From the Director: Welcome to the Family
by Karen Wolf-Branigin
Greetings to everyone in the Autism NOW Center family. My name is Karen Wolf-Branigin and I recently joined The Arc of the U.S. as the Director of the Autism NOW Center. It has been my pleasure to meet the people that make the Autism NOW Center a leading, national autism resource and information center and share with you about what we have planned for the future.
As I’m beginning to learn about the Autism NOW Center, I thought it would be a good opportunity to shine a light on the wealth of information that we’ve produced since we opened our doors three years ago. The Center has a fine record of highlighting the most important issues that people on the autism spectrum and their supporters care deeply about. Our website is robust, with 402 resources, 105 archived webinars, 89 blogs, and 20 videos with new products added each month. Many of these products are written by people with Autism Spectrum Disorders, assuring that the Autism NOW Center is driven by and for self-advocates. Our slogan is Autism NOW, you empowered and we invite you to use these resources and share them with others to assist you in your efforts.
The Autism NOW Center staff, Amy Goodman, Co-Director, Phuong Nguyen, Program Assistant and Kevin Wenzel, Web Producer are informed, enthusiastic and mission-driven. Our partners, Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network support the center as authors, presenters and guides. The 14 member National Advisory Committee includes self-advocates, family members, professionals and researchers that review materials and connect us to principals in the field. And last but certainly not least, our funder, the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides not only resources but the vision and leadership to bring these resources to you.
The Autism NOW Center operates a National Information and Referral Call Center. Contacting us by telephone (202) 600-3480 / (855) 828-8476 (toll-free) or email ([email protected]) gives you the chance to communicate one-on-one with our knowledgeable staff about the issues that are important to you.
The Autism NOW Center is a place for self-advocates, family-advocates, professionals and researchers to share their insight and wisdom. Please join our family by engaging in our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube) and submitting blogs for publication. We’d love to add your voice and welcome you to the family.
