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 Membership

Find out more about our membership benefits.

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: 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.
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's MISSION:

To improve the lives of individuals
and families in the Greater Philadelphia area impacted by Asperger Syndrome
and Autism through connections,
community and support.

ASCEND Events:

ASCEND Group Webinar:

Improving Emotional Regulation in Individuals with ASD Webinar

Description: Challenges in managing strong emotions is common for children and teens with disorders of relating and communicating, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. In this talk, we will discuss why this is and practical strategies will be presented that can help develop these crucial skills across settings. Our hope is to help all those affected by ASD become:

An emotionally well-regulated child/teen/adult who can stay engaged across a range of emotions
A reflective thinker who understands his/her own inner world as well as those of others
A flexible thinker who is able to understand the complexity and nuances of social relationships

During this webinar participants will learn:

What is emotional regulation and why is it a common problem for individuals on the Spectrum?
Emotional regulation is a developmental process. We will discuss what foundation capacities need to be in place prior to its emergence.
The role brain development plays in emotional regulation.
How the emotional life of the family can help the child with ASD to develop emotional regulation.
The importance of imaginative play in the development of emotional regulation.

Webinar occurs Wednesday, November 20 from 7:00-8:15 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Register now.

About our Presenter: Steven B. Glazier, M.A.

Steven Glazier is a Licensed Psychologist who has been working with individuals with developmental, emotional, and behavioral challenges for over 30 years. Since 1995, he has been in private practice, specializing in treating children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with a relational/developmentally informed approach. Steven has been on the faculty of Widener University’s Early Childhood Mental Health Program and the Boards of the Philadelphia Preschool Early Intervention Autism Committee, Delaware Valley Chapter of the World Association for Infant Mental Health, ASCEND, and the Center for Autism. He is a faculty member of Profectum Academy, an international agency dedicated to training multidisciplinary professionals who work with special needs children, and he is designated an “Expert Practitioner” by the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders. He treats individuals across the lifespan in his Bala Cynwyd office, consults in preschools and schools, and mentors other professionals.

Meetup: (Adults 18+) Lunch at Keswick Tavern (Glenside)
Saturday, November 23 at 11:00 AM

Let's get together for lunch at Keswick Tavern. Grab a beer and a burger or other delicious pub grub. Everyone will pay for their own lunch and drinks. Tavern may be loud depending on how many people are there at lunchtime.
The tavern is accessible via the 22 bus which runs along Keswick Avenue. For more info about Keswick Tavern: http://www.keswicktavern.net

Game Meetup
This event is for kids age 10 to 17, and we will have Legos, board games, WII video games, Nintendo DS and other video games, foosball and air hockey. We encourage participants to bring their favorite games to share and for parents to stay and socialize. Light refreshments will be available.

Sunday, December 22 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Every 4th Sunday of the month
How to find us: The Social Enrichment Center has moved to: 216 South Orange Street in Media. Parking available.

GET YOUR GAME ON AND SUPPORT ASCEND!

Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Dave and Buster's, 500 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting

Tickets: $35 per person (includes Unlimited Video Game Play, $20 Power Card, buffet with Bar Burgers, Four-Cheese Pizza Bites, Crispy Chicken Bites served with Ranch dip, Baked Macaroni & Cheese, French Fries, and Unlimited Soda.

The restaurant will open an hour early so that our group has exclusive use of the gaming area.
50/50 Raffle and Gift Raffles!

Get your game on and support ASCEND! Purchase tickets here.

Educational Programs

Tuesday, January 28 - In person

Susan Paul, Presenting: Social interaction/social anxiety across the lifespan

Thursday, February 27 - In person

Paul Kesselman Presenting: Cyber health and wellness

Chips, Chocolate and Chat Adult Social Group

A group of adult self-advocates who with the help of a facilitator, discuss topics chosen by the group. Topics that have been addressed include dating, co-workers, break-ups, meet-ups, interviewing for jobs, etc. In the past, we have had a few guest speakers who have addressed the group as well.

Attendees: Adults on the autism spectrum, ages 18+
Sun., December 15 from 4-5 PM
Ruttenberg Autism Center
1740 Walton Road, 1st Floor, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Discussion Group for Caregivers

Runs simultaneously but in a different room than the adult social group.
Attendees: Caregivers of adults on the autism spectrum

Sun., December 15 from 4-5 PM
Ruttenberg Autism Center
1740 Walton Road, 1st Floor, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Professional Events and Ongoing Groups:

Upcoming Fall 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.

1) Tuesday, December 10 at 7pm (virtual)
Hosted by: PA Leadership Charter School

2) Thursday, December 12 at 6:30pm

Hosted by: Carousel Connections

Location TBD

3) Saturday, December 14th, 10am

Hosted by: Devereux

(closed to Devereux families only!)

Interested in hosting a workshop for your families? Should your employer be offering something similar? Please reach out to Pat!

Ongoing Professional Groups

1) LET'S GET M.A.A.D. (MANAGEMENT OF OUR ANGER, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION)

Difficulty regulating one's emotions not only impacts the individual's mood and well-being but also his/her ability to socialize with others effectively. This group will focus on helping group members identify their emotions including bodily sensations and triggers and how these emotions negatively impact their ability to connect with and socialize with their peers. Group leaders will facilitate the learning of more effective coping skills for managing emotions in difficult and stressful situations as well as learning how to better connect and maintain relationships with peers.

