Resources For

 Adolescents and Adults,

Advocacy Resources,

 Employment Resources, 


Treating Diagnoses Treatment Resources




Here on the Resources For Adolescents and Adults, Advocacy And Employment And Treating Diagnoses and Treatment Resources  page you will see each section titled for you and that title is hyperlinked.

When you click on that title it will automatically take you to the following section.

This section is primarily for Adolescents and Adults or anybody who is helping them or the chronological age range from 10 to adulthood but the developmental age may be different so individuals may be younger and still benefit from resources from this section based on the developmental age of the individual, you will see it has a wide variety of resources from books, to websites both by and for Autistic Individuals, to YouTube channels, websites and more. There are LGBTQ resources included, also

Dr. Stephen Shore 

Dr. Stephen Shore (born September 27, 1961) is an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University. 

He has written the books that include: College for Students with  Disabilities, Understanding Autism for Dummies, Ask and Tell, and Beyond  the Wall.

Currently, he serves on the board of Autism Speaks,  and is one of the first two autistic board members in its history,   looking to improve the potential of those on the autism spectrum.

He  once headed the Asperger's Association of New England and was on the  board of the Autism Society of America.

Diagnosed  with "Atypical Development and strong autistic tendencies" and "too  sick" for outpatient treatment Dr. Shore was recommended for  institutionalization.

Nonverbal until four, and with much support from  his parents, teachers, wife, and others, Stephen is now a professor at  Adelphi University where his research focuses on matching best practice  to the needs of people with autism. 

In  addition to working with children and talking about life on  the autism  spectrum, Stephen is internationally renowned for presentations,   consultations and writings on lifespan issues pertinent to education,   relationships, employment, advocacy, and disclosure.

His most recent  book College for Students with Disabilities combines personal stories and research for promoting success in higher education. 

A current board member of Autism Speaks, president emeritus of the Asperger's Association of New England, and advisory board member of the Autism Society, Dr. Shore serves on the boards of the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association,

The US Autism and Asperger Association, the Scientific Counsel of OAR, and other autism related organizations. 

Employment and Autism tips by Temple Grandin webpage

The autism spectrum is extremely variable ranging from a person who remains non-verbal to a brilliant scientist.

In my work as an equipment designer for the meat industry, I have seen many undiagnosed, highly successful people with Asperger’s Syndrome.

The more structured upbringing of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s taught them social rules that have helped them to fit in.

These people did computer programming, design, engineering, equipment maintenance, and accounting.

During my many interviews, I have met radio engineers, television camera operators, and journalists for both print and radio who were Asperger’s.

These successful journalists had the benefit of the same structured upbringing that I had.

When I was growing up all the parents in my neighborhood had similar rules for behavior.

The rules were the same at home, at the neighbor’s house, and at school.

Unfortunately, there are some much younger talented individuals with Asperger’s or high-functioning autism who have lost jobs because their upbringing was less structured.

They were rude and would not obey the boss. I was taught at a young age that rude comments about other people’s appearance are not acceptable, and there were certain activities that I had to do because the whole family did them together.

Going to church was boring to me, but most of the time I behaved in church because I was expected to.

I learned that sometimes I had to do things that the grown-ups wanted me to do. This is an important skill to know.

I could not have my way all the time.

Providing structure and rules will be beneficial to all individuals in the autism spectrum, ranging from a brilliant individual with Asperger’s to an individual who remains non-verbal.

My mother had good instincts on when to enforce the rules and when to make exceptions. 

Temple Grandin Biography webpage 

Dr. Grandin is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University.

Facilities she has designed are located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.

In North America, almost half of the cattle are handled in a center track restrainer system that she designed for meat plants.

Curved chute and race systems she has designed for cattle are used worldwide and her writings on the flight zone and other principles of grazing animal behavior have helped many people to reduce stress on their animals during handling.

She has also developed an objective scoring system for assessing handling of cattle and pigs at meat plants.

This scoring system is being used by many large corporations to improve animal welfare. Other areas of research are: cattle temperament, environmental enrichment for pigs, reducing dark cutters and bruises, bull fertility, training procedures, and effective stunning methods for cattle and pigs at meat plants.

She obtained her B.A. at Franklin Pierce College and her M.S. in Animal Science at Arizona State University. Dr. Grandin received her Ph.D in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1989.

Today she teaches courses on livestock behaviour and facility design at Colorado State University and consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling, and animal welfare.

She has appeared on television shows such as 20/20, 48 Hours, CNN Larry King Live, PrimeTime Live, 60 Minutes, the Today Show, and many shows in other countries.

She has been featured in People Magazine, the New York Times, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, the New York Times book review, and Discover magazine.

In 2010, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people. Interviews with Dr. Grandin have been broadcast on National Public Radio and she has a 2010 TED Lecture titled "The World Needs ALL Kinds of Minds."

She has also authored over 400 articles in both scientific journals and livestock periodicals on animal handling, welfare, and facility design. She is the author of "Thinking in Pictures", "Livestock Handling and Transport," "Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals," "Guide to Working with Farm Animals," and "Humane Livestock Handling."

Her books "Animals in Translation" and "Animals Make Us Human" were both on the New York Times best seller list. "Animals Make Us Human" was also on the Canadian best seller list. Her latest book,

Calling All Minds, was a New York Times best seller for middle school students. Her life story has also been made into an HBO movie titled "Temple Grandin, staring Claire Danes," which won seven Emmy awards and a Golden Globe.

