Support ASCEND today!

As a nonprofit organization, we depend solely on the support of our members. Please click on the donate now image above to see the different ways you can support ASCEND Group.

Help the ASCEND Group Every Time you Shop Online
It's all free and socially-conscious. Join iGive and start giving year round.
The stores make this possible because they want you to like them and shop with them over and over again. There are 2,036 socially-responsible stores helping to make donations happen. Examples include Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Best Buy, Target, Macy's, QVC and HSN, Land's End, Avon, 1800-Pet-Meds, PETCO, Enterprise Rent-a-Car (and other rental companies), Best Western (and other hotels) and even Caesar's Entertainment Atlantic City,
We hope you'll give it a try! To learn more or sign up now click here. Thanks in advance for supporting ASCEND Group!

ASCEND Professional Directory

Thank you to ASCEND Board Member Rich Fry for raising $1,325.00 through Facebook! In lieu of birthday gifts this year Rich asked his friends and family to donate to the ASCEND Group. If you or someone you know would like to set up donations to ASCEND Group through Facebook, here are the steps:

Fundraisers for Nonprofits
To create a fundraiser for a charitable organization, click here or follow these steps:

Click Fundraisers in the left menu of your News Feed.
Click Raise Money.
Select Nonprofit/Charity.
Select ASCEND Group, choose a cover photo and fill in the fundraiser details.
Click Create.

Calling All Volunteers!
ASCEND President Elena Perri asks: What Type of Person Are You?

Interested in volunteering? We welcome ASCEND members and non-members to sign up to volunteer on one of our committees. It's a great way to meet other people in our community and to give back! Please click here to sign up to volunteer.

Research Studies

In the interest of promoting autism awareness, we feel it is important to help spread the word about autism spectrum research studies that are being conducted in our area. For the first time, we are giving individuals and organizations the opportunity to advertise their research studies in future ASCEND e-newsletters and on our website, for a nominal fee without first becoming ASCEND members. Use this Research Study Form to submit your study.

NEW! Gender Identity Development in Youth with ASD.

The chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York is asking for assistance from parents of youth ages 6 – 25. Volunteers are encouraged to complete a short, anonymous confidential questionnaire found on the flyer linked above.

PSU Social Games for Adolescents with Autism (SAGA) Team
Penn State Psychology is conducting a research study for adolescents with autism.Participants will play a video game to help improve social skills. compensation up to $430.
Qualifications:
-Have a teen ages 10-18 with autism
-Can fill out a confidential online screening form

Online Research Study: Physical Activity and Nutrition Habits of Young Adults with ASD and their Parents
Researchers at the University of Virginia are conducting a nationwide survey of parents to understand physical activity and nutrition habits of young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). You will be asked to complete an online survey with questions about your physical activity and nutrition habits as well as your adult child’s physical activity and nutrition habits. The survey is completely anonymous; we are not asking for names or any personal information, The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. The University of Virginia’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approved this study, and all participants will receive via email a $20 Amazon gift voucher. Questions? Feel free to email the study director, Dr. Martin Block from the University of Virginia.

PARSEC is an intervention done by phone aimed at helping young adults (18-25) with ASD increase their community participation activities in non-urban areas of PA.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH STUDY
Are you a young adult with autism who would like to better engage with your community?
ABOUT OUR STUDY This study will evaluate an intervention designed to help young adults with autism increase participation in their communities.
Recruitment Flyer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Jayde Nagle 717-531-0003 ext. 285543 [email protected]

The Prevalence of Genetically Linked Autism & Vitamin D Deficiency in Hispanic Families
Contact Faith Hess, RN for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at [email protected]

The Experiences of Stigma, Stress, and Social Support Amongst Fathers of Children on the Autism Spectrum
Are you a father of a child or teenager (ages 5-18) with autism? Have you ever felt that people don't understand what your life is like and how you feel? Have you ever been rejected, judged, or embarrassed by friends, family, or even complete strangers because you are the father of an amazing and wonderful child with autism? Your experiences as a father of a child with autism are unique and important. As a parent, you are the only person who really knows what it's like to raise a child with autism. You have experienced the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the joy and pain. We are inviting you to participate in a research study and share your experiences of stigma, stress, and social support. Your perspective will increase our understanding of what your life is like. You can help us know how it feels to be a father of a child with autism. The entire survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. As a small token of appreciation for your participation, you may choose to be entered into a raffle for one of four Amazon Fire 7 tablets.

Suicide Prevention and Autism
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are conducting a study on suicide prevention in adolescents and adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. You may qualify to participate if you are the family member of a teenager or adult with ASD. Participants will complete a 1-hour interview with a member of our research team and will be compensated $30 for their time. Please call Dr. Shari Jager-Hyman at 215-746-3944 for more information. Investigators: Shari Jager-Hyman, PhD, Brenna Maddox, PhD, and David Mandell, ScD.

