A collection of Free Resources for autistic individuals, parents and caregivers of children and teens with autism, and anyone who wishes to learn more about Autism.

The views and opinions collected in these files are those of the writers, not McCord Memorial Library. This is merely a resource. Always consult will your medical professionals

Getting Started– Websites

• Autism Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
  • The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN is a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community. We fight for disability rights. We work to make sure autistic people are included in policy-making, so that laws and policies meet our community’s needs. We work to support all forms of self-advocacy and to change the way people think about autism. Our members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends.
• PA Autism Services
  • The information shared in this site is intended to communicate efforts of the Department of Human Services (DHS) to enhance the quality of life and independence of Pennsylvanians with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and to support their families and caregivers.
• Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training (ASERT)
  • ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) is a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, universities, and other providers involved in the treatment and care of individuals of all ages with autism and their families. ASERT was developed to bring together resources locally, regionally, and statewide.
• AID in PA
  • AID in PA is home to resources designed to support individuals with autism and or an intellectual or developmental disability, their parents and caregivers, professionals and the communities across Pennsylvania. AID in PA is a collaborative effort between ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training) and its subsidiary teams #ASDNext and the Philly Autism Project, the HCQUs (Health Care Quality Units) across the state and Temple University’s department of Disability Resources and Services, all operating under Pennsylvania’s ODP (Office of Developmental Programs).
• ASD next
  • #ASDNext is designed to connect Pennsylvania teens and adults with autism to the most helpful resources and information, and with others in their community.

Downloadable Resources

Short (under 20 pages)

• ACA-ASAN-policy-brief-17pgs
• ACA-for-self-advocates-16pgs
• ACA-what-can-I-do-5pgs
• ASAN-Organ-Transplantation-Policy-Brief_3.18.13-10pgs
• ASERT Census Overview_12_23-2pgs
• Census Update 2014 Final pa-18pgs DSM-5_Policy_Brief_ASAN_final-11pgs
• fact-sheet-emails-letters-faxes-4pgs
• fact-sheet-how-to-call-your-elected-officials-3pgs
• fact-sheet-meeting-with-elected-officials-4pgs
• First-Hand-Perspectives-on-Behavioral-Interventions-for-Autistic-People-and-People-with-other-Developmental-Disabilities-9pgs
• HealthCareTransition_ASAN_PolicyBrief_r2-12pgs
• Health-Insurance-and-Medicaid-Coverage-for-Autism-Services-A-Guide-for-Individuals-and-Families-7-9-15-11pgs
• KeepingthePromise-SelfAdvocatesDefiningtheMeaningofCommunity-19pgs
• managing a crisis pa-8pgs
• MUP_ASAN_PolicyBrief_20140329-19pgs
• OSF-Summit-Summary-Paper-5pgs
• PA Autism Census Final Report Oct 2009-19pgs
• whats-the-problem-with-repeal-and-delay-3pgs

Medium (21-50 pages)

• Autism-and-Safety-Pt-1-28pgs
• Autism-and-Safety-Pt-2-28pgs
• Autism-and-Safety-Pt-3-24pgs
• Easy-Read-OSF-For-Families-v3-45pgs
• Medicaid-Toolkit-Plain-Text-Full-30pgs
  • A quick guide to helping people understand and navigate medicaid. Though written by multiple organizations, helpful for all individuals using medicaid, not just autistic people.
• They-Work-For-Us-A-Self-Advocates-Guide-to-Getting-Through-to-your-Elected-Officials-21pgs
• WTTAC-Adolescent-FINAL-2-38pgs
• WTTAC-Adult-FINAL-2-49pgs
  • “This book is a crash course on what it means to be autistic, and an introduction to the community you now find yourself in. Our goal is to help you answer questions you have about autism, so that you can understand yourself better. Also, this book is a resource to help you better understand your options.” p6

Long (51 or more pages)

• Accessing-HCBS-Guide-v1-139pgs
  • “Accessing Home and Community-Based Services: A Guide for Self Advocates is a tool designed to help people with disabilities, our families, and friends find and use resources that are available to us. This may include family and friends, community-based services, state funded waivers and programs, and other resources to help empower people with disabilities to live as independently as possible and make our own choices about what we need. This tool can help those using it become more self-sufficient and independent. It can also help spread awareness about resources that you may not have known about or been familiar with. It is a tool to inform about various resources and how to access them. It is also a reference about resources that, although you may not need or want them now, you can use in the future.“ (p 8)
• NavcollFinal-159pgs
  • “This book is written for current and future Autistic college students.” p1 Written by multiple autistic individuals, this ebook provides a unique perspective for the prospective autistic college student.
• PA Dep. Welfare Autism Task Force 2004-352pgs
  • A report published by the state of Pennsylvania from 2004. Though now over 20 years old, an excellent resource to look in depth at governmental research and understanding of autism.
• PAPROMISe Handbook 2024- 141pgs
• Roadmap-to-Transition-A-Handbook-for-Autistic-Youth-Transitioning-to-Adulthood-397pgs
  • Written to autistic youth as a helpful guide to lead the transition into adult life. Designed with two reading options, straight through or by picking specific chapters. This book also defines and explains concepts in detail that might be confusing or unknown to autistic youths.

Book List (Books available for checkout from McCord Library)