The movie shows her life as a teenager and how she started her career. In 2017, she was inducted into The Women's Hall of Fame and in 2018 made a fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

This web page was put up to educate people throughout the world about modern methods of livestock handling which will improve animal welfare and productivity. You have permission to copy articles, pictures, and diagrams.

My Giant Steps (Illinois) 

Since our inception in 1996, Giant Steps has been focused on providing education, therapeutic and recreational programs for Elementary, Junior High and High School students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), their families and the community.

Giant Steps is currently designated as a therapeutic day school in the State of Illinois licensed and certified to exclusively serve students with a primary diagnosis of Autism.

Our goal is to improve a child's ability to interact, communicate, and develop academic and daily living skills through a one-on-one integrated approach encompassing:  Autism Education: Every student attending the Day School at Giant Steps has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to meet their specific needs and goals within four service domains: cognitive learning and awareness, communication abilities, social/emotional development, and motor skills.

Training: The Autism Training Center (ATC) provides guidance and support to families touched by autism. The ATC offers consulting, training and seminars for individuals and families touched by autism, as well as schools, community organizations, early intervention centers, respite providers, police, paramedics, and emergency workers.

Therapy: Speech/communication therapy, occupational therapy, neurologic music therapy, social work and, applied behavior analysis are available in a one-on-one approach tailored to each student's needs.

Specific physical and creative sessions include dance therapy, yoga, fitness training, social and interactive groups, piano and music lessons.

Recreation: Our Rec Center provides after school activities that complement our education curriculum, including a computer lab, sensory and motor rooms, and dance and yoga areas, art and express yourself centers, as well as fitness facilities.

Life Skills: The adult day program offers opportunities for adults with autism to participate in a work environment and to develop necessary job skills to foster greater independence. 

The Book From Anxiety to Meltdown: How Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Deal with Anxiety, Experience Meltdowns, Manifest Tantrums, and How You Can Intervene Effectively 1st Edition by Deborah Lipsky

Erie County Public Library Amazon

Google Play Apple Books 


Anxiety is the root cause of many of the difficulties experienced by people on the autism spectrum, and is often caused by things such as a change in routine, or sensory overload.

Deborah Lipsky takes a practical look at what happens when things spiral out of control, exploring what leads to meltdowns and tantrums, and what can be done to help.

Drawing on her own extensive personal experience and using real-life examples to explain how autistic people think, the author distinguishes between meltdowns and tantrums, showing how they are different, how each can begin, and most important, how to identify triggers and prevent outbursts from happening in the first place.

Practical and simple solutions to avoiding anxiety are offered throughout, and these are accompanied by calming techniques and suggestions for dealing with tantrums when they occur.

This book will be an essential read for those on the autism spectrum, their families and friends, professionals working with them, and anybody else with an interest in autism spectrum conditions.

The Book: A Treasure Chest of Behavioral Strategies for Individuals with Autism

Future Horizons Amazon 


A cornucopia of ideas, strategies, and concepts that will apply to virtually any situation! The authors address sensory, communication, physical, and social-emotional issues by increasing desired behaviors and decreasing unwanted behaviors. You will learn how to


build sensory diets into everyday activities

use antecedent control

teach students to self-regulate

deal with self-injurious behaviors, physical or verbal aggression

teach toilet training

handle obsessive-compulsive behavior and fixations

deal with crisis/stress/data management

handle data management

and much more.

Whatever problems you face, you'll find helpful solutions to them in this book. This book should be on every teacher's and parent's bookshelf. Great reference source!

The Book Of Happy, Positive, And Confident Sex For Adults On The Autism Spectrum And Beyond!

Different Roads 


From the world-renowned autistic speaker and author, Michael John Carley, comes a guide to sexual activity for individuals on the autism spectrum that is not a leap, but a quantum leap from similar books of the past.

For anyone who feels anxious or negative about the subject, Carley has once again made sex not only fun, but also inclusive. His book is a how-to guide, a primer on relationship structures, a porn clarifier, a masturbation celebrator, and above all, a permission granter to (if not a demander of) pleasure itself.

His writing is passionately critical of the fear-based teachings of the past, crisp, and at times, ingeniously funny.

The brilliant Ha!’s 70-plus, explicit illustrations solidify the joyful nature of this book by depicting people of all sizes, colors, ages, and especially, orientations. For all neurodivergent people who are seeking happy sex lives, THE book has arrived!


Trans and Autistic: Stories from Life at the Intersection

Amazon 

This ground-breaking book foregrounds the voices of autistic trans people as they speak candidly about how their autism and gender identity intersects and the impact this has on their life.


Drawing upon a wealth of interviews with transgender people on the autism spectrum, the book explores experiences of coming out, with self-discovery, healthcare, family, work, religion and community support, to help dispel common misunderstandings around gender identity and autism, whilst allowing autistic trans people to see their own neurodiverse experiences reflected in these interviews.

Working with Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary People

Amazon 


Setting out advice, research and personal reflections to inform professionals' daily practice and overall understanding of the lives and experiences of autistic transgender and non-binary people, this edited volume is an invaluable resource for anyone who seeks to engage more with autistic transgender, non-binary or gender-variant people.


Aiming to contextualise the overlap of autism and gender variance, this book features chapters by leading authorities such as Wenn Lawson, Damian Milton, Isabelle Hénault, Reubs Walsh, Lydia X. Z. Brown, and Shain Neumeier as well as other contributors from around the world. The collection is structured in three sections; the first provides interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches on autism and gender as well as the experiences of transgender and non-binary autistic people; the second features professionals discussing their work, the challenges they face and the solutions they find helpful; and the final section presents thoughts and perspectives from trans and non-binary autistic people on various aspects of their experiences, focusing on information that professionals will need to consider and discuss with the people they support.


