4371 Northern Pike,  Monroeville, PA 15146
(412) 856-7223 or 7224    Fax: (412) 856-7428

What We Do

Summary of current services:

• Information and referral files mailed on request
• Legal, medical, nutritional, educational and psychological references available for parent and professionals in our local office library
• The Danny Cope Autism Library and NFL Charities Research Collection.
• Referrals to appropriate professionals and programs
• Advocacy and support for children and families, and those who work with them.
• Information on alternative, as well as traditional therapies
• Specific drug detail information to prevent "legal drug abuse" - convenience drugging of autistic children to control behavior
• Newsletters covering state and local matters affecting autism
• Periodic seminars and workshops presenting leading professionals in autism, with emphasis on new and existing treatment, therapies and methodologies.
• A direct service project, began in 1975; the summer recreational and Extended School Year Program called S.P.E.A.K.
• Training and opportunities for teachers, aides, language and music therapists and others through various local and national programs.
• Parent-to-parent support and advice by phone, mail and in our office.
• Up to date legal information on parent and student rights to educational and vocational training programs
• Founding support for the Spectrum Charter School, the first of its kind in the country providing workplace and classroom education and training for students ages 14 to 21.
• Support for the local and national research projects such as the Center for Autism Research and The Autism Research Institute.

Description of services:

We provide information and referral to parents and professionals about diagnostic procedures and services.

We provide names of facilities or individuals who can provide medical, educational. psychological and other therapeutic services to autistic children and their families.

We advise parents by phone, or in person, concerning decisions they must make in seeking the necessary appropriate services for their child or adult.

We counsel facilities and/or professionals who are unfamiliar with autism, and put them in touch with other professionals who can supplement their efforts.

We encourage, promote and assist in creating new programs that are needed to fill gaps in service.

We solicit special grants to provide these programs, if existing service providers are unable or unwilling to do so.

We provide information on the civil, moral and legal aspects of the autistic person's rights to a free and appropriate education, vocational training and a complete continuum of treatment, service and residential options.

We seek to enhance the effectiveness of existing programs by providing a forum for continuing education and exchange of new ideas.

We serve as a clearing house for complaints from parents who are unable to obtain appropriate services, or who feel that their child has been unjustly excluded from and appropriate program or service.

We maintain a most comprehensive compendium of books and publications on autism, "The Danny Cope Autism Collection," in the reference Library of the School of Education at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA.

We maintain an up-to-date legal reference library, The Individuals with Disabilities and The Education for the Handicapped Law Reports, for reference by parents and professionals.

We maintain files, records, books, pamphlets, and articles, newsletters and many other references on autism that may be copied and mailed to students, parents or professionals. This material may also be used in our office by appointment. This includes audio and videotapes of conferences and presentations, Which may be views in our office, again by appointment only.

We write and deliver testimony on all autism-related topics, especially those issues that are being litigated or considered for legislative action.

© Autism Society of Pittsburgh