tmorton – Autism Connection of Pennsylvania

police officer demonstrating Project Lifesaver to a child

2026 Autism Safety Expo

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 can accomplish when we come together.

Because of that incredible success, we’re excited to announce that the Autism Safety Expo is now an annual event.

Please join us on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Monroeville Fire Company #4, 4370 Northern Pike, for a full day of education, practical resources, interactive exhibits, and opportunities to connect with organizations dedicated to supporting autistic people of all ages and their families.

At Autism Connection of PA, we believe safety is about more than emergency preparedness. It’s about creating communities where autistic people are understood, supported, and included. Whether you’re a family member, self-advocate, first responder, educator, healthcare professional, or community partner, you’ll find valuable information, new connections, and practical tools that can make a difference.

We invite you to save the date, share the event with others, and watch for more details in the coming weeks. We look forward to welcoming you this October as we continue building safer, more informed, and more inclusive communities across Pennsylvania, together.

Email help@autismofpa.org with questions.

Email development@autismofpa.org for sponsor and vendor information.

The 2026 Autism Safety Expo is free to attend, and no registration is required.

Traveling Together: Tips for Families of Autistic People with High Support Needs

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 that fits the person’s needs, rather than trying to fit the person into a destination. Before booking, think about what will help your family member be comfortable. Is there a quiet place to take breaks? Are familiar foods available? Will there be opportunities to rest and recover from busy activities?

For many autistic people with high support needs, the place you’re staying can be more important than the attractions you plan to visit.

Choosing a Place to Stay

When renting a home, condo, or cabin, look beyond the beautiful photos. Consider practical details such as safety, noise levels, accessibility, parking, and whether there is enough space for everyone to decompress when needed. A simple, predictable environment is often a better choice than one that is exciting but overwhelming.

Bringing familiar supports from home can also make a big difference. Items that provide comfort and routine can help reduce stress and make new environments feel more manageable. Consider packing:

Favorite comfort items
Noise-canceling headphones or sensory tools
Preferred snacks and drinks
Communication devices and chargers
Medications and medical supplies
Downloaded music, videos, or apps

These items are not extras. They are important supports that help people feel secure and regulated.

Travel Plans

Travel days themselves can be challenging. Whether you’re driving or flying, try to build flexibility into the schedule. Allow extra time, plan for breaks, and remember that slowing down is often better than pushing through. Many families find it helpful to focus less on seeing everything and more on creating a pace that works for everyone.

If you’re flying, it may be worth exploring disability supports offered by airports and airlines. Services such as pre-boarding, assistance navigating crowded terminals, and other accommodations can help reduce stress before the trip even begins.

Passenger Support | Transportation Security Administration

For families with multiple children, it’s important to remember that siblings are traveling too. They may understand why plans sometimes change, but they still need opportunities to be included and valued.

Considering the Entire Family

Before the trip, consider asking each child what would make the vacation feel special to them. Sometimes the answer is something simple. It could be a favorite restaurant, a trip to an arcade, extra pool time, or a one-on-one outing with a parent. Protecting those moments whenever possible helps everyone feel like their needs matter.

It’s also okay for siblings to have mixed feelings. They may feel disappointed when plans change or frustrated when a situation becomes stressful. Creating space for those feelings, without judgment, helps children feel heard and supported. For some families, it works to allow the sibling to bring a friend along. When that’s not an option, there may be opportunities for one parent to visit attractions with the sibling that might be overwhelming for the autistic child.

Just as important, caregivers need support too. Managing safety, communication, routines, meals, medications, and travel logistics can be exhausting. If possible, share responsibilities, keep expectations realistic, and build recovery time into the days before and after your trip.

A Simple Message about Successful Trips

At the end of the day, success doesn’t have to mean checking every attraction off a list.

A successful trip might mean that everyone got enough sleep. It might mean finding a quiet beach, sharing a favorite meal, enjoying an afternoon at the pool, or watching a child smile during a new experience. It might simply mean that everyone felt safe, respected, and cared for.

Those moments count.

Traveling with an autistic family member who has high support needs may look different from what others expect a vacation to be. That’s okay. When families focus on support, flexibility, and connection instead of perfection, they create space for something even more meaningful, the chance to experience the world together.

Thanks to attendees and facilitators of the Caring for Loved Ones with High Support Needs group for sharing ideas and experiences. Those interested in joining this support group can visit our Events Page for registration, or email help@autismofpa.org for more information.

Why Aliyah Rahman’s Testimony Matters

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 for us.