Combining rich and nuanced accounts of the lives of autistic trans people, practical guidance and information as well as the latest academic research about autistic transgender and non-binary individuals, this unique collection is essential reading for any professional wanting to develop their daily practice.

This section is intended for everyone, but especially those interested in self-advocacy for themselves, and also on behalf of an Autistic individual using this information. Here you will see advocacy resources primarily related to but not limited to: Self-advocacy about Autism. This includes books, blogs, legal aid, YouTube channels, and more.


Thinking Person's Guide to Autism (TPGA)

Thinking Person's Guide to Autism (TPGA) is the resource we wish we'd had when autism first became part of our lives: a one-stop source for carefully curated, evidence-based, neurodiversity-steeped information from autistic people, parents, and autism professionals.

The goal of TPGA is to help you fast-forward past society’s rampant autism fabrications and negativity, by providing clear, thoughtfully presented, balanced, and referenced information.

We also want you to understand that autism awareness and acceptance are not merely noble but necessary attitudes -- and are separate matters from the autistic and other autism communities’ never-ending fights for medical, legal, social, and educational accommodation.

Our belief is that all autism approaches should mirror the physicians’ credo “First, do no harm.” But how do you determine when benefits outweigh potential damage?

The pseudoscience so often promoted as “autism treatments” has a handful of consistent identifying characteristics.

Ask yourself: Does this practitioner or vendor promise miracles that no one else seems to achieve?

Is the person promising the outcome also asking me for money?

Do I find any scientific research supporting their claims, or are there only individual (often emotional) testimonials of effects?

Does the practitioner or vendor promise a blanket “cure” for unrelated disorders, such as grouping together allergies and autism; or autism and ADHD; or autism, diabetes, cancer, and allergies?

Does the practitioner or vendor have strong credentials as an expert in the therapies they’re promising, or in the field of autism?

Thinking critically is one of the most important actions we can take for those we love, and for ourselves.

Thinking critically starts with listening critically: You will find frank autistic voices on this site, sharing opinions, insights, and experience on a wide range of topics.

They deserve your full attention, consideration, and respect. You may also notice that many autistic contributors appear in dual or triple roles as autism parents and/or autism professionals, and that some prefer to capitalize the term Autistic.

We hope that, with the support of the contributors to Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, you will find your rational self — and embrace the best, fact-based autism approaches and attitudes.

We also hope you'll realize how important it is to maintain the attitude “I love someone who is autistic and…” rather than “I love someone who is autistic but…” Whether that person you love is your child, or yourself. 

Special Needs Network L.A. 

Special Needs Network’s mission is to raise public awareness of developmental disabilities and to impact public policy, while providing education and resources to families, children and adults.

SNN serves as a link between under-served communities and mainstream developmental disability organizations and governmental institutions, which often fail to address issues specific to these communities. SNN firmly believes that dignity, hope and opportunity are the birthright of all children.

Founded in 2005, Special Needs Network, Inc. (SNN) grew out of the struggles of Areva D. Martin, Esq. after her son Marty was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2.

After finding it incredibly difficult to access services for Marty, Ms. Martin became aware of the enormous challenges faced by families affected by developmental disabilities in underserved communities – in particular, the neighborhood of South Los Angeles.

A Harvard-trained attorney, Ms. Martin used her entrepreneurial and legal skills, as well as her own experiences navigating the complex system of care, to create a parent-centered organization with a mission to help the communities in need through four resolutions:  

1. Reduce the waiting period for families to have their children diagnosed;  2. Bring education, resources, and services directly to the community;  3. Provide unique learning opportunities for children and young adults with developmental disabilities; and  4. Forge an action-based coalition of families empowered to self-advocate at all levels of government.

These urgent resolutions were the seeds that blossomed into Special Needs Network and our long list of programs that today serve thousands of families in the Los Angeles area and throughout the state of California.

In May of 2005, we hosted an event that sent shockwaves all the way from South Los Angeles to Sacramento. It was a town hall style meeting held in the heart of the community at the Challenger Boys and Girls Club on South Vermont.

More than a thousand family members and caregivers turned out to show their support at this inaugural event, which was aptly titled “Impact of Autism on Communities of Color.”

Among those in attendance were key local and state officials, many of whom heard for the first time the frustrations of families who are struggling to deal with an unjust system.

Next, we followed this successful event with a series of comprehensive training programs designed specifically for parents of special needs children seeking help in navigating the complex system of care on their own – our flagship Parent Advocacy Mentor Program (PAM). 

Since then, our roster of programs have grown to include Tools for Transformation Conference, Joe Patton Inclusion Camp (Camp JPAC), Back to School Inclusion and Resource Fair, Christmas Care Exchange and Toy Giveaways, and many more. (Learn more about our work.)

Focusing on health and human services, education and awareness, and outreach and advocacy, our programs have provided resources and services to more than 20,000 families to date, effectively establishing Special Needs Network as the premier nonprofit organization in South Los Angeles working on issues of autism and related developmental disabilities.

Different Roads Amazon 


This book details Mr. Mayerson’s extensive career providing legal defense and counsel for ASD children and their families.

While an understanding of the law and the applicable statutes is important, the primary focus of Autism’s Declaration of Independence is substance and practicality, with a constant eye on the ultimate outcome.

Pretty much any student can “graduate” from the public education system. 

