About Us
What We Do
We provide information and referral to parents and professionals about diagnosis, care, treatment, educational, medical and habilitative services.
We provide names of facilities and individuals locally who can provide such services to those with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
We provide advice and guidance to parents and families seeking necessary appropriate services for the family member.
We solicit funds to help support these programs to the maximum extent possible.
We advise facilities and/or professionals who are unfamiliar with autism and put them in touch with other professionals able to supplement their efforts.
We encourage development and improvement of new and existing programs.
We co-founded, in 2000, the SPECTRUM CHARTER SCHOOL, providing community based school-to-work education and training for students ages 12-21, including those with autism spectrum disorders.
We advocate for the rights of those with autism to a free and appropriate education, appropriate care and treatment, and the rights of parents and families to obtain appropriate services for their family member with autism.
We seek to enhance the effectiveness of existing programs by providing a forum for continuing education and the exchange of new ideas and approaches.
We founded S.P.E.A.K. in 1974, a specialized summer program of education and community awareness building to prevent academic and social regression in children with autism spectrum disorders during summer months.
We try to assist parents in resolving problems and obtaining appropriate services, or who feel that their family member has been excluded from an appropriate program.
We prepare and deliver testimony on all autism-related topics, including those issues that are being litigated or considered for legislative action.
We provide autism training to businesses and organizations wishing to gain further information about autism.
We founded the “Higher Contact” program to assist businesses in providing transitional services and pair them with individuals with autism and/or autism organizations.
Our Mission
Since 1967, the Autism Society of Pittsburgh has been the local action unit of the Autism Society of America, the foremost voice and resource of the nation’s autism community. We are comprised of volunteers, parents and professionals, working on behalf of all children and those of adult age on the autism spectrum. Our objective is to improve the lives of those with autism and related disorders of behavior and communication.
Autism Society of Pittsburgh’s operational imperative is the Options Policy of the Autism Society of America — “that parents have a right to learn about all resources and service options and to choose those they feel are most appropriate for their family member with autism.” This is as basic as the family itself, rooted deeply in the very foundation of our American republic.
As such, our Mission in the greater Pittsburgh area is:
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To provide advocacy, support and thorough information on care, treatment, educational and habilitative service options available for those with autism spectrum disorders, autism-involved parents and families, and to professionals who work with them.
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To encourage expansion and develop excellence in a continuum of appropriate service options.
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To provide unbiased information for ALL such options to parents, families and to the caring professionals who work with them to reduce or overcome autism-disabling characteristics.
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To help autism-involved parents, families and professionals grow by providing as much relevant information on autism spectrum disorders as is known to us.
Our Goal
The goal of our Chapter is to help parents and professionals grow by providing as much relevant information on autism spectrum disorders as is known to us.
We cannot take your place. Parents are with their children for a lifetime: professionals for a career. Our efforts are aimed at helping both become as proficient as possible in evaluating and choosing the services, options and approaches that will enhance the growth and development of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
We urge, if you have not already done so, to join the Autism Society of America, the voice for autism at the national level — in the Administration, Congress, and in the court system. Joining will entitle you to receive pertinent information from the ASA national headquarters on a regular basis through its publications and national resources. Click here to join the Autism Society of America.
- 1966
HEED Parents Group
HEED Parents Group
March 2, 1966Help and Education for Exceptional Dependents –the first parents’ group in Pennsylvania to represent all individuals with developmental disabilities including those with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, specific learning disabilities and mental retardation.
- 1966
Senate Bill 50
Senate Bill 50
March 14, 1966Relieved parents of financial liability for developmentally disabled family members in institutions or other out-of-home residential care and treatment facilities or receiving treatment under various Federal and State mandates for their specific impairments.Provisions later incorporated into the first Federal Developmental Disabilities and Bill of Rights Act.