As a result, our total database now includes more than 21,000 contacts, with roughly 6,500 people following us on social media and about 12,000 receiving our weekly e-blast. It is okay to grow by serving people, and that appears to be exactly what has happened.

This week’s testimony by Aliyah Rahman is an example of extreme bravery, empathy, and resolve, and needs to be heard. Aliyah is an autistic woman with a traumatic brain injury who was assaulted by federal agents in Minneapolis. Her six-minute speech is extraordinarily powerful. While she speaks about being terrorized and harmed, her primary concern is for the many people she witnessed inside an inhumane detention center who do not have her platform. Aliyah demonstrates incredible courage that provides hope while also shattering the harmful stereotype that autistic people lack empathy. That is vital information for us all.

This video includes firsthand testimony from Aliyah Rahman, an autistic woman with a traumatic brain injury, describing harm she experienced in detention. Her words are difficult, but they are shared to provide truth, information, and hope, and to amplify concern for others who do not have a platform. Please take care while watching.

We have dedicated years to working within the criminal legal system in support of people of all ages who encounter law enforcement. We have received grants focused on educating people with disabilities, including hiring Evolve Coaching to help produce the video What to Expect in a Traffic Stop. We have been invited by police departments, district attorney offices, jails, probation, parole, and other entities to provide training on supporting people with a medical diagnosis of autism.

Now, with Aliyah’s story, and the thousands of others who are caught up despite not being investigative targets, we face a conflict. How do we teach, train, support, or offer hope and information in the face of armed troops with marching orders, overwhelming power, and strong financial incentives to capture people regardless of their status? Aliyah did exactly what we teach people to do. She shouted, “I have a disability! I am autistic! I need accommodations!” and it was as if she were screaming into a void. Yes, she was later released, but the physical and emotional harm she and others experience daily cannot simply be erased. That is not how human bodies or brains work.

Through her sworn testimony, Aliyah Rahman has become the teacher, the volunteer advocate for others, and the embodiment of informed hope. We support her in spirit and hope her message helps stem the tide of violence in so many communities, and stops it before it spreads nationwide.

We are here.

If you need help, support, or connection, please reach out.

Autism Connection of PA

412-515-3938

Email: help@autismofpa.org

Indoor Activities for Complex Needs

At Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, we believe meaningful activities don’t have to be loud, busy, or demanding. For many autistic people, especially those with higher support needs, the most powerful experiences are the ones that support regulation, safety, and choice.

Whether activities happen in a community space, at home, or online, what matters most is that people are free to engage in ways that feel right to them. Here are some activity ideas and guiding principles that help make that possible.

Sensory Activities: Supporting Calm and Regulation

Sensory activities can help the nervous system settle. These spaces and tools are designed to be soothing, predictable, and flexible.

Think:

Quiet sensory rooms with soft or dim lighting
Bubble tubes, fiber optic lights, or projected visuals
Weighted blankets or lap pads for grounding
Soft textures to explore, like fabric, gel pads, or water beads
Preferred music or calming background sounds

There’s no “right” way to use sensory supports. Some people stay for a long time. Others take a quick break and move on, and that’s okay.

Creative Activities: Exploration Over Outcome

Creative activities aren’t about finishing a project or making something “look right.” They’re about exploring materials and enjoying the process.

Options might include:

Painting with hands, sponges, or rollers
Squeezing and shaping clay, dough, or putty
Light tables or glow-based art activities
Music play with drums, shakers, or chimes

Participation can look like watching, touching briefly, or repeating the same motion again and again. All of it counts.

Movement Activities: Helping the Body Feel Safe

Movement can be regulating, especially when it’s gentle and predictable.

Supportive movement activities include:

Slow stretching or simple yoga poses
Rocking chairs or supported indoor swings
Walking paths with clear visual cues
Soft obstacle courses made with mats and pillows

These activities aren’t about exercise or performance; they’re about comfort and body awareness.

Engagement Activities: Supporting Focus and Interest

Some activities help with attention and connection without requiring social interaction.

These might involve:

Sorting or matching favorite items
Cause-and-effect toys or switches
Simple routines done the same way each time
Choice boards using pictures or real objects

Familiarity and repetition can be reassuring, building trust and confidence.

Social Groups: Shared Space, Not Forced Conversation

Social groups don’t need talking to be meaningful. Often, simply being together in the same space is enough.

Small Group Options

Sensory play groups
Music and rhythm groups
Quiet groups built around shared interests
AAC-supported communication groups

Family-Supported Groups

Parent–child sensory groups
Sibling-friendly indoor play times
Caregiver-supported adult groups

These groups work best when expectations are low and support is built in.