Groups of 8 will meet for 1 hour per week sessions starting Monday, October 28 in Doylestown, PA. Members will be grouped based on their age, language abilities, and goals for the group.

2) Lego®-based Social Skills Group

Openings for Children ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, & 13-15. Children will be grouped by age, language abilities, and social skills goals.

Lego®-Based Therapy, or Lego®-Club as it called by group members, is an evidenced based treatment where children develop skills through collaboration on group projects through the use of Lego®. Group members collaborate on building sets, free style projects, and creating and producing short stop-action films. Children with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, and other social challenges are welcome!
Groups will be run on Monday afternoons/evenings for 1 hour per session for 8 sessions starting Monday, October 7, 2019.

Location: Autism Spectrum Diagnostics & Consulting, 259 Veterans Ln, Doylestown, PA 18901.

Contact Dr. Brittany Lyman at [email protected] for more informatio

Mike Fogel's Art of Friendship

1) Social-Coping Skills Groups are currently enrolling girls, boys and co-ed groups between 4-18 years old in Paoli, Haverford, Plymouth Meeting and Center City Philadelphia. Social-coping skills groups are designed especially for the social developmental needs of teens between the ages of 12-18. Girls-only and boys-only middle school and high school groups are available. Mike Fogel's Art of Friendship Social-Coping® Curriculum (also used at Camp Pegasus) launches participants on a "Reputation Project" with perspective-taking and the hidden rules of socialization at its core.

2) emPower Lunch
Love with Limits: The Art of Friendship's Positive Behavior Support Plan for Home & School Reinforcement of Social Coping Skills, Cooperation and Self-Regulation

Parents, educators, and professionals are invited to FREE lunchtime workshops! Each month, Mike Fogel MA, ATR-BC, LPC presents practical and memorable social-coping skills and parent/caregiver reinforcement tips. These are the same strategies promoted at Camp Pegasus and the Art of Friendship Social-Coping Skills Program.

Child & Family Art Therapy Center ~ 250 W. Lancaster Ave. ~ Suite 255 ~ Paoli, PA 19301
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Tuesday, October 8

5 Sentry Pkwy Ste 110, Blue Bell, PA 19422,11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Thursday, October 10

Kristina Vacha's Groups
Kristina Vacha, Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, LBS, MSS, MA

1) MeetUp Group: Autism Spectrum
Kristina Vacha, LCSW will be facilitating a movie meetup once a month at the Movie Tavern in Exton. This group is appropriate for individuals who are college educated or current college students and who can attend independently. An initial consultation at my office is required before attending events or groups. This group is for adults with autism who are interested in increasing social connections and addressing issues related to living as an adult on the spectrum.

2) Anime Club for Adults on the Spectrum
If you are an adult on the spectrum or know one who might be interested in being part of an anime club, join our meetup group.

Join meetup.com (it's free!) and search for https://www.meetup.com/Autism-Spectrum-Connections/ to send a request to join.

3) Adults on the Autism Spectrum Group
This group is a therapeutic support group where you can talk about your experiences as an adult with autism. We address concerns with social isolation, developing more meaningful relationships with others including improving family dynamics, developing friendships and dating, succeeding at employment or education, coping with anxiety and depression, improving self advocacy and developing a better understanding of the autism diagnosis. The group is for adults ages 25 and up who are employed or enrolled in higher education. More about this group

4) Spouses & Partners of Aspies / Autism Support
This group is for adults who are married or in a relationship with an adult with autism spectrum disorder. The group will discuss experiences, offering opportunities to support each other, to vent as needed and to share positive experiences as well.

5) Adult Support Group
This group is for adults on the autism spectrum who are struggling with feeling stuck in significant areas of adult life. If you would like to be working but are currently unemployed or underemployed, socially isolated, unsure about how you would like to become a more independent adult, use or hope to use state funded adult autism services, then you may find this group helpful. More about this group

6) Women with Autism
This group is for women with autism 25 years and up. Whether diagnosed in childhood or recently this group will give you a place to meet other women and talk about your experiences as women living with autism. This group is targeted for women who are employed and/or pursuing higher education. More about this group

If you or an adult with ASD you know is interested in this group (or in one of the other groups Kristina meets with) please contact Kristina: [email protected] or 484-274-8957.

I am a good listener and will give you time and space to share your concerns. I specialize in supporting transitioning teens and adults with ASD and parents/caretakers. I offer a comprehensive strengths-based approach that also utilizes evidence-based interventions to address issues related to anxiety and depression, life transitions, family and relationship dynamics, self-advocacy, work/employment, co-morbid mental health issues, healthy lifestyle, independent living, contact with law enforcement, and sexuality/dating. I work across the spectrum including nonverbal individuals to high functioning professionals.

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. To view our 2017 Meet Ups list click here. To view our 2018 Meet Ups click here.
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 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?

Download our Word membership form and simply send us your registration by US Mail:

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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