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.
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.
Advocacy information for parents and caregivers of individuals with autism.
The HCBS Advocacy Coalition works collaboratively to help states fully comply with the HCBS Settings Rules and assist stakeholders in understanding the rule. These efforts are essential to achieving systems change that results in truly integrated settings, where people with disabilities can live, work, receive services, and fully engage in community life.
The website contains a variety of resources around the HCBS Settings rule, including webinars, explainer videos and state-specific resources.
Although receiving health care is a universal experience, each of us have highly specific treatment and intervention needs. As you support an individual with autism in navigating health services, you can ensure your support is person-centered by fostering self-awareness of his or her medical needs, teaching skills to manage health care, and promoting advocacy for medical needs. The quick assessment provided below can help you learn more about the person you support.
This webpage includes the following resources:
Videos:
Information and resources for self-advocates with autism:
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made it easier to get health insurance for all Americans, including those with disabilities, but the ACA can be difficult to understand and navigate. As a result, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has developed a plain language Affordable Care Act Toolkit for Self-Advocates, part of which was funded by the Special Hope Foundation.
The ACA Toolkit has three parts:
This toolkit attempts to help advocates understand and participate in these important conversations.
Toolbox for Self-Advocates:
Right now, many people are getting involved in political advocacy for the first time. People are going to town hall meetings and making phone calls to their members of Congress. They’re writing letters and using social media to organize advocacy groups. This new wave of political advocacy is incredible. And people with disabilities need to be a part of that.
These civic engagement toolkits, produced by ASAN, that focus on the basics of civic engagement for self-advocates. These toolkits focus on the basics of civic engagement. Civic engagement means actively participating in our democracy.
Tips for transitioning into adulthood:
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) has prepared a comprehensive toolkit to empower people with disabilities, their families, and other disability advocates to help youth with disabilities manage their own health care as they transition to adulthood.
The Transition to Adulthood is a review of research, policy, and next steps, discusses the range of challenges facing youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they approach adulthood, including potential loss of health care coverage, barriers to obtaining adult-oriented care, and lack of support in making health care decisions. It outlines several policy recommendations to eliminate these barriers, including expanding access to income-based Medicaid coverage, increased education and awareness of the importance of transition and decision-making supports, and increased research on best practices in transition planning.
This toolkit also provides people with disabilities and their families with information on how to choose a source of health care coverage, create a health care support network, integrate health care transition goals into their educational plans, and manage their health care. It includes useful guides and worksheets for keeping track of health care records, making doctor’s appointments, and talking to doctors about health concerns.
Name | Description | Type | File |
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Navigating Health Services | Although receiving health care is a universal experience, each of us have highly specific treatment and intervention needs. As you support an individual with autism in navigating health services, you can ensure your support is person-centered by fostering self-awareness of his or her medical needs, teaching skills to manage health care, and promoting advocacy for medical needs. The quick assessment provided below can help you learn more about the person you support. | Download file: Navigating Health Services |
This information was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT). For more information, please contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or info@PAautism.org. ASERT is funded by the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, PA Department of Human Services.