What Matters Most

Across all activities and groups, a few principles make the biggest difference:

No pressure to interact
Parallel play is welcome
People can come and go as needed
All forms of communication are respected

Belonging should never be tied to behavior, speech, or participation.

Indoor Events: Predictable and Calm

Indoor events are often more accessible when they follow a clear routine and keep sensory demands low.

Ongoing Events

Sensory-friendly movie days
Open sensory gym or playroom hours
Quiet craft or activity times
Weekly clubs with the same schedule each time

Special Events

Sensory-friendly holiday gatherings
Autism-friendly expos with quiet spaces
Story times using objects, visuals, or AAC
Music or performance events designed for people with profound autism

In-Home and Virtual Options: Flexibility Matters

Not everyone can attend in person—and they shouldn’t have to miss out.

Accessible alternatives include:

Virtual sensory activities
Recorded calming routines
Online groups that use visuals or AAC
Flexible options families can use at home

Choice and access should extend beyond physical spaces.

What Makes Activities Truly Accessible

Accessibility isn’t about one feature. It’s about the whole experience. The most supportive activities include:

Visual schedules shared ahead of time
Clear beginnings and endings
Real choice, without pressure
Trained, understanding staff
Respect for non-speaking communication
No requirement to “participate” in order to belong

When we design activities this way, we create spaces where autistic people can feel safe, regulated, and genuinely included, exactly as they are.

At Autism Connection of PA, that’s the kind of connection we’re working toward every day.

Call to Action for Providers

Are you offering autism-friendly activities or support for autistic people with complex needs?
Make sure families can find you by listing your program at autismofpa.org.

Families are actively searching for safe, accessible indoor activities for people with profound autism. Providers can help by ensuring their programs are listed in Pennsylvania’s statewide autism resource directory.

Email tammi@autismofpa.org to share your services and reach families who need them.

By listing your autism-friendly activities, social groups, or events, you help families find options that respect sensory needs, communication differences, and safety without forcing participation.

Join us in expanding access across Pennsylvania.

12 Months of April

What if April didn’t have to end? That’s the question behind 12 Months of April, a project turning autism awareness into year-round action. From creating sensory kits to connecting families and first responders with life-saving programs like Yellow Dot and Project Lifesaver, this initiative started with one parent’s mission: make safety resources known, accessible, and ready when they matter most.

The parent behind the project, Kati Maas-Crawford, shares the story behind 12 Months of April.

When Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: Lessons from Autism, Safety, and Community Programs

In November 2024, I met with my municipality to discuss programs like the Yellow Dot Program and Project Lifesaver. I followed up with emails to help supply the building with pamphlets and information. In March 2025, I read a court document labeling these efforts “gratuitous,” which was upsetting. How could programs meant to help people with special needs be seen as unnecessary, especially by a family law firm?

A week later, Victor Perez was shot and killed by police in Idaho. I wondered if resources like a premise alert or special needs registry, or de-escalation techniques I’ve used in classrooms, could have made a difference. Shortly after, RFK held a press conference on autism, sparking widespread debate that felt personal, since autism touches both my home and work life.

At the end of April 2025, a book was sent to our house “to help” our child. It wasn’t requested, didn’t focus on coping skills or sensory needs, and didn’t fully represent autistic experiences. We were initially told it came from our municipality or police department. When I raised concerns and suggested better options, I was later informed the book did not come from them, which left questions and frustrations unresolved.

Making April Last All Year

Any one of these things would create anxiety for a parent but everything quickly accumulating amplified my worries. I knew that passively observing all these problems was not an option for me. If there is a problem, you solve it. One clear problem was that there wasn’t enough awareness of these resources by families, care providers or first responders. We were deep in April, which is autism awareness month, but what happens once April is done?

You make April year-round!

I then made myself the goal of contacting all municipalities in Allegheny County within 12 months about programs that they could share with their first responder services as well as community members. Hence the name “12 Months of April.” I made a Facebook page about my goal to hold myself publicly accountable as well as promote the safety resources.

Yellow Dot, Project Lifesaver, and Premise Alerts are free through the County and State and can make such a difference for everyone who could be involved in an emergency.

The Yellow Dot program is a yellow circle sticker that goes on your back windshield to alert first responders that someone in the car has special needs whether they be medical, physical or cognitive. A yellow pamphlet in the glove box details these needs to help first responders provide even better assistance for someone who is deaf, non-verbal, diabetic, heart condition, anything.

Project Lifesaver is a national program that is currently sponsored in Allegheny County through the DA’s office. It is a bracelet that a person wears and can be tracked through radio frequency should a person wander and does not have the means to communicate or understand where they are. This benefits those with autism as well as those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. This can help greatly reduce search time for someone which is crucial in preventing injuries or death.

