National Partners Council
The National Partners Council meets regularly to allow collaborative partners to exchange information on Center initiatives and activities as well as to discuss the most current evidence-based resources and information that should be selected and developed for the Autism NOW Center. With the assistance of the National Partners Council, the Center will develop a bank of resources for people who are on the autism spectrum, their families, professionals, and the general public.
About the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals and others concerned about intellectual and related disabilities. Founded in 1876 to discuss all questions relating to the causes, conditions, and statistics of intellectual and developmental disabilities and to develop best practices in education and services, today AAIDD represents a wide variety of professionals and others in the United States, Canada, and more than 50 other countries. AAIDD members are united by the ideal that each person with a disability has the right to develop personal potential to the maximum extent possible, to satisfy his or her individual needs and preferences, and to become an independent and useful member of the community. The major functions of the Association are to (a) support its members’ leadership in activities that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; (b) publish cutting edge research and materials that inform policy and practice; (c) develop and implement educational opportunities for professionals, policy makers, and others; and (d) engage in activities that promote progressive public policy.
About the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Since 1876, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) has been providing worldwide leadership in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. We’re a powerful community of leaders with a strong voice and important mission. AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
About the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement in the world of autism. Drawing on the principles of the cross-disability community, ASAN seeks to organize the community of Autistic adults and youth to have our voices heard in the national conversation about us. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which Autistic people enjoy the same access, rights, and opportunities as all other citizens. We hope to empower Autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community. Nothing About Us, Without Us!
About the Autism Society
Founded in 1965, the Autism Society is the oldest and largest nationwide grassroots autism organization; our mission areas include:
Advocacy – increase public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum at local, state and federal levels.
- Education: cover important topics about living with autism via Autism Advocate magazine, a comprehensive website, the largest annual national conference on autism and trusted information and referral services.
- Support: local chapters provide community support and education paired with nationwide referrals and a free web-based resource directory. Reach us at 800-3AUTISM or info@autism-society.org.
- Service: increase access and availability of appropriate services for those on the autism spectrum across the lifespan.
- Research: translate research results into applied practices that improve the everyday lives of those on the autism spectrum.
About Brandeis
Ranked in the top tier of the nation’s universities, Brandeis is one of the youngest private research universities and the only nonsectarian Jewish-sponsored university in the country. Brandeis’ programs emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge, applied research to real-life problems, and public engagement.
The main partner to Autism NOW is Dr. Susan Parish, the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Disability Policy and the Director of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Dr. Parish’s research examines the health and financial wellbeing of children and adults with disabilities, as well as their caregiving families as well as family support and the impact of health policy and poverty policy on people with disabilities and their families. She currently serves as principal investigator on a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-funded field-initiated project on community-based intervention to promote cervical and breast cancer screening for women with developmental disabilities. She also currently serves as co-principal investigator on a project funded by the Health Resources Services Administration that is examining state policy effects on health care access for children with autism. Parish teaches classes in social welfare policy, disability policy, health policy and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Dr. Parish is also a Fellow of the American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities.
About the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies
The University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS), Maine’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, is an interdisciplinary education, research and community service unit of the University of Maine. The CCIDS disseminates information about autism and other developmental disabilities and provides a broad range of professional development and technical assistance related to supporting students with autism and related developmental disabilities. CCIDS faculty, staff, and students engage in a wide range of interdisciplinary disability-related research and significant public policy activities related to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities at the state and national levels. CCIDS collaborates with a wide range of community partners including the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, the Maine Disability Rights
Center, the Maine Department of Education, Speaking Up for Us, Maine Parent Federation, the Autism Society of Maine and Family Voices. CCIDS also coordinates the activities of the Maine ACT Early Summit.
About the Developmental Disabilities Institute
The Developmental Disabilities Institute at Wayne State University is Michigan’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. DDI provides statewide programs designed to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities. We offer the following:
- Education to individuals, professionals, paraprofessionals, parents and persons with disabilities
- Support to communities, systems and service providers
- Evaluation of programs and services
- Research on disability issues
- Information that contributes to training and application of knowledge
Our mission at DDI is to contribute to the development of inclusive communities and quality of life for people with disabilities and their families through a culturally sensitive statewide program of interdisciplinary education, community support and services, research and dissemination of information.
