Autism Resources

Autism: What is it?

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s social and communication skills. Each autistic person has different experiences.

Autism is an example of neurodiversity, which means that everyone interprets the world differently. It does not need to be cured. Autistic people need access to support and acceptance to allow them to function in a world that was not designed for them.

What are common autistic traits?

Common autistic traits and examples are below. These traits may be expressed differently in children and adults. Not every autistic person has each trait. People without autism may have some of these traits. Just because your child has some of these behaviors, does not mean that they have autism.

To learn more about common autistic traits in children, click here: What are the Early Signs of Autism? – HealthyChildren.org. This webpage has comparisons between the development of children with and without autism.

The CDC’s webpage has information on developmental milestones by age. To learn more, click here: CDC’s Developmental Milestones | CDC. There are also photos and videos showing developmental milestones. To learn more, click here: Milestones in Action | CDC.

To learn more about common autistic traits in adults, click here: AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit

Who can diagnose autism?

Diagnosing autism can be a long process. There is not a medical test, like a blood test, that can be done. To diagnose autism, a licensed professional reviews a person’s developmental and behavioral history. People trained to diagnose autism include developmental pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, and more.

Resources to Receiving a Diagnosis

To make the process of finding a provider easier, a list is below. This list does not include all options.

Diagnostic Evaluations for Autism Resources
In addition to the providers above, more facilities are listed on pages 4 to 6: Elwyn’s Philadelphia Special Needs Resource Guide (the LAST A-List). This list has not been updated since 2018.

Diagnosing Autism in Adults

Some people realize later in life that they are autistic. As an adult, it is up to the person to decide if they want an official diagnosis. Benefits of an official diagnosis include increased availability of support services. To learn more about the benefits and consequences of receiving an official diagnosis as an adult, click here: AASPIRE: Adult Autism Diagnosis. If you are interested in unofficial online testing, this resource has different tests that can indicate if you are autistic: Embrace Autism. These tests should not be used for official diagnostic purposes.

Support and Services for patients and their families

In Spanish: Autismo Para Familias Latinas (Bilingual (English/Spanish) parent perspective on what it means to raise a young autistic child)

Receiving an autism diagnosis may cause many emotions. Some people may feel relieved while others may feel overwhelmed. Remember, there is no “right” way to feel after receiving a diagnosis.

There are many services available to help with a new diagnosis. Services include behavioral support, physical therapy, healthcare support, safety tips, support groups, and more.

Not all services will work for each person. It will help to ask new providers questions to make sure it is the right fit. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network and Office of Developmental Primary Care put together the following questions to act as a starting point:

The following resources are listed by type of service. This list does not include all support options.

General

The Arc of Philadelphia is an advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To view their resource page, click here: SpArc Philadelphia: The Arc: Resources

The Organization for Autism Research made a list of resources for autistic people, families, educators, and more. These resources are available in English and Spanish. To learn more, click here: Autism Resources

Autism NOW offers fact sheets about employment, future planning, relationships, self-advocacy, and more. These resources are available in English and Spanish. To learn more, click here: Fact Sheets | Autism NOW Center | National Initiative of The Arc

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Autism Research created the CAR Autism Roadmap. This roadmap has resources on diagnostics, education, community support, employment, and more.

CAR Autism Roadmap Resources lets you search for resources based on location, provider type, or description.

Behavioral Support, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, and Occupational Therapy

Northern Children’s Services has school, community, and home-based behavioral health support in Philadelphia. Click here to learn about the services available and the school districts served: Behavioral Health | Northern Children’s Services

Physical therapy uses exercise and movement to increase motor skills, posture, and balance. Find a Physical Therapist allows you to find services based on location, treatment, and more.

Speech-language therapy is used to improve communication skills. This therapy helps people develop verbal language skills or other language skills like communication through pictures or text. ASHA ProFind allows you to find services based on location, language, and more.

Occupational therapy is used to help people learn how to complete daily living activities. To find an occupational therapist near you, we suggest speaking with your healthcare provider for recommendations.

Healthcare

To learn more about available resources based on your insurance coverage, click here: ASAN Resources on Coverage for Autism-Related Services – Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The following resource explains different types of insurance coverage, healthcare support, and has step-by-step examples of how to make a healthcare appointment. To learn more, click here: Transition to Adulthood: A Health Care Guide for Youth and Families

The AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit has healthcare information for patients, families or caregivers, and providers. Included in this toolkit are questions about staying healthy, visiting a healthcare provider, and more.

Some healthcare providers may know less about autism than others. If you are worried about an appointment, click here (Autism Healthcare Accommodations Tool) to fill out a survey that creates a form to bring to your appointment. This survey allows you to explain how you communicate, sensory sensitivities, and more.

The Continuing Care Program is a primary care office located in Philadelphia. This office serves patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. If you think this provider may be the right fit for you, click here to learn more: Continuing Care Program – Jefferson University Hospitals

Safety

The following resource has safety tips for self-advocates, families, and caregivers. The topics covered in these toolkits include abuse, neglect, safety, police interactions, and mental health: Autism & Safety Toolkit – Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Organization for Autism Research has a detailed manual about safety, along with worksheets that can be used at home. To download a copy of this book, click here: A Guide to Safety

Think Safety, a project created by the Organization for Autism Research, is an online platform that allows discussions between autistic people, families, caregivers, and law enforcement. This platform has various safety resources including worksheets, videos, and guides. To access this resource, click here: Think Autism SafetyThe following resource has information that police officers, healthcare providers, and firefighters should know about autism. It has a small section of safety tips for parents and caregivers. To access this resource, click here: Greater Philadelphia Autism Society | Police

Support Groups

If you are looking for support groups based on your neighborhood in Philadelphia, click here: Philadelphia Autism Network (PAN) Workshop Series – Philly Autism Project

If you are looking for support groups in Bucks, Montgomery, or Philadelphia County, click here: Greater Philadelphia Autism Society | Resources

The National Autistic Society has an online community for autistic people and their families. To learn more, click here: Community. This page has stories written by autistic people and their families about life with autism.

To find a support group on Facebook, search “autism support groups” in the search bar!

Autistic Creators, Blogs, and Entertainment

If you want to learn more about the autistic experience from autistic people, there are plenty of social media pages to follow! These links suggest accounts run by autistic people:

If you are interested in entertainment including blog posts and art from autistic people, click here: The Art of Autism

If you are looking for research, blog posts, and other content created by autistic people, click here: Embrace Autism