18th Annual Conference
Our 18th Annual Conference was a huge success.  The response from the 400 people in attendance was overwhelmingly positive!  Click here to learn more.

The Office of Medicaid and the Department of Mental Retardation's Autism Division have received approval from the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement an autism services program.   
What is the MA Autism Waiver Program?  Families, agencies, and individual providers can access information, learn more about the program, and download forms by clicking of the above link.  Please contact Community Resources for People with Autism (413/529-2428) if you have any questions or concerns.

A unified voice for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.

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By providing information, advocacy, training and education, and family support in Western Massachusetts, Community Resources for People with Autism echoes the mission of its parent organization – The Association For Community Living. The Association was founded in 1952 to create opportunities, build relationships, and improve the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Attention:  Teens with Asperger's Syndrome and Their Parents

Join us for a four-part series focusing on:

• transitioning from high school to college
• social skills
• sexuality
• college
• work and employment

For more information, click here.

Grants for Families of Children with Autism

There's no doubt about it: autism is expensive. For some families, though, the cost of autism can be devastating. That's why the National Autism Association has created a grant program specifically for families of children with autism who are in financial crisis.

If you are a family residing in the United States with a child on the autism spectrum aged birth to 18, you may qualify for the grant. The maximum you may request is $1,500. Money from the grant may be applied ONLY to biomedical treatments, supplements or therapies for your child with autism - and the money is paid directly to vendors (not to families).

Similar grants are offered to families by Act-Today for Autism, Autism Family Resources, and United Healthcare Children's Foundation. The important point to note is that money from these grants never goes directly to families - and it may be used only for autism treatments and related costs (not to, for example, keep the house warm in winter).

If you are in search of a grant for autism treatment, these grant opportunities are legitimate resources. Many advertised grant opportunities, however, are not. A Google search will almost certainly lead you to sites and ads for "free grants for autism." Many of these organizations will require you to pay in advance for your "free grants" - an absurd idea, since grants, by their very nature, are "free."

If any agency or individual requests money from you as part of a grant application process, run fast and far. Then, consider reporting that agency or individual to the police.

Source:  Autism.About.com