The Allegheny County Premise alert is also known as the Special Needs Registry. I personally share it as a premise alert as it can help in many ways. You register with the county and then if services are dispatched to your home, police get an alert that gives them information about special needs, if the house has firearms, senior resident is on oxygen, or anything that helps prepare them.

I personally feel that the ball has been dropped, or not even picked up when it comes to promoting these programs. Information about them seems to be a reactive measure after a tragedy has happened. I would much rather be proactive. Even if one person a day learns about these things, then they can share with someone else and information will continue to ripple out.

Sensory Kits

As things were progressing, I spoke with a social worker and we discussed the cost of sensory kits. Sensory kits can retail for $50-$150 which can be hard to work into budgets. I feel that that cost is high, especially considering how much of the kit contents were sitting in a toy box at my house. I felt that something was better than nothing and started making kits.

The kit may look like a Ziplock bag of “stuff” but everything in them has a purpose. Every item in the kits reminds me of our child or my students. I made and donated a few, posted it on our page and then started receiving requests! To keep up with requests, I started posting on Facebook and talking with friends about others cleaning out their toy boxes. As things continued, it was suggested that I make an Amazon Wishlist, which people have been so generous with!

My husband and our daughter help make and deliver the kits. Our daughter is so caring about others and we are so proud of her every day! She understands what everything in the kit can help with and has explained the sensory kits in front of Fire Departments, Fraternal Order of the Police meetings and each grade at her school for their Safety Day. As my goal progressed, places were requesting that we come do a presentation about the sensory kits as well as other resources and ideas.

Growing the Mission: Expanding Sensory Kit Support and Community Partnerships

As this project has grown, I feel the need to keep it going and expand into neighboring counties as well as Erie county where I grew up. To support that mission I jumped through the hoops to get non-profit status to keep things accountable and ready to grow. I want to keep reaching out to different organizations about spreading information about the safety programs as well as coming together to collect items for kits, make them and then get them to first responders.

The list of people I want to thank is constantly growing and it’s almost unbelievable how supportive people have been, especially those in the community where we live. There is a man in Cranberry, Harry Rattay, who has been incredibly supportive with orders and funds and I can tell how much he loves his nephew.

We have started working with schools, Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops, American Heritage Girls, and more to collect items, create kits and donate them to first responders while children can learn more about what the first responders do. The ACLD Tilotson School in Baldwin has made 65 kits! Girl Scout Troop 16144 in Shaler has 30 kits made and they will be directly donating them to O’Hara PD, Lower Valley EMS as well as Parkview EMS and VFD.

I always say that in a perfect world, these kits wouldn’t be needed. But we all know that anything can happen and I am hoping that these kits will help First Responders assist children, those with special needs really anyone who could use some different support during a crisis. I have met so many wonderful and helpful people along the way and we find ways to help each other. Whether it is sharing posts, exchanging items, offering and receiving support, everyone has been awesome!

The 12 Months of April project has grown from creating sensory kits for local first responders to expanding into neighboring counties, partnering with schools, scout troops, and community members to collect, assemble, and distribute kits. With nonprofit status secured, the initiative continues to raise awareness, provide practical support, and build a network of caring people dedicated to helping children and individuals with special needs during emergencies. To learn more, visit 12 Months of April on Facebook.

Language Matters: Why Disability Slurs Hurt—and What We Can Do About It

Until we recognize that autistic people and people with disabilities are valuable, capable human beings, we will continue to lose words that were originally meant simply to describe a demographic. Over time, everyday language gets twisted, misused, and weaponized—turning descriptive terms into insults. When that happens, the people connected to those words become targets too.

This cycle harms more than vocabulary. It harms people.

When Words Become Weapons

Many disability-related terms began as neutral descriptions. But because our society has long underestimated, excluded, or stigmatized people with disabilities, those words often slid into the realm of slurs. We see this most clearly with the R-word—once a clinical descriptor, now a widely recognized insult.

The problem isn’t the word itself.
The problem is how our culture has treated the people behind it.

If a group is not respected, their label becomes a punchline.
If a group is devalued, their identity becomes shorthand for “lesser than.”

Autistic people and families tell us that the impact is anything but harmless.

The Real Impact on Autistic People and Families

A parent recently shared with us:

“The slur-hurling is making us (autistic people and their families) feel like we’re ‘lesser than’. We’re not seen as deserving of services or help by the general public if we’re seen as a punchline. Or worse, we’re invisible because everyone is trying to make autism look like it’s less severe than what it is. Language does matter.”

