krieger is recognized for it’s range of services in areas including autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, neurorehabilitation and feeding disorders.

The NIMH mission is to reduce the burden of mental illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior. This public health mandate demands that we harness powerful scientific tools to achieve better understanding, treatment, and eventually, prevention of these disabling conditions that affect millions of Americans.

The National Institute of Mental Health
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health & Human Services

Study of Children with Autism

Children may be eligible for a study the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is conducting if they have one or more of the following:

􀂾 Autism
􀂾 Regressive autism
􀂾 Loss of communication skills or social interaction
􀂾 Language, communication and/or social skill delays

Participation includes a comprehensive developmental and physical examination and follow-up assessments. Parents will receive a summary of findings from testing. There is no charge for study-related evaluations. Travel assistance is provided.

Children must:

� Be between 1 and 6 years of age
� Be available to come to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland for:
􀂃 An initial evaluation
􀂃 Follow-up visits every 6 months until the age of 5 years

For more information please contact:

Phone: 301-435-7962
(TTY 1-866-411-1010)
Email: NIMH-ASD@mail.nih.gov

If your child or teen (ages 7-17) is suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) he or she may be able to participate in a research study at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). We are investigating the medication riluzole.

Children and adolescents with 1) both Autism Spectrum Disorder and OCD or 2) a primary diagnosis of OCD may be eligible. Participants will be randomized to either riluzole or placebo (pill with no active ingredient) for 12 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, all participants will have the option of taking riluzole (no chance of placebo). A comprehensive psychiatric and medical evaluation and follow-up visits approximately monthly for 6 months, and at 9 and 12 months, are included. There is no cost to participate. Travel assistance may be provided.

For further information please call 301-435-6652 or 301-496-5323 (Lorraine Lougee, LCSW-C) or email OCDNIMH@intra.nimh.nih.gov .
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.

ORD cordinates, stimulates, and supports research on more than 6,000 rare diseases. A rare disease is defined by law as affecting fewer than 200,000 persons in the US. Autisms prevalence is beyond that of a rare disease.

Next Step is the first pediatric physical therapy practice in the mid-atlantic to provide comprehensive intensive therapy. Services include assessments and treatment,NDT, pilates, yoga, e-stim, intensive PT with the Therasuit method and utilization of unique research based equipment.

Our mission is to provide an independent assessment of vaccines and vaccine safety to help guide decision makers and educate physicians, the public and the media about key issues surrounding the safety of vaccines. The institute’s goal is to work toward preventing disease using the safest vaccines possible.

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities programs provide long-term, graduate level interdisciplinary training to health professionals . The purpose is to develop leadership potential to improve the health status of infants, children, and adolescents with or at risk for neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and to enhance the systems of care for these children and their families. The program focuses on health conditions of mental retardation, neurodegenerative and acquired neurological disorders and multiple handicaps. All LEND Programs operate within a university system and most have collaborative arrangements with local university hospitals, children's hospitals, and/or health care centers.