Advocacy and General Information/Resources

Philadelphia Family Voices

Philadelphia’s first and only family-legacy organization. As a family legacy organization, the mission of Philadelphia Family Voices is families helping families navigate and improve child-serving systems by creating opportunities for education, empowerment, and support. The primary avenue that Philadelphia Family Voices fulfills this mission is through the Family Peer Support (FPS) model. In this model local family members with lived experience and knowledge of Philadelphia’s behavioral health services as well as child-serving systems are employed by Philadelphia Family Voices to support local families raising a child who is experiencing emotional and/or behavioral challenges including autism. Offers a structured strength-based relationship between a Family Peer Support Partner (FPSP) and the primary family member/caregiver to the benefit of the child/youth with an array of formal and informal [on-site, in-home, and in the community] services that Include:

• • Outreach, Information, and Referral
  • Navigation of Service Delivery Systems
  • Bridging and Transition Support
  • Self-Efficacy and Empowerment
  • Support and Presence within Child-Serving Systems
  • Support Groups
  • and Specialized Autism Navigators for Families of Children with ASD

801 Market St. Ste. 7000 Philadelphia PA 19107

Community Legal Services/Philadelphia Legal Assistance

FREE legal help at locations (Spanish spoken too) Each site has different specialties, not all sites provide the same services, call first!

• 1424 Chestnut Street 215-981-3700
• 1410 W. Erie Ave 215-227-2400
• Landlord Tenant Help Center – 1339 Chestnut Street, 19103

Disability Pride Pennsylvania

A self-advocacy and acceptance organization with community programming and events designed to be accessible and bring non-disabled and disabled people together to build strong communities.

Learn more about upcoming events and programming here: Disability Pride Philadelphia — Disability Pride Pennsylvania (disabilitypridepa.org).

112 N. 8th Street, Suite 208, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Disabilities Rights Network of PA

Information and advocacy for all populations of people with special needs, challenges or disabilities, many resources in Spanish as well.

Juvenile Law Center

Non –profit law firm advocating for the rights of children involved in government agencies such as foster care.

1800 JFK Blvd, Suite #1900B Philadelphia, PA 19103

Legal Clinic for the Disabled

Free legal assistance for people in the Philadelphia region with a disability/chronic health condition and who qualify as “low-income”.

All intakes are by phone only.

1513 Race Street Philadelphia PA 19102

Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health Special Healthcare Needs Parent Advocacy

https://www.facebook.com/phillymcfh/

Pennsylvania Health Access Network – PHAN

1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Pennsylvania Health Law Project

Spanish speaking staff, as well as many other languages.  Information about waivers and how to work and maintain a job while you are also receiving SSI. Info about health care and services.

123 Chestnut St. Suite 400 Philadelphia PA 19106

PILCOP Public Interest Law Center

Providing legal services, community education, and advocacy to support the Philadelphia community to have equal access to resources and community services.

1500 JFK Boulevard, Suite 802, Philadelphia PA 19102

Self-Advocates United as 1 (SAU-1)

A group of people with disabilities from all over Pennsylvania who are focused on self-advocacy. SAU-1 holds letter-writing, e-mail, and phone workshops to help others learn how to advocate for change.

Support Center for Child Advocates

Provides free legal assistance and social service advocacy for children in the DHS or court systems.

1617 JFK Blvd. Suite 1200 Philadelphia PA 19103

The Arc of Philadelphia

Programs support, advocate with and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the areas off special education, access to supports and legislation, healthcare and technology. They offer assistance with accessing available public and private services and supports, navigating the IEP process, promote the consideration and inclusion of people with I/DD with local, state, and federal legislative and policy decision-makers, provide training for healthcare professionals and students to provide inclusive care to people with I/DD and address the digital divide for people with I/DD.

2350 W. Westmoreland St., Philadelphia PA 19140

The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council

Engages in advocacy, systems change and capacity building for people with developmental disabilities and their families

Vision For Equality, Inc.

Advocacy and mentorship for families of children with disabilities also provide trainings on a multitude of topics related to disabilities.  Spanish speaking staff.

718 Arch St., 6N, Philadelphia, PA 19106

PA Client Assistance Program

FREE help for people with disabilities over the age of 14 to connect to and collaborate with OVR (Office of Vocational Rehab). Guidance and navigation for people with disabilities on independent living options.

1515 Market Street, Suite 1300, Philadelphia, PA 19102

PEAL Center (Parent Education Advocacy Leadership)

Information, parent support and technical assistance for people with disAbilities and special healthcare needs.

520 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd. Suite 602 Philadelphia, PA 19123

PA Education Law Center

A telephone intake service for families of children with disabilities is available through the Disability Rights Network (DRN) at 800-692-7443. Please call DRN directly for special education questions.

