Causes: Autism, Civil Rights, Developmentally Disabled Centers, Disabilities, Disabled Persons Rights, Health, Human Services

Mission: The Autism Society’s mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully. As the nation’s oldest leading grassroots Autism organization, the Autism Society and its 74 local affiliates serve over half a million members of the Autism community each year. It envisions a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it - including education, advocacy efforts, and supports and services throughout the lifespan

Results: Autism Core Services:In 2016, The Autism Society of America's National Contact Center, which operates from 9 am to 7 pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday-Friday and AutismSourceTM our national resource database accomplished the following:-- Answered calls live 86% of the time. -- Maintained a less than 1-day response time for calls and e-mails. 10% Increase in daily contacts-- 48% Increase in e-mail inquiry volume-- Comprehensive quality assurance surveys -average ratings of 4.8 to 5.0 for all established criteria-- Increased resource database listings by 10% to 35,000-- Increased volume of information/resource searches on resource database by 14% to over 200,000 annually-- 80+ affiliates nationwide set up on our inquiry and resource database to serve their local communitiesEducation and Awareness:The Autism Society of America continued the ongoing efforts of making sure that individuals and families impacted by autism were informed about issues impacting their well being. ***Provided daily Facebook posts to over 650,000 Facebook fans. ***Provided daily Twitter posts to over 107,000 Twitter followers. ***Maintained over 30,000 resource listings on www. autism-society. org***Sent out email information updates each month to over 100,000 people. In 2018, the Autism Society of America held its 50th Annual Conference and Day on the Hill in Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC. This three day event provided individuals, families and professionals an opportunity to network and attend keynote and breakout sessions on topics of interest to those impacted by autism. The evaluations from those attending the conference once again showed that this conference, the oldest and longest running national conference is highly valued in terms of networking, information gathering and learning. Advocacy:The Autism Society advocates at the federal level for comprehensive, affordable health care that includes long-term services and supports in the community. The Autism Society also advocates for improvements and enforcement of existing laws that support people with autism, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Social Security Act, Affordable Care Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Autism CARES Act, Kevin and Avonte’s law, and other laws that benefit people with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Target demographics: all affected by autism

Direct beneficiaries per year: over 650,000 people on the autism spectrum and their families nationwide through our National Office and Affiliate Network

Geographic areas served: United States of America

Programs: The Autism Society is the connection for Autistic individuals of all ages and needs, their families and friends, researchers, and professionals to create a collaborative community where everyone is integrated into society without barriers or exceptions. To do this, the Autism Society continually seeks to build resources across the country, advocates for inclusive policies and practices at local and federal levels, and is always looking to build connections, not just to resources, but to each other. Answering the Call, the Autism Society’s National Contact Center, Autism SourceThe Autism Society provides a National Contact Center, Autism Source, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm. Staffed by trained Information & Referral Specialists, we are here to help individuals, families and professionals seeking valuable information on available services and referrals and to better understand issues associated with autism. Our Autism Source™ online resource database contains over 35,000 listings of autism service providers throughout the nation. Many parents say that their first call after receiving a diagnosis of autism is to the Autism Society, however it doesn’t end with that first call. We are here through all phases of one’s lifespan, empowering those affected by autism through a one-on-one connection with our staff of trained Information and Referral specialists. Contact us! The Autism SourceTM contact center is available to take calls, emails and letters Monday to Friday from 9 am to 9 pm. Connect to our comprehensive service via our toll-free number, 800-3AUTISM (800-328-8476) or info@autism-society. org, and through the largest online referral database of autism services, Autism Source. Supporting locally through the Autism Society’s Affiliates NetworkThe Autism Society supports the needs of its over 76 local and state affiliates through training, advocacy, financial support through grants, fundraising assistance and much more, to help each affiliate maximize its effectiveness in being a leader of services and support in a community. Autism Society’s affiliates are your best source of information and support, and where the person in need is helped directly. Through support groups, help with understanding the services in the community or state, local and state advocacy, help to an individual and his/her family to navigate often complex and confusing service systems, and training to local and statewide organizations on being autism friendly and responsive, the local or state Autism Society affiliates thrive each and every day. A listing of the local and state affiliates can be found here: Affiliate Map. Building Autism Friendly, Inclusive CommunitiesInclusion is one of the Autism Society’s Quality of Life Indicators. The Autism Society’s vision is to increase the quality of life of everyone living with autism. When we say “quality of life, ” we’re talking about basic human rights that allow people to interact with one another and the world on their own terms. The Autism Society believes that individuals with autism deserve to live, work, play, socialize, learn and worship in the setting and manner of their own choosing. The Autism Society works with national employers throughout the nation to help them advance the hiring and retention of workers with an autism diagnosis. The Autism Society works with companies and other entities to become autism friendly, meaning their products or services are responsive to the needs of an individual with an autism diagnosis, they promote and encourage the hiring of individuals with an autism diagnosis, and they support the needs of their employees who have children or other family members with an autism diagnosis. Click on the links below to learn more about initiatives creating better communities for those with autism:Safe and Sound®Inclusive Faith InitiativeAMC and Sensory Friendly FilmsEducating and Training, the Autism Society’s National ConferenceFor over 50 years, the Autism Society has hosted a national conference focused on autism spectrum disorders bringing together individuals with an autism diagnosis, family members, professionals as well as community, state and national leaders for three days of training and listening to nationally recognized and respected leaders in the field. The national conference brings together an audience of individuals with autism, their loved ones, and professionals from multiple disciplines including – educators, behavior analysts, social workers, speech and hearing pathologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, registered nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and physicians – attendees from across the country with a range of experiences and needs- creating a wonderful and unique opportunity to learn, network and share ideas. The collective expertise and experiences of family members, professionals and individuals on the spectrum, makes the Autism Society National Conference the place to be to learn from expert presenters and each other how to more effectively advocate and obtain supports. The Autism Society offers excellent printed materials such as our “What is Autism?” brochure and our Living with Autism series. These four-page booklets provide easy-to-understand, practical information related to the autism spectrum for a broad audience on a wide range of educational topics such as “Building our Future: Educating Students on the Autism Spectrum” or “Transition to Middle School” as well as daily life topics such as sleep, siblings and puberty. The series has also been expanded to support Victims of Crime as part of our Safe and Sound® program with resource materials for Law Enforcement and First Responders, Attorneys, Judges, Counselors, and other community leaders. Raising Awareness, Acceptance and AppreciationRaising awareness of autism is part of everything we do. The Autism Society founded National Autism Awareness Month, which helps focus attention on autism in April every year. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community and foster acceptance and appreciation of individuals on the autism spectrum as the valued members of our community that they are. The Autism Society is also the home of the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon, one of the most recognizable cause-related symbols. Strategic PlanningThe Autism Society, in partnership with volunteers and staff from the over 80 local and state affiliates, has established a strong strategic plan which advances the well-being of all with an autism diagnosis to always maximize their quality of life. As part of the plan’s implementation, the Autism Society is making sure that measurable outcomes are defined and assessed to best help individuals. For more information visit http://www. autism-society. org/about-the-autism-society/guiding-principles/strategic-plan/