- 1967
Western Center Parents’ Group
Western Center Parents’ Group
March 14, 1967Co-founded the first parents’ group at an institution in the state of Pennsylvania, and led to the founding of parents’ groups at all institutions in Pennsylvania, resulting in institutional reform as well as improvement of services and quality of life for individuals receiving residential care, treatment and habilitation at such centers —public and private
- 1967
Camp Chipeewee
Camp Chipeewee
March 14, 1967A product of the HEED Parents Group in Monroeville, PA, serving individuals with developmental disabilities in a summer program of recreational activities
- 1968
Nine Special Education Centers
Nine Special Education Centers
March 15, 1968Co-founded special education schools for students with developmental disabilities, ages 6 through 21, including jointure boards leading to construction and staffing of these schools by the Allegheny (County) Intermediate Unit.
- 1969
Monroeville Developmental Center
Monroeville Developmental Center
March 15, 1969Co-founded a program of pre-school experience for individuals with developmental disabilities regardless of diagnosis or specific label.It later became a licensed pre-school program, called the St. Peter’s Child Development Center.
- 1970
First Group Home
First Group Home
March 15, 1970Co-founded Pennsylvania’s, and the nation’s, first community group home —on Thomas Boulevard in Point Breeze, Pittsburgh, PA –and eight more group homes thereafter.
- 1972
Autistic Children’s Program
Autistic Children’s Program
March 15, 1972Co-founded with Allegheny Intermediate Unit; the state’s first specialized program of elementary and secondary education forchildren with autism, Pathfinder School in Bethel Park, PA
- 1974
Summer Program for the Education of Autistic Kids (S.P.E.A.K.)
Summer Program for the Education of Autistic Kids (S.P.E.A.K.)
March 15, 1974Summer program of education, recreation and community awareness building for individuals with autism, ages 5 through 21.This program prevents or significantly reduces summertime learning regression.S.P.E.A.K. is recognized as the region’s premier Federally-mandated extended school year program.
- 1979
Armstrong-Kline
Armstrong-Kline
March 14, 1979This US Supreme Court decision mandated extended school year education for those individuals with disabilities determined as likely to regress in learning during the summer months.The pivotal amicus curiae brief supporting this concept was written by Connie and Dan Torisky of the Autism Society of Pittsburgh; it became law in 1984
- 1979
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
March 15, 1979Members of our chapter represented ASA on the task force that enabled the expansion of the Education of All Handicapped Act (EHA) to include all individuals with autism and related disorders of behavior and communication.Further, in 1990, we provided Diagnostic Statistical Manual Fourth Edition (DSM IV) language defining autism clearly, enabling appropriate addressing of the special needs of individuals with autism.
- 1979
Combined Parents Legislative Action Committee
Combined Parents Legislative Action Committee
April 1, 1979Co-founded with other special interest parent’s groups, to educate and assist legislators in creating and passing legislation relevant to better serve the needs of all those with disabilities.
- 1980
Autism Support Classrooms
Autism Support Classrooms
March 15, 1980Individually, as well as in a consulting capacity, we have been responsible for the creation of autism support classrooms in Allegheny County school districts, we well as in the City of Pittsburgh –addressing school boards, as well as providing information and support for parents and other professionals in the school systems seeking to create such classrooms.
- 2000
SPECTRUM Charter School
SPECTRUM Charter School
March 15, 2000Co-founded first charter school in the country to combine classroom education with vocational instruction and training for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, ages 13-21, enabling them to be graduated into community-based employment.
- 2001
Police Training Film and Curriculum
Police Training Film and Curriculum
March 15, 2001At the invitation of the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Education and Training Center (MPOETC), prepared classroom curriculum and a 30-minute training tape describing characteristics of autism to enable law enforcement officers to deal appropriately with individuals with autism in custody after arrest or apprehension.
- 2004
Transitioning to Adulthood
Transitioning to Adulthood
March 15, 2004Based on PA Autism Task Force findings, prepared guidelines for overcoming governmental obstacles to effective transitioning to adulthood of those with autism.
- 2004
Pennsylvania Education Code Revisions
Pennsylvania Education Code Revisions
March 15, 2004Created Special Education Work Group that worked with PA House Speaker and PADepartment of Education to update the code with autism appropriate regulatory revisions.
