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.
Opening Doors 4 Autism
Opening Doors 4 Autism
This is a group of self-advocates, parents, and caregivers residing across Pennsylvania who believe every adult with autism deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Mission statement:
They are Pennsylvania parents, caregivers, and autistic adults united to:
- Educate policy makers about the unique challenges of the adult autism population
- Advocate for providing the adequate funding of support services for this rapidly growing population
Their mission is achieved by:
- Organizing Autistic adults, parents and caregivers throughout the Commonwealth
- Partnering with the various local, state and national Autism organizations
- Meeting with Policy Makers including members of the General Assembly and Governor’s office
- Educating parents and caregivers to utilize private insurance whenever financially possible for services as provided for under PA Autism Insurance Act (Act 62). In addition, seek amendments to Act 62 closing the Medicaid loophole
- Encouraging stakeholders (autistic adults, parents, family members, caregivers, and providers) to continually communicate with their local General Assembly members regarding the need for adequate funding of support services
- Developing recommendations for providing the support required to encourage the growth of community based services that complement and possibly replace the services provided by the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) and Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP)
- Advocating for appropriate transition services to smooth the path for students to move from school to either employment or higher education, at whatever level the individual seeks
- Advocating for quality job training and job coaching services to provide autistic adults with appropriate work opportunities
- Advocating for appropriate support services in higher education and vocational settings, so that autistic adults seeking such educational opportunities will have the supports they need in order to succeed when they have the necessary skills to do so
- Advocating for a continuum of housing options for autistic adults to have the supports they need to live as independently as possible in the community, within their own community if they so choose