However, what steps can be taken to make sure that a student with the potential to do so has sufficiently acquired the functional skills for graduating to something that is personally meaningful and fulfilling for them?

The transition to adulthood when IDEA’s educational entitlements come to an end is, of course, the “main event.”

With so much uncertainty in the world of education, this book is a timely and crucial resource for all Autism families and professionals. This stupid thing on my team


The book start here a guide for parents of autistic kids by the autistic self advocacy Network

PDF Download  Amazon 


When you are starting to learn about autism, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. You might have heard negative things about autism, or feel worried about your child's future. But it is going to be okay. Your kid is still the same kid they were before you knew they were autistic. All the things you love about them haven't changed. Now that you know that they are autistic, you are going to be able to understand them better. That's what this booklet is for. We'll tell you the facts about autism. We'll talk about how to find good services, and about your kid's rights in school. Most importantly, we'll talk about how to support your autistic child as they learn and grow. 

The book Home and community-based Services a guide for self advocates by the autistic self advocacy Network


PDF Download 


ASAN partnered with the Autism NOW Center to produce Accessing Home and Community-Based Services: A Guide for Self Advocates. This handbook was designed to help people with disabilities find and use resources that empower us to live and be in charge of our own lives in our own homes and communities with the supports that we need.


The handbook explains Medicaid home and community-based waivers, how to access them, and what alternatives are available for people who don’t qualify for certain government programs. It also has information about self-directing your support services, and outlines different options for supports we can use for housing, employment, daily living, and accessing our communities.

Roadmap to Transition: A Handbook for Autistic Youth Transitioning to Adulthood by the autistic self advocacy Network

PDF Download 

ASAN partnered with the Family Network on Disabilities to produce Roadmap to Transition: A Handbook for Autistic Youth Transitioning to Adulthood. This plain language handbook was created to help young autistic people understand and plan for their transition to adult life.


Roadmap can be used in different ways. Chapters 2-6 lay the groundwork for understanding and preparing for transition. These chapters cover:


self-determination and self-advocacy

legal rights

how to make a transition plan

how to get supports, and

what supported decision-making is and how to use it.

Chapters 7-10 are content chapters. These chapters give in-depth information about the different things you'll need to think about as you go through transition planning. While each of these chapters focuses on a different topic, they all have sections about the important laws you should know and how that topic fits into your transition plan. The topics covered in these chapters are:


post-secondary education

employment

housing and independent living, and

health care.

While Roadmap's primary audience is transition-age youth, the handbook can be used as a general resource by autistic people at any stage of life. We are also currently developing a version of this resource that is not specific to transition.

The book Knowing Why: Adult-Diagnosed Autistic People on Life and Autism by the autistic self advocacy Network

Amazon 


What happens when you make it to adulthood before finding out you're autistic?

As A.J. Odasso writes in this anthology: “You spend a lot of time wondering what’s wrong without ever knowing why.”

This anthology includes essays from a diverse group of adult-diagnosed autistic people. Our essays reflect the value of knowing why—why we are different from so many other people, why it can be so hard to do things others can take for granted, and why there is often such a mismatch between others’ treatment of us and our own needs, skills, and experiences. Essay topics include recovering from burnout, exploring our passions and interests, and coping with sensory overload, especially in social situations.

If you know you're autistic, are beginning to wonder, share similarities with autistic people, or want to support an adult autistic friend or family member—or if you simply want to know why it's so important that autistic adults know we're autistic—this book is for you.


Accessing Home and Community-Based Services: A Guide for Self Advocates by the autistic self-advocacy Network

PDF Download 


ASAN partnered with the Autism NOW Center to produce Accessing Home and Community-Based Services: A Guide for Self Advocates. This handbook was designed to help people with disabilities find and use resources that empower us to live and be in charge of our own lives in our own homes and communities with the supports that we need.


The handbook explains Medicaid home and community-based waivers, how to access them, and what alternatives are available for people who don’t qualify for certain government programs. It also has information about self-directing your support services, and outlines different options for supports we can use for housing, employment, daily living, and accessing our communities.

Empowering Leadership: A Systems Change Guide for Autistic College Students and Those with Other Disabilities by the autistic self advocacy Network

Amazon 

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is honored to join The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation in presenting Empowering Leadership: A Systems Change Guide for Autistic College Students and Those With Other Disabilities, a resource for equipping the next generation of leaders in the disability rights movement. Empowering Leadership is a clear, detailed guide to help college students with disabilities build a strong community of disability activists at their school, practice effective self-advocacy, and ensure that the legacy of disability advocacy continues long after they have graduated. In this handbook, you will find in-depth information on establishing a disability advocacy group at your school, navigating disability and mental health services, and ensuring that disabled students have a voice on campus. Among the wealth of content in this handbook is information on how to determine the difference between reasonable and unreasonable accommodations and how to request reasonable accommodation, tips on organizing meetings and events, and a variety of other tools and strategies for equipping student activists to effectively advocate for change on campus, share disability culture, and make the most of your college experience On behalf of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, we wish you the best of luck as you continue to grow as activists, students, and self-advocates. Nothing About Us, Without Us!


 The Book Welcome to the Autistic Community by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network

Read the Book Amazon

This book is about what it means to be a part of the autistic community. Autistic people wrote this book. Some autistic people are just learning about their autism. We wanted to welcome them and give them a lot of important information all in one place.


This book talks about what autism is and how it affects our lives. It talks about our history, our community, and our rights. We wrote this book in plain language so that more people can understand it.