About the Institute for Community Inclusion – University of Massachusetts Boston
The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) promotes the full inclusion of people with disabilities in every aspect of society. We do this through training, research, consultation, and clinical and employment services. Our projects increase disability inclusion throughout New England, across the United States, and internationally.
The ICI is a program of the University of Massachusetts Boston and Children’s Hospital Boston. We are part of the national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
About the Institute on Disability and Human Development
The Institute on Disability and Human Development (IDHD), a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) is part of the Department of Disability and Human Development, in the College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago. IDHD promotes the independence, productivity and inclusion of people with disabilities into all aspects of society. In addition to its interdisciplinary academic programs which include a masters in disability and human development, and a doctoral program in disability studies, it is the home of several large research centers, clinical programs, and community outreach activities. The values of cultural diversity, consumer choice and self-determination are emphasized across the life course in all training, public service, and research activities of the IDHD.
About the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) serves as the national voice of the 55 State and Territorial Councils on Developmental Disabilities. NACDD supports Councils in implementing the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) and promoting the interests and rights of people with developmental disabilities and their families. The DD Act charges Councils to identify the most pressing needs of people with developmental disabilities in their state or territory and to engage in advocacy, systems change and capacity building activities to help States meet the identified needs.
About the The National Council on Independent Living
Mission: As a membership organization, NCIL advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities through consumer-driven advocacy.
Vision: NCIL envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate fully.
The National Council on Independent Living is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: Centers for Independent Living (CIL), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), individuals with disabilities, and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States.
About the National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans — especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities. For more information, please visit www.NCOA.org.
About the National Disability Rights Network
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), is the nonprofit membership organization for the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system and Client Assistance Program (CAP). The P&A/CAP network was established by the United States Congress to protect the rights of people with disabilities and their families through legal support, advocacy, referral, and education. The P&A/CAP network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the country. NDRN’s mission is to promote the integrity and capacity of the P&A and (CAP) national network and to advocate for the enactment and vigorous enforcement of laws protecting civil and human rights of people with disabilities.
About the National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of military families. Our over 40 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for families and the Nation’s leaders. As the only nonprofit organization that represents the families of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Association protects benefits vital to all families, including those of the deployed, wounded, and fallen.
About the National Youth Leadership Network
The National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) is an organization that works to build power among youth with disabilities. We are a membership-run organization, which means that all of the work we do is led by youth with disabilities and is for youth with disabilities. We support young people in becoming activists and leaders in our communities. Although all of our work is led by youth, anyone (siblings, parents, allies) is free to be a member.
About Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) is a national organization run by and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. SABE represents over 1,200 local and state self-advocacy groups from across the nation that believe in making self-advocacy available to all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The voice of youth and people living in rural areas is strong throughout our networks. The leadership of SABE is elected by the grassroots. It includes equal numbers of men and women, people of many generations, people who use alternative and augmentative communication, gays and lesbians, and people from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds. SABE believes that people should be given the same decisions, choices, rights, and chances to speak up and empower themselves as everyone else. Our top priorities are to close institutions and eliminate subminimum wage. Equal opportunities will result in healthy friendships, relationships, real jobs for real pay, and an even stronger presence in our communities.
About the Sibling Leadership Network
The Sibling Leadership Network (SLN) is a national nonprofit organization created to support siblings of people with disabilities throughout the lifespan. The mission of SLN is to provide siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families. The SLN has state chapters that connect siblings and their allies at the local level. The SLN has the following core values. We believe:
- Individuals with disabilities have the same rights as all members of society to dignity, respect and the opportunity to grow and to be productive members of their communities.
- Siblings of individuals with disabilities can have a powerful, positive impact on their siblings’ experiences, and are uniquely positioned to help ensure their present and future care in partnership with service organizations and government.
- In promoting the rights of our brothers and sisters, and of all individuals with disabilities, we are committed to advocating for policies and services that meet their needs.
- Siblings can be of great support to one another to enhance both our lives and the lives of our siblings.
About Social Solutions
Social Solutions is the leading provider of performance management software for human services. This company works with organizations to connect efforts to outcomes, people to social services, and communities to stakeholders, and service providers and communities to funders. Designed by human services professionals for human services professionals, the company’s Efforts to Outcomes (ETO™) software has had noted success not only enabling effective case management but also improving service quality and effectiveness and saving time. Social Solutions is also a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, has an enterprise-wide platform for coordinating service delivery, and provides full support for the Results Based Accountability framework.