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About

Driscoll

Autism in Philadelphia

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), describes a spectrum of needs and strengths across social interactions, communication, and other aspects of everyday life. Autism affects each individual differently and impacts people of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the prevalence of autism has increased and that 1 in every 36 children is on the Spectrum.

 

The Pennsylvania Autism Census found there were 4,167 individuals on the spectrum in Philadelphia receiving services in 2014.

What We Do

The Philadelphia Autism Project supports autistic individuals and their families living in Philadelphia through:

 

  • Education: Training and eLearning Courses
  • Connections: A centralized resource hub, calendar of events, and fostering community collaborations
  • Innovation: Seed funding for community organizations, an annual conference, and new programs for people on the spectrum and their families

What-we-do
Autism In Philadelphia

Partners

The Philadelphia Autism Project was established in 2013 by the Office of Former City Councilmember-at-Large Dennis M. O’Brien, with continued support from the Office of Former City Councilmember-At-Large Derek S. Green. Today, the Philadelphia Autism Project is supported through the Office of Councilmember Michael Driscoll. The Philadelphia Autism Project works in tandem with the statewide Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training (ASERT) Collaborative.

 

The Philadelphia Autism Project works in partnership with Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) and Community Behavioral Health (CBH). It is the first citywide initiative of its kind and is located at the Policy and Analytics Center (PAC) at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute.

Language Statement

The Philadelphia Autism Project uses neutral (“on the spectrum”) and identity-first (“autistic person”) language throughout our website, resources and other informational materials we create. We value feedback given by stakeholders and community members and have adopted this policy through community suggestion. Our purpose in making this change in the language we use is to ensure that we write and speak about autism in a way that is clear and respectful to all communities. We acknowledge that individual language preferences may vary and recommend that you ask individuals if they have a preference. The Philadelphia Autism Project will always seek to engage directly with individuals to determine their language preferences. We welcome your thoughts and feedback. Please feel free to email phillyap@drexel.edu or call (215) 571 – 3209 or (215) 571 – 3152 to share your thoughts with us.

News / Announcements

At the Philadelphia Autism Project, we believe that staying informed – and informed together – is essential to building an equitable, inclusive city for all. As policies, programs, and public discussions continue to evolve, we aim to share timely updates and responses that reflect our values and the voices of our community.

This page serves as a space where we share our perspective on recent news, research, and announcements that impact autistic individuals, families, and the broader community. Our goal is to:

  • Provide clear, accessible information about what changes mean for our community
  • Highlight opportunities to take action or get involved
  • Amplify autistic voices and community perspectives
  • Foster transparency and dialogue across systems, providers, and advocates

While we may not respond to all news related to autism, we carefully decide when a public response is needed. Our priority is to focus our energy on meaningful, ongoing work that supports our community. When we do provide a statement or update, it will be shared here. If you have questions or would like to share input, please contact us at phillyap@drexel.edu.

Tylenol and Autism

The Philadelphia Autism Project, in alignment with ASERT, is committed to sharing accurate, evidence-based information with the autism community. Our goal is to ensure that autistic individuals and their families have reliable access to high-quality information, services, and support that empower them to make informed decisions. Please refer to ASERT’s Statement on the White House Announcement About Autism.

Reports

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