We wrote this book for autistic people, but anyone can read it. If you are not autistic, this book can help you support autistic people you know. If you are wondering whether you might be autistic, this book can help you learn more. If you are autistic, think you might be autistic, or if you want to better understand autistic people, this book is for you.


Welcome to the autistic community!

Navigating College: A Handbook on Self Advocacy by the autistic self advocacy Network

PDF Download Amazon 


Leaving high school and going to college is complicated for everyone. But if you're a student on the autism spectrum who is about to enter higher education for the first time, it might be a little bit more complicated for you. Maybe you're worried about getting accommodations, getting places on time, or dealing with sensory issues in a new environment.

Maybe you could use some advice on how to stay healthy at school, handle dating and relationships, or talk to your friends and classmates about your disability. Maybe you want to talk to someone who's already dealt with these issues. That's where we come in.

Navigating College is an introduction to the college experience from those of us who've been there. The writers and contributors are Autistic adults, and we're giving you the advice that we wish someone could have given us when we headed off to college.

We wish we could sit down and have a chat with each of you, to share our experiences and answer your questions.

But since we can't teleport, and some of us have trouble meeting new people, this book is the next best thing.

So as you go back to school, check out a copy of Navigating College for yourself or your loved one. We’ve done this all before--let us help you out.


Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking by the autistic self advocacy Network


Amazon 


Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking is a collection of essays written by and for Autistic people. Spanning from the dawn of the Neurodiversity movement to the blog posts of today, Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking catalogues the experiences and ethos of the Autistic community and preserves both diverse personal experiences and the community's foundational documents together side by side.

EBCALA

The purpose of EBCALA is to educate lawyers, advocates and parents about the legal challenges of autism. Formed in late 2008, EBCALA provides training, resources and a forum within which to advance legal and advocacy strategies to improve the lives of those with autism.

The autism community faces severe legal hurdles in many areas, including special education, insurance, healthcare, family law, criminal law and tort law, particularly related to vaccine injury.

Since 2009, EBCALA has organized an annual conference each May in Chicago, Illinois during the Autism One conference to address the unique legal needs of the autism community.

EBCALA has submitted amicus briefs in recent court cases of critical importance to the autism community.

It filed an amicus brief in Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, a case before the U.S. Supreme Court about the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, and in Cedillo v. HHS, a case on appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from the Omnibus Autism Proceeding.

EBCALA also partnered with Pace Law School to undertake a study of the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program of the Court of Federal Claims.

EBCALA board members frequently lecture, present testimony, and write articles on the legal issues of significance to the autism community.

The Center will continue to research, teach and train people on the legal challenges facing the autism community and serve as a legal resource to the autism community.

EBCALA is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Birt, a remarkable lawyer and parent advocate who fought to recognize and address the legal needs of the autism community.



This is for anyone who is an autistic individual or knows one who is looking for employment. Here you will see resources to help autistic individuals transfer from school life to adult life. These include books, organizations, websites, and jobs that employ autistic people. 

Clinical Corner: Develop Goals for the Future from the Association for Science and Autism Treatment (ASAT) 

There may be some good curricula that can be used at an older age (e.g., Partington’s Assessment of Functional Living Skills (AFLS)). Curricula like the AFLS include measuring basic living skills, vocational skills, home skills, community participation, and independent living skills.

That said, there are several reports that highlight areas to consider in programming for any individual. Peter Gerhardt (2009) developed a paper that covers what services are available for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and considerations that should be made.

The Drexel Autism Institute put out a report discussing transitions into adulthood (Roux, Shattuck, Rast, Rava, & Anderson, 2015).

This question will be answered using information from both reports as well as clinical experience working with children and adults with ASD over the past 18 years.  Both reports highlight the importance of starting early. 

For example, on average, transition planning and working towards future goals should begin by 14 years of age, although in some states this may happen earlier.

In many high schools and programs, this type of planning happens much later, but the reason 14 years is recommended is because it can take several years to teach job or recreational skills, as well as any skills that need to be taught well before the ultimate desired outcome.

Also, more time allows for assessing and incorporating changing and developing interests over time. It is ideal that all these skills are incorporated into the students’ school program.

Skill areas may include planning for a vocation, post-secondary education, recreation and leisure, community safety, transportation, vacationing, health and wellness, sexuality instruction, handling crisis and interacting with first responders, daily living, and communication. 

Amazon  Google Play Apple Books 


Based on the Autism Works Now!® Workplace Readiness Workshop, this interactive resource shows how to help students aged 14-17 develop the necessary transition skills for getting and keeping a meaningful job, with accompanying worksheets available to download.


Structured around 2-hour weekly sessions over an eight month period, the program is ideal for teaching to groups of students with autism. It covers essential topics such as organization and time management, interview skills, appropriate workplace attire, and networking. It advises on how to arrange a field trip to local businesses so students can gain experience of being in the workplace. Worksheets and questionnaires help to track progress and discover what types of job will be appropriate based on an individual's skills and interests, and the book also includes a template for creating effective resumes.

Working with Autistic Transgender and Non-Binary People


Amazon 


Setting out advice, research and personal reflections to inform professionals' daily practice and overall understanding of the lives and experiences of autistic transgender and non-binary people, this edited volume is an invaluable resource for anyone who seeks to engage more with autistic transgender, non-binary or gender-variant people.


Aiming to contextualise the overlap of autism and gender variance, this book features chapters by leading authorities such as Wenn Lawson, Damian Milton, Isabelle Hénault, Reubs Walsh, Lydia X. Z. Brown, and Shain Neumeier as well as other contributors from around the world. The collection is structured in three sections; the first provides interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches on autism and gender as well as the experiences of transgender and non-binary autistic people; the second features professionals discussing their work, the challenges they face and the solutions they find helpful; and the final section presents thoughts and perspectives from trans and non-binary autistic people on various aspects of their experiences, focusing on information that professionals will need to consider and discuss with the people they support.