Suicide Prevention in Adolescents and Adults
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are conducting a study on suicide prevention in adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder. You may qualify to participate if: you are 12 or older; you have a diagnosis of ASD; you have struggled with thoughts of suicide in the past; and you have the verbal abilities to complete an interview. Participants will complete a 1-hour interview with a member of our research team and will be compensated $30 for their time. To see if the study is a good fit for you, please take our brief screener survey by going to this website. Investigators: Shari Jager-Hyman, PhD, Brenna Maddox, PhD, and David Mandell, ScD.

SPARK for Autism
We are enrolling any individual with autism spectrum disorder and their biological parents into the nation’s largest autism study, called SPARK. The goal of SPARK is to speed up autism research and find the genetic causes of autism. All participants enroll online at www.sparkforautism.org/CHOP and then provide a saliva sample via kits that are mailed to the home. Families who return the saliva collection kits will receive compensation and access to free webinars and an interactive and informational dashboard. For more information: 267-426-4971 [email protected]

Police Safety Study
We are looking for teens and adults ages 12 and older with autism spectrum disorder to participate in a research study testing two different methods of helping people with ASD learn to interact with police officers. One method will use virtual reality (VR) and the other uses video modeling (VM). Participation in this study involves one to three visits to CAR for VR or VM intervention and complete questionnaires. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information: Ashley Zitter [email protected]

Social and Motor Communication Study
The goal of this research study is to better understand differences in the way children with autism move their bodies and faces compared to children who are developing typically. Children who are diagnosed with ASD or who are typically developing are invited to participate in this study, which will include a visit to CAR to complete simple social skills tasks, motor behavior and language tasks as well as an IQ test. Participants will be compensated for their time and effort and will receive a brief report of their behavioral and IQ tests results. For more information: [email protected] | 267-425-1192

Orbiting- For Repetitive and Restrictive Behaviors
No two people with autism are the same. And of course we wouldn’t want them to be. We’re looking for children and adults with autism between the ages of 5 and 17 to join the oRBiting study. oRBiting will help us to better understand the different scales used to measure certain behaviors associated with autism. We’ll also ask what wearable technologies can tell us about autism. For more information: 267-425-1179 Jessica Tschida.

Transportation Research Study

We are looking for adults with autism ages 18 and older to participate in a study looking at the impact of travel training on use of public transportation to access the community (i.e., social events, medical appointments, work).

Wandering Research Study
Researchers at Cohen Children’s Medical Center are conducting a new, national study about wandering in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. If you are the parent of a child who wanders, you may be eligible to participate. Participants will be asked to spend approximately 30 minutes completing an anonymous, online questionnaire about their child’s wandering behavior. To take the survey, click on this link. For more information, contact Bridget Kiely.

autismMatch

autismMatch is an online registry that can quickly and easily connect interested individuals and families with research opportunities to advance scientists' understanding of ASD and related disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety, 22q deletion syndrome, and others.

Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS)
In an attempt to learn about patterns of brain development in children, we are studying the differences in brain patterns between children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing children. Infants between 3-6 months of age with an older sibling who is diagnosed with an ASD are invited to participate.

Research on Autism and Developmental Disorders (ROADD)
This study will observe young children to learn more about the biological underpinnings of ASD. Children ages 3-5 with or without a diagnosis of ASD may be eligible to participate.

Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI)
This ground-breaking study is looking at possible environmental and genetic links to autism. Mothers who have a biological child with ASD or who less than 28 weeks pregnant and who live in the tristate area are being invited to participate in this study.

JAKE App Study
With the use of new mobile app technology, this study aims to develop a mobile app-based system to monitor clinical outcomes in children and adults with ASD vs. typically developing children and adults. Children and adults ages 6 and older with or without ASD may take part.

Our Sponsors

Welcome to ASCEND Group

ASCEND Professional Events

Upcoming Special Needs Zoom Workshops

Our complimentary workshops are focused on empowering and educating families who have dependents with special needs giving them clear, actionable information that can be used to understand and build a responsible financial lifestyle. Our small and interactive seminars will be led by popular financial speaker, Pat Bergmaier, and will provide a comfortable setting in which attendees can learn how to take control of their present and future financial planning. As a follow-up, individual meetings may be scheduled to focus on your personal financial situation without distraction.

Please feel free to share with others and find us on Facebook to be kept up to date on new events and workshops too! Send your questions to Pat Bergmaier.

Tuesday August 4th, 7pm EST

Hosted by: Theraplay

Tuesday August 11th 3-4pm EST

Hosted by: Arc of Lehigh & Northampton Counties

Wednesday August 19th 1pm EST

Hosted by: Penn Mutual South

Wednesday August 26th 1pm EST

Hosted by: Penn Mutual South

If you and your group of friends/families you know want to do something just for your group - please reach out!

