ASERT Does Not Offer Crisis Services
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
Be Well, Think Well: An Overview of Anxiety
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information explaining anxiety, signs and symptoms of anxiety, differences between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Autism, as well as information about what panic attacks could look and feel like for individuals.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: An Overview of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder includes long periods of depression followed by brief periods of mania. There are two types of bipolar disorder called Bipolar I and Bipolar II. This resource provides basic information about the disorder.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Depression Social Stories
These social stories provide a visual explanation of depression, including what it is, how to manage, and how to support a loved one who may be experiencing depression.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Overview of Depression
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information about recognizing depression, signs and symptoms of depression in individuals with autism, diagnosing anxiety and depression in individuals with autism, and behaviors to look for to identify whether what you’re seeing is a symptom of autism or something else.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Overview of Psychotic Disorders
These resources developed by ASERT provide a general overview of psychotic disorders, including how to diagnose and recognize.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Services and Treatment for Anxiety
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information about managing anxiety, tips on how to face your fears, various types of therapies for anxiety, different relaxation techniques, medication for treating anxiety and depression, and way to find a therapist for an individual with autism.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Services and Treatment for Depression
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information about managing depression, strategies for working with individuals who have autism and depression, common types of therapy for depression, medications for depression and anxiety, and how to find a therapist for an individual with autism.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Services and Treatments for Bipolar Disorders
This resource will provide information about the treatments for bipolar disorder.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Supporting Individuals with Anxiety and Autism
This resource, part of the Be Well, Think Well resource collection, provides information about supporting individuals with anxiety and autism through panic attacks and various relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and grounding techniques.
Read moreBe Well, Think Well: Supporting Individuals with Bipolar and Autism
Use this resource to get suggestions on how to support someone with bipolar disorder.
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