Combining rich and nuanced accounts of the lives of autistic trans people, practical guidance and information as well as the latest academic research about autistic transgender and non-binary individuals, this unique collection is essential reading for any professional wanting to develop their daily practice.

Resources For Treating, Diagnoses and Treatments 



This section is intended for everyone who has tried conventional treatments when all other conventional treatments have been exhausted. Here you will see Treatments information. This is non-conventional info about medical 'treatments' related to Autism for non conventional use. These resources include: books, articles, diets, doctors with supplements, medical cannabis (marijuana), and mom support groups. 

The Forum Institute Environmental and nutritional strategies for safe pregnancies and healthy children (P2I).

The Forum began as a division of the Northwest Autism Foundation. NWAF had worked with great success to validate the previously novel concept that autism is at least partly the result of environmental factors – and therefore a condition that can in many cases be prevented and/or treated.

How It Began In 2004, NWAF, in cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital, raised $1.5 million to establish the Autism Treatment Network (ATN).

Initially involving experts in various medical disciplines at six treating hospitals, ATN was the first network of its kind to bring together physicians of diverse specialties in order to bridge gaps in knowledge and thereby improve treatment for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

Today ATN remains the premier university ASD research program.

The Forum’s mandate was to broaden the intellectual and scientific base of NWAF’s message by convening think tanks of leading researchers and then publishing results.

Autism: One Part of a More General Problem Through the work of its think tanks,The Forum gained a new perspective: autism appeared as a special case of a more general public health problem – the increasing incidence of problem pregnancies and of serious, chronic disorders among infants and young children.

The Forum also learned that the relevant scientific and medical research communities had accepted for years that environmental factors were chief causes of much of this public health problem.

Means had even been developed and tested whereby a woman contemplating a baby could be guided through toxin avoidance, proper nutrition and other healthy behavior choices and thus dramatically increase her odds of a healthy pregnancy and of a healthy baby.

But these means remained largely unused.

Medical practitioners ignored them and the general public was unaware they existed.

Publicizing the Science

The Forum then chose to become an independent foundation whose first project is to publicize effectively the science of healthy pregnancies and infants – and to offer mothers-to-be a specific, step-by-step regimen designed on the basis of that science, that they can follow on their own or with a trained medical practitioner.

This is Preconception-to-infancy, or P2i for short.

What’s Next for The Forum?

Once its P2i initiative is underway, The Forum will launch other public health initiatives into the public consciousness.

First up will be the One-Year Project – which will build on the “Early Identification” paper (cited above), under the leadership of co-author and Forum director Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh.

The Book How to Prevent Autism: Expert Advice from Medical Professionals by Dara Berger


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The statistics are alarming and become more so every year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 68 children have been identified with an autism spectrum disorder, making it one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States.

Further, the CDC estimates that parents with a child on the autism spectrum can have nearly a 20 percent chance of having a second child with autism.

In How to Prevent Autism, Dara Berger shares her personal journey with autism.

She describes everything that went wrong with her son that led to an autism diagnosis and everything she did differently to prevent her daughter from suffering the same fate.

She interviews eight well-known ASD experts--including doctors, nutritionists, nurses, and scientists--about the factors that have led to the growing epidemic of autism.

Based on the best practices for preventing autism in children, each professional offers perspectives grounded in their own research and their patients’ improvements.

The book covers every detail--from the importance of mothers’ cleaning out their bodies preconception, through common genetic mutations that may put children at risk, to the crucial role of nutrition in prevention.

The Autism Community in Action (TACA)

In September 1999, the word “autism” rang through my ears like a cannon shot across the bow.

My husband and I knew something was not going well with our son Jeff, but we would have never guessed it was autism. 

Following that fateful visit with the neurologist, we visited many other professionals including medical doctors, speech pathologists, audiologists, and behaviorists.

The list seemed endless. The common message we were given: Autism has no hope, no cure. In fact, the first three medical doctors recommended that my family find “institutional placement” for Jeff who was the ripe old age of 2½ years at the time.

Refusing to give up on our son, my husband and I spent hundreds of hours talking to any and all parents of a child diagnosed with autism, reading dozens of recommended books, watching countless hours of educational videos, and of course, surfing the internet constantly.

We were determined that our beloved son would grow far beyond his label and that he would have a future that was wonderful and amazing despite his autism diagnosis. Early on, the most important step for us was to GET BUSY. It was up to us, HIS PARENTS, to make a difference for his future. 

The early days of our son’s diagnosis were frustrating. Those countless hours spent researching, reading, talking – wasn’t there a better way? Wasn’t there SOMEONE who had already done the same research and search for answers before, who could have brought us up-to-speed much sooner for us to help our son faster?

Fast forward to November 2000, when our daughter Lauren (at the advanced age of 16) recommended that we start a parent support group.

Both my husband and I felt we were not qualified but we definitely wanted the company of other families going through the same struggles for social gatherings and to share information, especially new research and treatments options as they became available.

We also hoped to build a community where parents would be inspired by each other’s steadfast hopes for their children’s futures and who would be passionate about autism education for themselves and other similarly struggling families and raising awareness in the general public.

TACA began with a small handful of families in a living room in 2000. 