School district employees, therapy providers, supports coordinators, etc interested in hosting a workshop for your families - let us know!

Should your employer be offering something similar?-- Please reach out to Pat!

Remember, life will continue after this. The opportunities being presented right now with the stock market, tax law changes and Covid-19 related insurance changes (not good ones) really call for the need to plan NOW. Please do not hesitate to call to schedule an initial meeting via Zoom.

Stay well!

1) Individual Therapy with Parent Support & Training

Therapy will be available both in-person & tele-health to meet your family's medical and comfort needs.

CFATC's unique therapy approach treats a wide range of childhood emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. We help clients at four levels: 1) Teaching CBT-inspired coping skills, 2) Unblocking stuck emotions with creative art-play and verbal therapy, 3) Forming & practicing relationships with healthy attachment & boundaries, and 4) Training caregivers in supportive structure & strategies. Info about individual therapy

2) The Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program @Home

The Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program @Home counteracts social distancing

isolation & skill regression

It isn't safe to gather in groups just yet, but our social skills group therapists innovated creative ways to make virtual social skills therapy engaging & successful. Visit our social skills site.

Connect Plus Therapy: Camp In A Box

CAMP IN-A-BOX is an exciting summer solution created by Connect Plus Therapy for children on the Autism Spectrum. Your child deserves the best. With expert clinical knowledge from BCBAs and super fun Behavioral Technicians we will provide CAMP IN-A-BOX customized for your child's needs. Insurance based program, Check eligibility today

We Have Your Box!

HillTop Prep Summer Adventures Online

We are happy to announce that we will be able to give our families a unique online summer program this year. While we hope that we will be able to have our summer programs as usual (or as close to usual as we can), we are fully prepared to offer a number of fun and exciting programs and activities online. We're also happy to share that due to various considerations, we will be offering a 30% discount to our camp tuition if we are providing our summer programs online. So we encourage you to sign up as usual using our registration portal. We've created a few payment options for families to have as much flexibility as possible. You may want to either pay just the deposit for now, or register without paying anything until we know exactly what we are able to provide. Below you'll find information about how to register, as well as a brief overview of what we're planning to do with our online programs.

Summer Camp Overview
Our regular summer camp program will feature a variety of activities. First, we'll have daily scheduled live activities, including STEM projects, arts and crafts, cooking, Minecraft, gardening, games, etc. We'll provide a list of supplies in advance. These will be led by our counselors as usual. We will also have weekly modules of guided activities that campers can complete on their own time, with support from our counselors as needed. Finally, we will be providing campers with access to an online library of self-guided coding and STEM projects and courses. Live support will be available if needed, too. These activities will be optional, so that campers can choose the activity or manner of participation that is best for them.

As in previous years, campers will have access to daily academic and writing support via Google Hangouts, as well as access to clinical support as needed. While we won't be able to enjoy field trips as we did previously, we will lead the campers through some virtual field trips.

We're also introducing an optional, after-school Esports program for campers who would like to have the opportunity to compete in a formal gaming league. The games we're able to offer for now include Super Smash Bros, Minecraft, and Fortnite. This is an additional, but small, cost, so please contact me ([email protected]) separately if you're interested.

Pathways/Innovators Overview
Pathways To Independence and Summer Innovators will share some resources and activities. This program will consist of daily scheduled live sessions, and daily independent time to work on projects and other activities. These campers will also have access to our online library of online courses and projects with live support. Due to the nature of the program, the live sessions will be required so that students can get the effect of instruction.

Monday college visits will continue, but in a virtual manner. Mrs. Gillespie is planning to lead campers through 2 online visits every Monday. And like Summer Camp, clinical support is available as needed and the optional Esports program is available, too.

Please feel free to email if you have any questions for us. We've been working hard to create an online program that will still provide good benefits to our students and help them stay sharp over the summer and be more prepared for our return to campus. We hope you'll join us for this unique new program!

Thanks, and stay safe!
Brian

Note from Hill Top Prep School

I am reaching out to let you know that there is financial assistance available for families who may be on the fence about considering private school/Hill Top Prep because of the cost. We appreciate your support of Hill Top Prep, and if you have any questions about our program, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for continuing to send us extraordinary students!

Kind regards,

Meredith

Program Description

Hill Top Profile

Behavior Analysis and Therapy Partners are providing telehealth services for kids in our ABA and IBHS programs. If interested, contact Joe at 610-664-6200.

