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National Resources 

All organizations listed below provide services or information nationwide. If you are a service provider and would like your business listed below, please click here. Overwhelmed by this list? Contact Autism Society - The Heartland for Information & Referral services to receive personalized help finding providers and organizations that fit your needs!

*Autism Society - The Heartland makes no representations or warranties regarding the services or products supplied by any provider depicted on this list.

Autism Society

The Autism Society of America has been improving the lives of all affected by autism for over 50 years and envisions a world where individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. We provide advocacy, education, information and referral, support, and community at national, state and local levels through our strong nationwide network of Affiliates. Autism Society - The Heartland is a local chapter of the national Autism Society organization.  

Adult Resources

45 Curated Disability Scholarships for 2021 (Updated Yearly): Regularly updated (listed by deadline) disability scholarships that you can apply for, to reduce your fees.

Autism Support Network:The mission of Autism Support Network is conveyed in our tagline: connect, guide and unite. Our goal is to short-cut the uphill battle individuals and families undertake when faced with autism – whether that means the initial diagnosis, the day-to-day living and coping needed, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information. Our support community, which is free for anyone to join, is intended to further reduce the need to “reinvent the wheel” and collectively pool global knowledge and support from all those touched by ASD wherever they might live. We all experience frustration and can feel isolation in our journeys with ASD. The Autism Support Network is designed as a place by those living with ASD for those with ASD and those seeking social connection, peer guidance and a feeling of community with those that understand.

Scholarship and Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities:Types of learning disabilities include dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysphasia, visual processing disorder, and auditory processing disorder. Numerous scholarships are offered specifically for students with learning disabilities, and can help alleviate some of the financial strain associated with pursuing a postsecondary degree.

Student Training & Education In Public Service: Resources & Support for College Students with Disabilities: Students living with a physical or learning disability have a right to attend college and receive accommodations to enable them to have a successful college experience. This guide identifies key resources to support you as a student with a disability and offers valuable suggestions on where to find additional assistance both on campus and in your community. There’s a wealth of information available, so it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This guide narrows your search for assistive technologies and resources and makes finding the information you need to do your best in college easier.

https://www.edumed.org/resources/college-with-autism/: The guide helps students with ASD learn how to find a school that meets their needs and create an effective college transition plan, and provides other helpful tips and resources for making college the best experience possible.

Autism Information (General)

AACP Publishing: AAPC Publishing specializes in books and multi-media that provide mainstream, hands-on advice and information to parents, educators, and others about topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Autism Care Today: Autism Care Today's goal is to introduce and help facilitate early and on-going treatment by providing the necessary resources (including referrals, funding and guidance) to individuals with autism and their families throughout the United States. Studies demonstrate that early and intense intervention is important when treating individuals with autism, yet sadly very few of the effective treatments are covered by medical insurance and families are often relegated to piece together a treatment program for their child via multiple funding sources.

Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.

Autism Spectrum Coalition: Autism Spectrum Coalition is a world wide 501-C-3 non profit organization providing information, networking, referrals and printed materials for families, challenged individuals and professionals concerned with the autism spectrum. Founded in 1984, MAAP Services, adheres to the basic principle that all individuals with autism spectrum challenges have the ability to learn, grow and enjoy a good quality of life.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation: In the past nine years, ASDF has provided direct financial assistance, through all of our programs, to approximately 3,319 families who have children on the autism spectrum. Since 2010 ASDF has given out autism awareness information to more than 3,428,000 new mothers through hospitals in all 50 states through our Autism Awareness Program. Through our 2019 iPads for Kids Programs, we were able to send 84 iPads to children who are nonverbal. Our 2019 Holiday Gift Card Program provided 354 gift cards from Walmart and Target to families who needed assistance. We are proud of the work we do. We make a difference.

CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is the only collaborative network to track the number and characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in multiple communities in the United States. CDC encourages partners to use information from the ADDM Network in their local communities and across the country to move forward initiatives, policies, and research that help children and families living with ASD.

MyGOAL: Our mission is to support families facing autism. We do this through education, marriage counseling, and advocacy as they navigate through the complex challenges associated with the journey of autism from diagnosis to recovery or a better quality of life. MyGOAL Autism is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization with a vision to restore lives and families affected by Autism through Education and Empowerment.