- 2006
Pennsylvania Autism Showcase Conference
Pennsylvania Autism Showcase Conference
March 15, 2006Organized and chaired, highlighted the urgency and speeded up the implementation of key imperatives of the PA Autism Task Force, including establishment of the PA Bureau of Autism Services, and other groundbreaking initiatives.
- 2009
Keystone Autism Information System (KAIS)
Keystone Autism Information System (KAIS)
March 15, 2009Established a web-based, parent-fed, statistical autism information exchange, listing, statewide,services and establishments felt by parents to be accommodating to those with autism and their families.
- 2014
Autism Takes Flight Film
Autism Takes Flight Film
September 26, 2014The 12-minute film was produced by the Autism Society of Pittsburgh in cooperation with Delta Airlines, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Allegheny County Airport Authority. It is a compilation of video footage of recent training sessions for autism families held at the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport. It provides enlightening educational tips to make flying easier for those with autism.
- 2015
“The Family Next Door” Documentary and Film Curriculum
“The Family Next Door” Documentary and Film Curriculum
March 15, 2015The Family Next door is a feature-length documentary about an Upper St. Clair Family with two sons on the autism spectrum. It is a genuine, powerful portrayal of the challenges families face in the daily struggle with autism. Over a thousand people have viewed the movie locally and over $38,000 has been donated to the Autism Society of Pittsburgh by generous supporters of this incredible film.If you’d like, you may read coverage of the premiere by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here.
It is a living example of “training in autism, understanding and acceptance” especially suitable for middle school student audiences. Showing arranged on request.
- 2015
Autism Training for PA Magistrates
Autism Training for PA Magistrates
March 15, 2015Autism Training for all 540 Pennsylvania Magistrates, as well as, Probation Officers and K-9 First-Responders.
- 2015
Arts for Autism Foundation of Pittsburgh
Arts for Autism Foundation of Pittsburgh
March 15, 2015Arts for Autism Foundation of Pittsburgh and the “Joey Travolta” Summer Autism Film Camp
- 2017
Merger with the Autism Society of Butler
- 2017
Created App for Autism Society of Pittsburgh
Created App for Autism Society of Pittsburgh
March 15, 2017To allow our mobile followers an easier way to follow our progress and receive updates an application was developed for both Android and Apple phones could use.
- 2017
Developed ESY End of Summer Camp
- 2017
Created “Higher Contact” Transition Program
- 2017
Develop STEM Mentoring Program
- 2018
Partnership with CAI’s Autism2Work Program
- 2018
Service Dog Grants Awarded
Service Dog Grants Awarded
March 15, 2018The Autism Society of Pittsburgh is pleased to offer a specific program that assists with funding for families or individuals with autism to receive service dogs. This funding covers the purchase and training of the autism service dogs. This is an excellent opportunity to discover how a service dog could help your child lead a more stress-free life. For more details on the dogs and the training program, please contact K9s for Kids via email at k9sforkids@hotmail.com, or call 412-670-5939.
Wexford Address
11676 Perry Highway, Suite 1200
Professional Building #1
Wexford, PA 15090
Butler County Office
PO Box 275
202 E Main Street
Evans City, PA 16033
Monroeville Office
4903 Old William Penn Highway
Monroeville, PA 15146
Amazon Smile
How would you like to help out our organization with additional funds, and not take any money out of your pocket? Instead of buying from the regular Amazon website store, go to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7350636 or Amazon Smile. The prices are the same, however Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to a Non-Profit of your choice! After using the above link, or just click on the Amazonsmile Icon above to select the Autism Society of Pittsburgh.
Guidestar
The Autism Society of Pittsburgh, Inc. is recognized by Guidestar as a non-profit organization. Our Bridge # is 1371707968. Our Objective is to improve the lives of those struggling with autism and to help autism involved parents, families and professionals grow by providing as much relevant information on autism spectrum disorders as is known to us.