Communiverse Offerings:

Send us your questions and follow up on social media. E-mail us, text us, and call us with any questions you may have during this time. We will address all questions through video content on our social media pages:

Instagram - @Communiverse

Twitter - @CommuniverseLLC

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CommuniverseTherapySolutions/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/communiverse-llc/

Kristina Vacha, LCSW, is providing tele-therapy during the quarantine period in the form of individual and group sessions. She will waive the fee for each client's first individual session or group session.

As some people are facing financial challenges during this time, she is offering behavior support/therapy at reduced rates based on your financial situation. If your child or adult child has a state waiver, the agencies should be allowing your assigned behavior therapist to provide tele-therapy for the duration of stay-at-home order. This is currently being offered by the Devereux CARES Community Adult Autism Partnership Program (CAAPP ).

If you are a parent working from home, you should be able to set up online therapy with your regular therapist. If you don't have a regular therapist, your employer may be able to match you with a therapist providing online therapy through your Employee Assistance Program.

If you feel you need support and are not sure how to proceed, Kristina is available for a free phone consultation.

Kristina Vacha, LCSW

484-274-8957, [email protected]

BCBA for Helping Hands Family provides in-home and in-clinic ABA services to children with Autism. Our clinic is located in Malvern, PA but is closed at this time. Even though our clinic is closed, we are available for home services. If we can help you with requests from displaced clients or, on a very temporary basis, with your own services, please reach out. Council for Autism Service Providers (CASP) has confirmed that we are considered an essential service at this time and are taking all precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all. They continue to provide guidance on the best ways to provide these necessary services during this time.

We can provide temporary or ongoing support to children with either in-home services or through tele-health. We also are able to do intake and carry out initial assessments for children who have an autism diagnosis and need to start receiving ABA services. These services are paid through private insurance and can begin immediately. For more information, call 610-316-5902 or email: [email protected].

NeurAbilities

In the best interest of all patients, family members and staff, NeurAbilities Healthcare has temporary closed our offices but continues to provide the services you need. All of our staff are now working remotely to treat patients, schedule appointments and answer any questions. We are providing telemedicine services for many of our services, including Behavior Consultation and Training for parents in NJ and PA. We understand that some children may not be receiving their routinely scheduled behavioral services and would like to help.

Please call 856-346-0005 or email [[email protected]] to contact us for scheduling or general information.

Sincerely,

Deborah Morris
RECRUITING ACCOUNT MANAGER
P: 856-346-0005 x1212 F: 855-266-6180 E: [email protected]

ASCEND Group Membership Levels...Membership options that make sense

As a nonprofit organization, we depend solely on the support of our members as
we work to fulfill our mission to raise public awareness about AS and related disorders, advocate for improved education and services, and provide support and information to the Asperger and autism community.

Access to some of the content on this website is available only to subscribing members. Various membership options and benefits are shown below:

Member Benefits include:

Free admission to one or more meet-ups. Our meetups this year have been:
Free or discounted registration for ASCEND webinars and educational sessions.
Posting of events, research, camps and groups (organizational members only)
Referrals (organizational members only)
Invitation or join our professionals elist (listserv) for message posting (organizational members only)
Inclusion in our Membership Directory (optional and available only to member families)
Invitation to join our families e-lists (listservs) for message posting (member families only)
Access to our Members Only "Cybrary" containing: Autism & Employment Networking & Interviewing Webinars, SAP: Autism at Work Session Recording, College Panel Night hand-outs, Key Considerations and Concerns for Teens with ASD,Preparing Students with Disabilities For Life After School and the Workplace Presentation, Emotional Regulation, Living in an Instaworld and our e-newsletter archive (all members)

ASCEND Individual Membership $25/year

ASCEND Family Membership $45/year

ASCEND Organizational Membership $160/year

Need to Pay
by Check?

Print out this membership form in Word format and mail in your payment to:

ASCEND Group, Inc., PO Box 2097, Media PA 19063

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS: Give an ASCEND Membership as a gift to a loved on or colleague. Select one of the new membership options below, and indicate during checkout that the membership is a gift. Please note that you’ll need to have enough of the recipients contact information on hand to complete the required fields for their member profile.

Legal Disclaimer: ASCEND maintains the Professional Services Resource Directory as a service to families and professionals as a reference tool. ASCEND does not endorse or claim to have personal knowledge of the abilities of those listed. The resources listed on this page are not intended as a recommendation, referral, or endorsement of any resource or as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any organization, product or professional. Users are urged to use independent judgment when considering any resource associated with diagnosis or treatment of autism, or the provision of services related to autism.

ASCEND Group Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. We do not endorse any specific professional or therapeutic treatment. We are not meant to be a replacement for medical or legal advice. Our mission is to raise public awareness about Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, to advocate for improved education and services, and to provide support and information to the Asperger and autism community. This web site is for informational purposes only. Any link or mention on our web site should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation. If you have questions about Autism or Asperger Syndrome, please consult with a qualified medical professional.

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