Our Mission
Our mission is to be a lifeline and hub for families and adults, providing support, information, and advocacy. Founded in 1996, the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania serves thousands of families, professionals, and adults seeking help for autism questions and concerns. Autism Connection staff understand your perspective. They provide email and telephone support, autism news, sensory-friendly activities, and training for parents, professionals, educators, and first responders, and the organization sponsors support groups across Pennsylvania.
Autism Connection of Pennsylvania provides a lifeline for families and people affected by autism, providing education, advocacy and support. Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, all of our counseling, advocacy, and support services are free.
All ages. All stages.
Latest Blog Posts
Some of the best ideas become traditions because a community embraces them. That’s exactly what happened with the Autism Safety Expo. When Autism Connection of PA hosted our inaugural Expo last year, we hoped it would bring together families, autistic people, first responders, educators, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to share resources and strengthen autism safety. The response was overwhelming. New partnerships were formed, families discovered services they didn’t know existed, and countless meaningful conversations reminded us how much we read more
Family vacations rarely go exactly as planned. When an autistic family member has high support needs, travel often requires even more flexibility, preparation, and patience. But that doesn’t mean meaningful travel experiences are out of reach. In fact, some of the most memorable trips aren’t the ones where everything went perfectly. They’re the ones where everyone felt safe, supported, and able to enjoy a special moment together. One of the most important things families can do is choose a destination read more
For many years, we have used a decision-making funnel – developed through our board’s strategic planning – to guide what we post, write about, and include in our publications. An article must provide hope or useful information. We do not publicize trauma, pity, or inspiration porn. We are here to serve people and live our mission as a lifeline of support, information and advocacy. Scaring people, manipulating them with pity, or exploiting people with disabilities are simply the wrong tactics read more