Saturday, March 31, 2018

Resources for Women and Girls Affected by Autism

Photo of a white outline of a female shape on a blue background.
Resources for women and girls with autism.

With a prevalence rate of 1 in 189 versus 1 in 42, girls are nearly five times less likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than boys. In celebration of Women’s History Month, here are some resources that address the unique experiences and needs of women on the spectrum.



“Pink on the Spectrum” by Jennifer Cook O’Toole that originally appeared in the Autism Asperger’s Network Magazine. The article includes a helpful handout for recognizing how ASD may manifest in girls.


The Autism Women’s Network strives to support autistic girls and women through community, advocacy and resources. Learn more about them by reading their informative Autistic Women Welcome Packet.


The Autistic Women’s Collective is an online social network for autistic women and mothers of autistic girls.



The Aspiengirl Be Your Own Superhero Project invites females on the autism spectrum of all ages to showcase their talents, abilities, gifts and superpowers. To participate, send your name, country of residence, a description of your superpowers and contact information to the project coordinator.



GRASP Chicago-Downtown Women’s Group is a peer-run support group for girls and women ages 16 and older who are on the autism spectrum. Contact Jamie Specht for more information.

AutismOne Conference Scholarships Are Available


The 2018 AutismOne Conference will be take place May 23-27, 2018 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, IL.

Scholarships are available for individuals experiencing severe financial hardships who are otherwise unable to afford the registration fee. To request assistance, contact Laura Rowley, AutismOne scholarship coordinator.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Inclusion Films Trains People with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities to Become Filmmakers


Founded by Hollywood filmmaker and former special education teacher Joey Travolta, Inclusion Films trains children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities to become filmmakers through its short film camps and vocational film workshops.
Teens and young adults with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome acquire both professional filmmaking and practical life skills in two-week-long short film camps. Participants work together in small groups to write, perform and shoot their film with professional support and equipment in an environment that encourages confidence, communication and collaboration. Upcoming camps will be hosted by Futures Explored Inc., MarbleJam Kids and the Arts for Autism Foundation of Pittsburgh in California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. Click on the link for dates and contact information.
Vocational film workshops use a collaborative, hands-on curriculum to teach adults with developmental disabilities all aspects of film production. Each semester, students work together to develop and shoot smaller video projects and a longer thesis film. The objective of the workshops is to train students in the skills needed for a career in the film and media production while helping students to develop transferable independent living skills. The workshops are presented in partnership with Futures Explored Inc. and Employment and Community Options (E&CO) and will take place at five locations throughout California. For more information and contact information, click on the link.
To see some of the films created by workshop participants, check out the Inclusion Short Films series on Yurview.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Luke’s Journey Autism Fund Provides Grants for Autism Services, Equipment, Activities and Therapies


Luke’s Journey Autism Fund was established by Doug Underwood in collaboration with Autism Empowerment. The mission of Luke’s Journey Autism Fund is to provide grant opportunities and resources for families in Southwest Washington and the Greater Portland metropolitan area who need financial assistance to cover costs related to supporting their children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

Children 18 and younger who live in southwest Washington or the greater Portland, Oregon metro area (Clackamas, Clark, Cowlitz, Hood River, Lewis, Multnomah, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum and Washington)  who have a documented autism spectrum diagnosis are eligible to apply for the grant. The requested therapy, service or equipment must be directly related to the child’s autism treatment and recommended in writing by a doctor, therapist or special education professional. Preference is given to families who exhibit financial need, and extenuating circumstances are given consideration.

The grant could be utilized to fund a variety of services and activities, such as therapies, summer camps, communication devices, advocacy, IEP assistance, recreational leagues, scouting programs, sensory items and service animals.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Private Schools for Students with Autism and Other Disabilities

If your child's unique individual needs cannot be met in a public school setting, there are other options available. You can use this resource to find a variety of private special education programs for students with autism and other disabilities in both day school and residential settings. Although the majority of the programs listed are in Illinois, there is also information available about a number of programs in neighboring states and outside the Midwest. It is a good starting point for researching potential schools for students with intensive and extraordinary needs.