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: Supporting Individuals with Depression and Autism
This resource provides information on how to support individuals with autism who also have a diagnosis of depression.
Read moreBehavioral Activation for Depression
This resource, developed by ASERT, provides information about what behavioral activation is and how it can be used to help treat depression.
Read moreBeing a Careful Reader of Coronavirus Information
This resource provides tips and suggestions for making sure that you're getting the best and most trustworthy information related to coronavirus.
Read more
Booklet: A Family’s Introduction to Early Intervention in Pennsylvania
This booklet from PaTTAN explains how to request Early Intervention services, eligibility criteria, rights and responsibilities, individualized family service planning for ages birth to three, and individualized education planning for ages three to school age.
Read more
Bullying Social Story
This resource provides a visual guide for individuals with autism on what to do if they get bullied.
Read moreChild Tax Credit Resource
This resource gives more information for families about the Child Tax Credit, which is part of the American Rescue Plan.
Read moreCommon Abbreviations in Autism Services and Special Education
This resource, developed by ASERT, provides a guide to common abbreviations you may come across when receiving autism services and supports.
Read moreCompleting an IM4Q Interview Virtually
This resource was developed by ASERT to help individuals understand what to expect to happen during an IM4Q interview held virtually.
Read moreCompleting an Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) Interview In-Person Social Story
This resource developed by ASERT explains what happens during an IM4Q interview conducted in-person. This resource has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Burmese.
Read moreComputer Viruses Social Story
This resource developed by ASERT teaches what computer viruses, adware, and malware are, and how to protect yourself from getting them.
Read more