National Autism Association: The mission of the National Autism Association is to respond to the most urgent needs of the autism community, providing real help and hope so that all affected can reach their full potential.

Verywell Health’s guide on Autism: A reliable, understandable, and up-to-date resource which provides a broad overview of Autism, addresses frequently asked questions, and includes a wide variety of articles to help you support your loved one.

Education

Autism and Sleep: Empowering Children with ASD for Better Sleep: To help children with ASD create a healthy sleep routine, we’ve created a guide with actionable methods for coping with stress and sleep disorder. Our resource also includes printable, visual aids to help children get involved, such as: a personalizable bedtime pass to help children feel comfortable adjusting to a new sleep schedule and a customizable bedtime routine to help children with ASD personally create their own sleep schedule.

Autism Internet Modules: AIM is designed to provide high-quality information and professional development for anyone who supports, instructs, works with, or lives with someone with autism. Each module guides you through case studies, instructional videos, pre- and post-assessments, a glossary, and much more. AIM modules are available at no cost.

Interactive Autism Network:IAN, the Interactive Autism Network, was established in January 2006 at Kennedy Krieger Institute. IAN's goal is to facilitate research that will lead to advancements in understanding and treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To accomplish this goal, we created the IAN Community and IAN Research. The IAN Community is an inviting library where everyone concerned with autism spectrum disorders can learn more about autism research. Everyone can participate and benefit from the IAN Community.

Parents as Teachers: Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe and ready to learn by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years in life, from prenatal through kindergarten.

Sesame Street and Autism:Sesame Workshop created Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, a nationwide initiative aimed at communities with children ages 2 to 5. Developed with input from parents, people who serve the autism community, and people with autism, See Amazing in All Children offers families ways to manage common challenges, to simplify everyday activities, and to grow connections and support from family, friends, and community.

Sleep and Sensory Processing Disorder, a parent's guide: Bedtime with sensory processing disorder can be difficult to navigate for both kids and parents. Hypersensitive children may spend lots of energy avoiding sensations that overwhelm them, not to mention the confusion about why their bodies feel this way. Hyposensitive children may also feel groggy and disconnected without the proper amount of sensory input. Sleeping may be the only time a child with SPD may find total rest, so it’s important to give them maximum comfort so they can do just that. 

Special Products and Programs

Angel Sense: The only GPS tracker designed for special needs. A proven safety device with assistive speakerphone to protect your loved one & give you peace of mind.

Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE) Collaboration:  The Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE) Collaboration is a working group of six national non-profit autism organizations whose mission is to prevent autism-related wandering incidents and deaths.

Backyartisan: Fully Accessible Guide to Accessible and Inclusive Playgrounds and Playsets: Accessible and inclusive playgrounds are becoming the new standard across the country, whether they’re in public parks or your backyard. If you’re a parent looking to set something up in your backyard, this guide should give you a great head start on how to find the right equipment and make an accessible setup. If you’re a planner for your local community, hopefully this is a great head start to transforming a new area into an accessible and inclusive play space for all children.

Danny’s Wish - iPads for Autism: The mission of Danny’s Wish is to provide life enhancing resources to families of children with autism and autism related spectrum disorders. The Danny’s Wish iPads for Autism Campaign provides free iPads to families of nonverbal children with Autism. Through the efforts and support of friends and family like you, Danny’s Wish has already provided thousands and thousands of iPads to children, providing the gift of speech and communication.

Disabled Dealer Magazine: We are an advertising source where individuals and businesses place their items for sale, if you see an item you are interested in you will need to contact the phone number listed in the ad. We are not a dealer.

Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism:A foundation established by NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their son, Doug Jr. that awards grants on an annual basis to non profit organizations that provide direct services, family support grants, education, advocacy. and recreational opportunities for individuals with autism. 

Drumming With Drew: Drumming with Drew is a YouTube series teaching kids on the spectrum how to drum. In this 4 part series, kids will not only learn the beginning rudiments of drumming, but also have fun drumming to music. Studies show that drumming improves concentration and communication in kids with autism. This series is designed and taught by Andrew Schilken, a 17 year old high school senior from Omaha, who will be attending Berklee College of Music in the fall. Drew appreciates any feedback you have for his work, and you can let him know what you think here.