This is the lived experience behind the jokes, memes, and “I didn’t mean it that way” excuses.

Slurs do more than sting. They influence whether someone is seen as deserving of support, empathy, or even basic dignity. They shape how teachers respond, how communities include, how neighbors interact, and how policymakers prioritize services.

When people become jokes, they also become invisible.

Minimizing Autism Doesn’t Help Anyone

There’s a growing cultural tendency to soften or minimize the challenges many autistic people face. While positive stories and strengths-based perspectives are important, they cannot erase the need for support, services, and understanding—especially for those with high support needs.

When autism is treated like a quirky personality trait rather than a legitimate disability, families may encounter disbelief, judgment, or outright dismissal.

And when slurs are used casually, it reinforces the idea that autism, intellectual disability, or developmental differences are inherently negative. Or worse, something to mock.

Respect Starts With Language

Changing the way we speak is not about being “overly sensitive” or enforcing “political correctness.” It is about recognizing the full humanity of autistic people and people with disabilities.

Words can:

reinforce stigma
block access to support
shape public attitudes
affect policy decisions
influence how people treat one another

Respectful language creates safer and more inclusive spaces. It signals that people with disabilities are real, valued members of our communities, not punchlines, burdens, or stereotypes.

What We Can Do

Everyone plays a role in reducing harm and building a more inclusive culture. Here’s where we can start:

1. Retire disability slurs—including the R-word—completely.
Even “as a joke,” they reinforce harmful beliefs.

2. Speak up when you hear others use them.
A simple “That word hurts people. Could we choose something else?” can make a difference.

3. Learn from disabled voices.
Autistic people and their families are telling us what they need. Listening is the first step.

4. Use language that reflects dignity.
People-first or identity-first language is always better than a slur.

5. Model respect in everyday conversation.
Kids, coworkers, and community members learn from what we say.

A Community Built on Respect

Autistic people and families deserve to be seen, heard, and valued. When we change our language, we help change our culture—and we make space for understanding instead of mockery, connection instead of stigma.

Language does matter.
And so do the people behind it.

If you or your family need support, Autism Connection of Pennsylvania is here to help.

Autism-Friendly Halloween

Tricks for Autism-Friendly Halloween Treats

“My son is 3 years old and has autism,” Omairis Taylor wrote on a Facebook post that went viral, adding, “Please allow him (or anyone with a BLUE BUCKET) to enjoy this day.” In the post, Taylor explained that adults handing out candy the previous year would wait for her son to say “trick or treat” before giving him candy, requiring her to explain to each of them that he is non-speaking. Rather than deal with the added stress of having to explain her son’s disorder multiple times this year, Taylor came up with the creative solution of using a blue bucket to represent it, thus encouraging greater awareness and acceptance of autism for the upcoming holiday.

Although many people have embraced this strategy, others express concern about exacerbating the stigma that comes with autism, while also putting the burden of compassion and understanding on autistic children and their parents. Should they be required to explain their diagnosis or carrying an identifier for a treat? Whether you’re a fan of the blue bucket or not, the following four tricks can be helpful additions or alternatives to make this Halloween more inclusive and, more importantly, more fun!

No explanation necessary.

1. Prevent sensory overload with sensory toys, headphones, and/or ear plugs. Make sure to prepare your child for the potentially unsettling sounds and decorations they might see by first explaining that they are just pretend and perhaps showing him or her how they work before you go trick or treating. However, you can keep sensory overload to a minimum by bringing along a sensory toy, headphones, and/or ear plugs when loud noises are present.

2. Plan a costume dress rehearsal. Have your child try on his or her costume a few times before Halloween so they can get used to how it feels and determine if the material is comfortable enough to wear for a couple of hours. Consider opting for a larger size so your child can wear their own clothes underneath.

3. Bring some buddies. Non-autistic friends and siblings are great allies to have while trick-or-treating. They can remind your child of the rules of trick-or-treating and help guide them through the process, even doing some of the talking for them. Buddies can also help keep an extra eye on children who have a tendency to wander, while still making them feel included in their peer group.

4. Gamify the experience. Some children with autism prefer more structure around their activities, so it might be helpful to turn the experience into a game of some sort. For example, you might want to create a map of every house you will go to and cross them off after each visit. You can also encourage your child to count how many chocolate candies vs fruity candies he or she gets to create a kind of scientific experiment about which type of candy is more common. No matter what you choose to do for the holiday, make sure you’re focused first on just enjoying the time with family and friends. Remember that Halloween is about creative expression, so celebrate what makes your child unique!