1800 JFK Blvd., Suite 1900-A  Philadelphia PA 19103

Pennsylvania’s Education for All Coalition (“PEAC”)

Free consultation and advocacy for schools, programs and families related to supporting inclusion options for children with disabilities.  FREE workshops about IEP’s available in English and Spanish!

ASCEND

Provides support to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families through educational programs, support groups and social gatherings (all offered through virtual platforms for the forseeable future). Find out more about their monthly programs. Currently offering monthly virtual gatherings for adults on the spectrum and their parents/caregivers and a monthly virtual support group for parents of children under 18. You are not alone!

Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/ascendgroup/

ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources, & Training Collaborative) Resource Center and Warm Line

FREE Statewide Resource Center provides families, individuals with autism, and professionals the opportunity to contact a live person for resources, information and news. English or Spanish.

Support group map – https://paautism.org/support-groups/

ASERT provides education and free training to professionals, family members, individuals with autism, and more. Featured projects include: Training for Justice Professionals, Transition Resource Training, and numerous eLearning courses hosted on the ASERT website. To schedule a training, please contact info@paautism.org.

Additional information about free trainings and resources for first responders (including police, fire fighters, EMS, District Courts) and community groups about Autism and justice interactions can be found online – https://paautism.org/resource/justice/

Autism Navigator

Autism Navigator is a collection of web-based tools and courses that uses extensive video footage to bridge the gap between science and community practice.

Video Glossary shows many short videos of children at various ages with and without Autism. Also shows what various therapies look like. FREE but signing up is required first: http://resources.autismnavigator.com/asdglossary/#/section/43/gettingStarted

Autism Society of America/ Greater Philadelphia Chapter of ASA

The Greater Philadelphia Autism Society’s mission is to promote lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum and their families, to be fully included, participating members of their communities through advocacy, public awareness, education and research related to autism.

A resource for local and national events and information, GET CONNECTED, SIGN UP FOR THEIR FB OR LISTSERVE!

Listservs – http://www.asaphilly.org/discussion.php

• ASAPhilly Listserv
• TALKASAPhilly
• FamiliesOfAdultsAutism-ASAphilly

ASA: Autism Society of America/Philadelphia Information and Referral Line – 610-358-5256

Autism Speaks Resources

Autism Response Team (ART) members are specially trained to connect families with information, resources and opportunities. They are available to answer calls and emails.  Many useful “toolkits” for “How-To” for families and providers.  Available in SPANISH as well!

Autism Speaks Autism Response: 888-288-4762

Cap4Kids

Most up-to-date listing of all local resources for families including camps, childcare and dentists.   Also offers copies of a screening tool for Autism called the MCHAT.  The information on this website is available in many languages.

CAR Autism Road Map

Web-based information and resources for children, youth, adults and families about Autism.

Children’s National Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD)

Information about treatments, causes, a family resources notebook is available that is a good tool for advanced readers. Many useful sections to print out for families and loved ones.

Family Resources Notebook

Community Autism Network

Provides information, trainings, and activities. Many are free grassroots Philadelphia-based supports including respite.

Free community trainings about Autism for families and agencies.

Community and recreation activities: Free family events promoting inclusion and accommodations for individuals with ASD and their families.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CommunityAutismNetwork/

MyODP Podcast

Families, direct support professionals and other supporters are encouraged to follow this podcast to gain additional tools to support people with disabilities.

Each podcast in the first series, A Supporter’s Toolbox, is 7-10 minutes and focuses on getting tools to Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), families, and other supporters.

Philadelphia Autism Project Resource Map and Calendar

Find (or list) a group in your neighborhood!

• Resources/Support Group Map (by neighborhood) – https://www.phillyautismproject.org/supportgroups/
• Event Calendar – https://www.phillyautismproject.org/event-calendar/

Philadelphia Autism Project Video Series for Families

Culturally specific videos on understanding Autism for many cultures including African American, Asian and Latino Families. See the video for Clinicians about how to raise the issue of Autism with a family called, “Autism: How to Tell”.

The School District of Philadelphia Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Toolkit

Toolkit with information about education, mental health and legal needs.

(Available for professionals in English only)

smallWORLDspecialneeds.org

Informative videos about Autism, ADHD and other special needs.  Available in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Nepali.

Un sitio web con videos e información en español sobre cómo ayudar a su hijo.

Resources include: Videos and tip sheets, No Words, Use Pictures.

Raising Children Network

The Australian Parenting Website – provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts.

https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/children-autism-videos

https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/teenagers-autism-videos

Australian website features diverse families (including Dads!) sharing their stories. Many other special needs videos besides Autism!