Crisis Services
ASERT does not offer crisis services through our Resource Center. If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health distress or thoughts of suicide please call or text 988 for support.
Family Members
Whether it’s a sibling, grandparent, cousin, aunt, uncle or parent, it can be difficult to know how to properly support your family member on the spectrum. ASERT’s broad database of autism resources includes a variety of information helpful for family members.
Check out some of our top resources highlighted below, or search through the hundreds of resources available for family members!
The Spectrum of Communication
Communication permits us to advocate for our needs, develop relationships, and participate in our community. When supporting someone with Autism, the most important thing to keep in mind at all times is that speech does not equal communication.
View ResourcePA Family Network
The PA Family Network was created to support families and the major elements of the Community of Practice goals.
View ResourcePennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA)
Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance provides education, support, and training programs to make Pennsylvania safe for children.
View ResourceSearch within Family Members resources
Wearing a Mask Social Story
This resource provides a visual guide for individuals with autism about wearing a mask to avoid spreading germs. The resource includes why it's important to wear a mask, as well as information about how to safely wear and remove masks. The resource is translated into Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Burmese. An animated version is also available.
Read moreWell-Being in Isolation: Daily Checklist
This resource, developed by ASERT, provides a checklist of activities that can be done to help maintain your mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read moreWhat Autism in Toddlers Looks Like
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, autism advocacy groups, and researchers have all drawn attention to the importance of the early detection of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to make access to early intervention possible. Learn how to identify the early signs of autism in the below video, created by Kennedy Krieger in partnership with the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Read more
What is Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) Social Story
This resource developed by ASERT provides a visual guide to help explain the Independent Monitoring for Quality Process (IM4Q). The resource is available in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, and Burmese.
Read moreWhat to Do if You Get Pulled Over
This resource developed by ASERT helps individuals know what to do if they get pulled over by the police.
Read more