By the end of 2017, we serve over 55,000 families around the United States. From a grassroots beginning in Southern California, TACA expanded nationwide and now has a physical presence via our Chapters in 27 states and a virtual presence in the rest of the nation. 

Where is my son Jeff now? He is in his early 20’s, got into his first choice college, learning same curriculum as his typical peers with a great grade point average.

He still has a part-time aide. He talks, makes jokes, gives out hugs, loves concerts, plays guitar, socializes with typical friends, and is an active member of the society with a bright future.

He also happens to be the sweetest, kindest person I know and is practically always smiling. That is a far cry from his early diagnosis and the initial prognosis for his future.

TACA’s goal is to provide education, support, and information to parents to help their children diagnosed with autism be the very best they can be, with the hope of recovery.

Today, there are many, many treatment options that help alleviate many of the symptoms suffered by our children diagnosed with autism.

Let us share our collective, hard-won knowledge and experience with your family so your child’s treatment can begin right away.

Ask about the autism journey because we are families with autism who have already “been there and done that” with many of our children.

Some of us are still working hard everyday with our children for whom we never give up hope. We are Families with Autism Helping Families with Autism.

The autism journey is not an easy one. It’s a marathon, not a sprint; so take each minute, hour, or day, one at a time. It will be difficult, but it will also be incredibly rewarding, because it will change your life, your family’s life, and most importantly, the lives of your children with autism to all enjoy a brighter future. 

I wish all families treating and caring for their children with autism the very best possible outcomes for their children as they continue forward on the autism journey. 

Mensah Medical 

Mensah Medical is an international biomedical practice headquartered in Lisle, IL. Judith Bowman MD and Albert Mensah MD co-founded the practice focused on treating both pediatric and adult patients using Advanced Nutrient Therapy within the discipline of Orthomolecular medicine.  Answering the need for specialists with backgrounds in both traditional and natural medicine, Drs. Mensah and Bowman co-founded Mensah Medical in 2009. They have extended their practice to include several outreach clinics throughout the country, regularly speak at conferences, participate in training sessions for physicians, and consult with health care professionals.

They work closely with Walsh Research Institute updating therapies and protocols, initiating new cutting-edge paradigms, and serving as clinical instructors for WRI’s international doctor training programs around the world.  Our integrative approach to medical care bridges the gap between traditional medicine and natural medicine based on biochemical evaluation, research, and extensive clinical experience. Children, teens, and adults meet with our caring physicians who target underlying causes of health issues from brain-changing imbalances with targeted Advanced Nutrient Therapy at Mensah Medical biomedical clinic.

The founding doctors both served as primary physicians at the former Pfeiffer Treatment Center. During their tenure at the center, William J. Walsh, PhD, FACN, was leading the center as well as the Director of Research.  Dr. William Walsh collaborated with renowned (late) Carl C. Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, a pioneer in the field of nutritional research therapy. This led Dr. Walsh to the development of individualized nutrient protocols to normalize body chemistry and brain chemistry.  Dr. Walsh went on to study more than 30,000 patients with mental disorders acquiring an unparalleled database of more than 3 million chemical assays during his clinical and research work.  Dr. Bowman and Dr. Mensah studied extensively under Dr. Walsh for several year and has taken their knowledge to build a practice for patients diagnosed with autism, ADD, ADHD, OCD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Using Advanced Nutrient Therapy, their practice focuses on healing the brain through nutrients and biochemical balancing for effective and natural alternatives to prescription medications. 

Microbiome Labs

The origin story of Microbiome Labs is a classic tale of forging new frontiers, complete with discovery, adversity, and a leap of faith.

Neither founder set out on a path to start his own supplement company, but through persistent curiosity Dr. Tom Bayne and Microbiologist Kiran Krishnan stumbled upon an amazing opportunity. 

With a rich background in research, Kiran noticed that many supplement companies were lacking sufficient clinical data, which inspired him to design trials that were more affordable and fitting for the supplement industry.

He then expanded his skill set into product development and formulation for a number of retail supplement companies.

Eventually he was hired to study probiotics and discover what would become the next big probiotic in the industry: Bacillus spores.

Before Kiran discovered the spores, Dr. Tom took a step back from supplement manufacturing and settled into his own chiropractic practice.

As his practice began to blossom, he found himself on the forefront of Functional Medicine, uniquely focused on his patients’ gut health.

For years, probiotics had proven so ineffective and inconsistent that he eventually quit using them in his practice altogether – that is, until he saw the research that Kiran had uncovered.

With Dr. Tom’s clinical expertise and Kiran’s probiotic research, the serendipitous pair formulated the first all-spore probiotic known as MegaSporeBiotic.

After a great deal of clinical validation, the team set out to launch the product in the practitioner market by attending medical conferences.

In 2014, the company exhibited at only 6 conferences and signed on a handful of new accounts.

However, as the product sales began to grow, the company chose to reallocate the majority of the profits back into research, with only a minimal amount leftover for marketing.

This unorthodox approach is far and away what continues to set Microbiome Labs apart from the rest of the supplement industry.  In doing so,

Microbiome Labs hopes to encourage other supplement companies to follow suit, thereby raising the bar of the supplement industry as a whole.

In 2018, Microbiome Labs attended over 148 conferences, initiated and/or completed 14 clinical trials, and provided key solutions to thousands of practitioners, changing over 344,000 lives… and counting..

Join us in our mission to Make Vibrant Health Accessible for All.

A Major Difference

Our company was founded in 2002 by Dr. Bob Moroney.

Bob was the pioneer researcher of footbath technology in the US in 1999.

