STAR Family Resources
Financial Supports
A blog post by The Autism Community in Action (TACA):
Tax Strategies for Parents of Kids with Special Needs
A database of region specific community resources available in VA. Includes financial resources, medical care, food, job training and more.
A disability starter kit provided by the U.S. Social Security Administration
A resource provided by Autism Speaks
Family Supports
This website offers basic information on autism spectrum disorder. The information included on this website is; characteristics and diagnosis, prevalence, and early signs.
This tool kit was developed to provide families of children under the age of five with:
- An overview of early childhood development
- Guidance on what to do if you have a concern
- Information about obtaining an evaluation and treatment options if needed
Provided by Autism Speaks, this article provides recommendations for five things to do while waiting for an autism evaluation.
This interactive roadmap, created by the UVA STAR Initiative, provides recommended steps for families.
Autism Society of Central Virginia offers non-profit services, advocacy, and support to children, youth, and adults with autism, their families and the professionals who serve them. They are a local affiliate of the national Autism Society, founded in 1965.
Peer mentors at The Arc of Virginia are ready to meet you and help you achieve your goals! Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at The Arc.
Getting support from someone who's been in your shoes can make a difference! Learn how the Family to Family Network at the Center for Family Involvement can help.
The National Autism Center is May Institute’s Center for the Promotion of Evidence-based Practice. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating evidence-based information about the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), promoting best practices, and offering comprehensive and reliable resources for families, practitioners, and communities. This website has a family section with a variety of resources in multiple formats including live and on demand webinars, information to read, and links to more resources.
Safety
Four pages compiled from the "BIG RED SAFETY BOX" which contains information, a plan, a profile of the individual who may wander, and safety tips.
This infographic was derived from the guide "Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety" by the Organization of Autism Research, which covers a lifespan of safety issues for individuals, parents, and professionals to review.
This checklist was created by Autism Speaks to help keep loved ones with autism safe.
GPS Tracker designed for special needs is a safety device with assistive speakerphone to protect your loved one & give you peace of mind.
Project Lifesaver utilizes state-of-the-art technology to bring loved ones home who suffer various conditions causing them to wander and become lost. Many times, these people end up inside a building, deep in the woods, or simply in a closet in the basement of a residence. It is because of these locations that Project Lifesaver utilizes radio telemetry tracking technology and not GPS or cell phone technology which requires the assistance of satellites or complicated signal repeater systems.
Visit Project Lifesaver website or call 877-580-LIFE
Education Supports
This website provides a one-stop-shop for parents, families and caregivers of children with special needs. Parents and families can and do make a difference in their child's education.
This webinar from 2020 focuses on supporting children with disabilities at school.
Information about the Individualized Education Program (IEP) is available on the VA Department of Education website.
The PEATC builds positive futures for Virginia's children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life.
Mental and Behavioral Supports
Autism Speaks share their ATN/AIR-P strategies to improve sleep in children with autism.
Autism Speaks share their ATN/AIR-P guide to exploring feeding behavior in autism.
From Autism Speaks, the Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit will provide strategies and resources to address these behaviors and help support you during difficult situations.
See additional resources from Autism Navigator and National Autism Center for additional parent training information for challenging behaviors.
Treatments and Therapies
This is a good start to help with language skills and to help with routines. https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/atnair-p-visual-supports-and-autism
This guide from Autism Speaks will give you more information about what ABA is.
This provides parents basic skills to help their children learn by incorporating applied behavior analysis (ABA) strategies into daily interactions and routines. This webinar will review key components of ABA, provide easy to follow steps to embedding ABA into everyday activities, and give tips for navigating ABA while parenting.