Friends of Disabled Adults & Children (FODAC): FODAC’s mission is to provide durable medical equipment (DME) such as wheelchairs and hospital beds at little or no cost to individuals with disabilities and their families. We seek to enhance the quality of life for people of all ages who have any type of illness or physical disability. Since 1986, FODAC has collected and distributed more than 50,000 wheelchairs! FODAC provides over $9 million each year in equipment and services to the community at little or no cost to the recipients. FODAC is a 501(c)(3) and does not have direct funding from Medicare/Medicaid for the services offered. Most equipment for people with disabilities is issued for a suggested donation but some services have mandatory fees.

Fund It Forward: Fund It Forward is a volunteer run non-profit organization which believes that parents of children with special needs are strong, willing and able to endure daily struggles. They advocate every day to help their children gain independence. Many things do not come easily for these families; they fight insurance companies to approve equipment, pay expensive medical bills, and sometimes even battle with medical professionals to get their children the excellent care they deserve. Because of the constant battles to provide the best quality of life for their children, Fund It Forward believes these families deserve help in addressing their concerns: We help them obtain expensive medical and adaptive equipment such as augmentative communication devices, bathing and feeding chairs, enclosed beds or sensory equipment. These devices can dramatically aid a family struggling to meet the needs of a disabled child.

Modest Needs Foundation: Founded in 2002, Modest Needs is a non-profit organization with a unique, threefold mission. Modest Needs exists: (1) To responsibly provide short-term financial assistance to individuals and families in temporary crisis who, because they are working and live just above the poverty level, are ineligible for most types of conventional social assistance but who (like many of us) are living one or two lost paychecks away from the kind of financial catastrophe that eventually leads to homelessness; (2) To lessen the burden of state and federal agencies charged with the care of the truly indigent by doing everything in our power to stop these at-risk households from slipping into the cycle of poverty, despite the burden posed by an unanticipated, emergency expense; and (3) To promote compassion and generosity on the part of individual persons living in the United States and Canada, the areas that we serve, by standing as a living testament to the power of human kindness to change lives, no matter how much (or how little) a person has to share.

National Park Service: The National Park Service provides a FREE Access Pass U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. Applicants must provide documentation of permanent disability and residency or citizenship.

Numotion: Numotion is the leading provider of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) in the United States. That means we’re helping thousands of people with individually configured, medically necessary mobility products and services. From manual and powered wheelchairs to disposable medical supplies that serve unique medical and functional needs, we are helping more people live more freely.

Project Linus: At Project Linus, a non-profit organization, we provide homemade blankets to children in need. Our blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life and many different sources.

Small Steps in Speech: Small Steps in Speech is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization which provides grants on behalf of children with speech and language disorders for therapies, treatments, communicative devices, and other services aimed at improving their communication skills. A grant from Small Steps in Speech provides financial support to families seeking speech and language services for their children, either not covered or not fully covered by their health care plan.

Sproutflix:Sproutflix hosts the largest and most diverse collection of films featuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) on the marketplace. With over 280 titles, Sproutflix hopes to reinforce accurate portrayals of individuals within this community, help breakdown stereotypes and promote a greater acceptance of differences and awareness of similarities.

The Y: Our Commitment to Inclusion: The Y is made up of people of all ages and from every walk of life working side by side to strengthen communities. Together we work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural background, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, income, national origin, race or sexual orientation, has the opportunity to reach their full potential with dignity. Our core values are caring, honesty, respect and responsibility—they guide everything we do.

UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation: The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) offers timely financial support to families, so they can focus on what is most important – improving the quality of life of their child. UHCCF grants help with medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance.

Varghese Summersett PLLC - Autism Scholarship: Approximately 1 in 59 children are affected by autism, making it the fastest growing developmental disorder. It is also often associated with another disorder. Autism affects development in the brain, and if diagnosed early on, those affected can have a better quality of life. This is why the attorneys at Varghese Summersett PLLC are proud to announce our Annual Autism Scholarship to honor a cause that is near and dear to our hearts. Two of our criminal attorneys both have children with disabilities, and in an effort to recognize and honor them, we are offering this scholarship. This scholarship is intended to assist a deserving autistic child who is in need of financial aid towards his or her educational or recreational opportunities. The award may be used towards a camp, tutoring, education, or other tools to help the student progress and live a fulfilling, happy life.