After a couple of years with some basic models, he used what he had learned to design the IonCleanse® by AMD System with its patented dual polarity array, the best the technology has to offer.

His interest in health and detoxification, which evolved from a life-threatening health crisis in 1982, led him to research the cutting edge of what alternative medicine had to offer.

He found his focus when he discovered ionic footbaths and developed the IonCleanse unit.

The mission became clear to him over time, summed up in our slogan “detoxifying the planet two feet at a time.”®

Since its inception AMD has sold over 15,000 ionic foot bath units.

Its continued success makes the IonCleanse by AMD #1 in the marketplace.

All of our products, including the IonCleanse Premier® and Solo® units, are manufactured right here in the United States.

Our engineers have over 100 years of combined experience.

Likewise, each IonCleanse by AMD is assembled by hand and sent through rigorous quality control measures to ensure customer satisfaction.

Since all of our operations are located in Colorado, our customers experience the convenience of:  Same-day shipping on product orders

Overnight warranty repair service

Customer service agents available 8 am – 5 pm MT

Bob’s legacy lives on through AMD, his son, and his wife.

Here are some inspirational quotes from Bob that have shaped AMD’s culture and philosophy to this day.

Vitamin Friends 

Here is our story… 

Vitamin Friends was born out of a unique situation, one that put a mother and father in a position no parents want to be in. Our son was lacking essential nutrients and went through numerous dental issues due to the low quality gummy vitamins that were available and there was no solution to be found. The search for a high quality, effective and safe children’s vitamin was one that was exhausted by us.

Our son needed crucial vitamins and we did what any parents would do for their child, we persevered and found a solution. That solution was Vitamin Friends.    This origin is a vital part of what makes Vitamin Friends so special and so different. As the first full line of pectin gummies in 2012, this was the first of many differentiating factors to come.

A high quality, highly certified, safe and effective gummy was absent from the market and Vitamin Friends was happy to take on that status.    Vitamin Friends does not polarize consumers, we embrace them. That is why we pride ourselves on our certifications.

We are allergen-free, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan/vegetarian! With quality being the crucial foundation of the brand, we made the decision to open our own manufacturing facility to truly control the quality and safety of all our products. That manufacturing facility is called Better Nutritionals, an FDA registered facility that is one of the most certified supplement manufacturers in the world.    Our highest priority is providing parents with a brand of vitamins they can trust, 100%.

Plain and simple. Vitamin Friends has nothing to hide, we operate under complete transparency and listen to everything our customers have to say. Without the trust of families our brand wouldn’t be where it is today so it’s crucial that we are constantly upholding that trait.    Since our start in 2012 we have worked to educate people of our story and products.

Being sold nationwide at WholeFoods and Sprouts, we are honored to provide our vitamins to the entire U.S. We are also proud to have one of the best-selling children’s iron supplements in the US.    Vitamin Friends works hard each and every day to be “Trusted by parents, and loved by kids” 

Dr Martha Herbert 

Dr. Martha Herbert is a pediatric neurologist, neuroscientist, systems thinker and writer.  She earned her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and then trained in Pediatrics at Cornell-New York Hospital and in Neurology, Child Neurology and neurodevelopmental disorders at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School where as a faculty member she founded the collaborative multidisciplinary TRANSCEND Research Program (Treatment Research and Neuroscience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), based in the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, which takes a whole-body-brain approach to challenged brain development.

For eight years (six as vice-chair) she served on the Board of Directors of the Council for Responsible Genetics, the world’s first genetic engineering watchdog group.  Prior to her medical training she obtained a doctoral degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying evolution and development of learning processes in biology and culture in the History of Consciousness program, and then did postdoctoral work in the philosophy and history of science. 

Her background in pediatric neurology, evolutionary biology, environmental studies, social theory and history of science has oriented her toward systems biology, brain connectivity and dynamism, and brain-body-planet interrelationships.

For Dr. Herbert, these interests interweave with and are in part inspired by her decades of direct experience with and training in a wide range of mind-brain-body-movement-somato-emotional practice modalities.  

The Book Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders by Kenneth Bock 

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Autism is an epidemic: It has spiked 1,500 percent in the last twenty years. ADHD, asthma and allergies have also skyrocketed over the same time period.

One of these conditions now strikes one in every three children in America. But there is hope.

Leading medical innovator Kenneth Bock, M.D., has helped change the lives of more than a thousand children, and in this important book, with a comprehensive program that targets all four of the 4-A disorders, he offers help to children everywhere.

This is the book that finally puts hope within reach.

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After years of treating patients and analyzing scientific data, Harvard Medical School researcher and clinician Dr. Martha Herbert offers a revolutionary new view of autism and a transformative strategy for dealing with it.

Autism, she concludes, is not a hardwired impairment programmed into a child’s genes and destined to remain fixed forever.

Instead, it is the result of a cascade of events, many seemingly minor.

And while other doctors may dismiss your child’s physical symptoms—the anxiety, sensory overload, sleeplessness, frequent illnesses or seizures—as coincidental or irrelevant, Dr. Herbert sees them as vital clues to what the underlying problems are, and how to help.

Drawing from the newest research, technologies, and insights, as well as inspiring case studies of both children and adults, Dr. Herbert guides you toward restoring health and resiliency in your loved one with autism.

Her specific recommendations aim to provide optimal nutrition, reduce toxic exposures, limit stress, and open the door to learning and creativity.

As thousands of families who have cobbled together these solutions themselves already know, this program can have dramatic benefits—for your child with autism, and for you, your whole family, and perhaps your next baby as well.