RESOURCES: Support & Information Organizations

"What kinds of resources are listed here?"
The Purpose of this page is to offer general referrals to Autism-related RESOURCES for Medical/Therapuetic research and treatments, Public Education programs, Advocacy organizations, Mental Health/Developmental Disability services, and Autism Community networks with specific contacts for training and information about the three main Autism intervention models.

PUBLIC NOTICE RE: THRESHOLD'S Resource Listings
Threshold’s inclusion of information about Autism public and private organizations, providers, publications, services, programs and products in its training manual handouts or on the web site does NOT constitute any kind of agreement, sponsorship, endorsement or warranty of any kind by Threshold. Threshold reserves the right to exclude any information it chooses not to publish at its own discretion. Threshold is not responsible for errors or omissions or conduct of the resources listed. The service environment and products world of Autism represents a "buyer beware" situation for our vulnerable families. Therefore carefully check out all Autism resources, professionals credentials, and the efficacy of treatments before you invest your time, money or future.

"How can these resources help us?"
IThese resources can help families of young and adult children being diagnosed with Autism for the first time to understand how to access provider education support and access federally and state funding for "adequate levels" of "free and appropriate" public educational intervention programs for children with disabilities anywhere in the United States. There is not a national source of funding for adult Autism services. Federal funds for adults are linked to your adult child's level of mental retardation or other mental health disability conditions with most adult service placements being based on severity of need, availability of programs and state funds. At this time this is the generally available models of intervention for us. These contacts are for information purposes only. They not represent a formal referral to specific direct service providers or indentification of privately funded "optimum" program which may or may not be available placements for individuals with Autism and our families.

"Why isn't there a comprehensive list of all Autism resources?"
Our listings do not represent the whole base of available resources you may be able to find. Any one such list would be too much long too manage and too hard to keep updated due to constant changes. Instead, our contact lists are meant to present a sample set of pivotal starting points on the Autism World Map. The sample state we present is Oregon in the United States. It offers you a map of the kinds of basic Autism services that may or may not exist where you are. This does NOT mean that Oregon is a model place to live and work with Autism! Our listings are the places where family care and professional service providers can be sure find more current key national, regional and local resource referrals. We have found that this intitial set of more reliable and long term provider contacts can help new families and novice Autism providers find our way to the information, support services, intervention programs, and useful products that we may need where you live, work, and cope with Autism. Finally, you do not need a an overwhelming list of possiblities as must as you need to get connected to a more experienced peer mentor to help you find your way.

"Should I move to where these resources are to get help right away?"
The common wisdom answer is, No. There are very few green pastures out there at all, unless your family has a huge stable support network, inexhaustable private financial resources, and a highly flexible employment situation. But, even then, such privileges can create the false notion that quickly expending large amounts of money up-front will automatically resolve or quickly reconcile the long term problems and service needs we must face. In reality, it is family and service provider training that will help us all the most--and that does not have to be hard or expensive to access when all our local Autism community members work together. In addition, when it comes to trying to move to where we believe our child will get better services and programs, each family needs to look at its financial resources and stress levels to make this judgment. Just be sure to consider that big moves, getting new jobs, and a serious illness of a child are all at the very top of the stress meter. Therefore, with all these (and certainly with any other additional) personal or family stress factors or economic risks to consider right now, a geographic move is probably NOT a really good idea. In addition, the time you take to manage all the work of the move will mean that you will miss out on key parent training time. Finally your child will also miss timely participation in early intervention during this first critical year. Try to realize that new parents urges to move are most often unconscious flight/run away response to what may feels like an overwhelming reality or dangerous situation. First reflect on where your urge to move is coming from inside, and then do a careful, complete and critical cost-benefit analysis of your stay/move options. This may better conserve your energy and economic resources right now. After that work is done, if you still decide to move, please do NOT use these pages to for choosing a new location. We have included only key national resources for mainly research center resources. None of these centers provide programs that will directly serve your family or child short or long term. If you choose to move be sure to confirm, in writing, any and all program placements up front. If you must move, then be sure to contact both your own and your new states' Autism Society chapters ASAP. (see Autism Community link). There you can learn about both your current resources and get start service eligibility and planning now for when you relocate next for the available local resources. This can help you help your child faster both before you leave, and after you arrive.

"Should I move to Oregon or come to where Threshold is located?"
NO--unequivocally NO! Threshold's local programs require from 3 to 9 months of weekly training of family members and additonal time to implement our model in the home, before you can even apply for our onsite programs--no exceptions. Please, they are designed and intended for our local community members only. Moreover, our trainings will be available online in the future. Do NOT move to access Threshold's services. Our local Oregon information is meant to do two things for our local and global audiences. First to serve our own local clients, and second as a way to provide a sample model of the services that are, most likely, available right where you are now. If, when you read these local resources you feel that it is just easier to move here, we need to be very clear that Oregon has been and is still currently in an Autism services crisis of major proportions--WE recommend that families NOT even consider moving to Oregon to seek what they may erroneously hear, or believe, are optimum services, or a more Autism friendly place for their young or adult children with Autism. By far, Oregon has more children with Autism per capita than any other state in the U.S. Yet, it now has one of the nation's lowest levels of direct Autism services, and a documented problem with offering least family-centered approaches to Autism and less user-friendly public services. We also suffer from a long term lack of legislative action around our state's Autism crisis, a broad tax payer resistance to adequately fund life span disability services, and what is now a tougher "zero tolerance" philosophy using mainly typical and even harsh behavioral methodologies. These problems are why you may see more nonprofit Autism organizations located in this state--not because it is a great place to live or work--but because it is not. Our local problem began a decade before 9/11, but then it rapidly worsened due a massive state budget collapse, which continues to date. It may take our state a decade or more to just recover our past lower funding levels and to regain the lost the goodwill spirit of our state's Autism provider community. Therefore, we must strenuously advise that you DO NOT MOVE TO OREGON if you have a choice. If you do not have a choice, please call us for survival tips on the areas to avoid the most.

"How do I find my local connections?"
Find groups of experienced parents meeting in your area--they know the Autism community map of your city, state and region best and will be glad to share it. Because, these same kinds of federally funded, and state and local Autism services can usually be found in any one region in the U.S. Yet they are not commonly known by even pediatricians or family therapists.Therefore, they will just seem harder to find where you are, but only when you first begin. Soon you will know how to get connected locally.

"Why can't I find what I need NOW--Why is this all so hard?"
One inner reality for new parents is that we are pulled in two directions at once. We do not want to find out our child has Autism, but if this is the case we need help. So our proverbial feet may feel like they are filled with lead in your search. Remember this early search for sources of support and information needs to be paced like a life span marathon and not a fast sprint, or you will rob your children and family members of the main resource they need right now--YOU. This long journey to find help is "not just the job" of being a family or service provider--you must go on an Autism resource safari so--"its an adventure." We parents and professionals of children with Autism are "the few, the exhausted, the survivors." We know it is very hard. Do not worry. Just work to Keep going, stay together, and follow the guide. Everything is going to be O.K.

Feel free to come back and visit our Thresholds pages when things seem to get too confusing. We can be a guide which can help you find your way in this world over time. Sources of related family texts and professional literature topics can be found in the other row of links above. Good luck on your search from here.