Dear Support Group Attendees,
As of September 30th, Autism New Jersey will no longer host Support Groups. For the past 25 years, the “group” model of support has offered many parents the opportunity to share their experiences, obtain information and network. The nature of how parents receive support today continues to evolve. With many more online resources and increased awareness many parents are finding other means of support more accessible.
We recognize the benefits that Support Groups have brought to so many parents over the years. In upcoming months, our signature services will offer other venues for parents to receive some of the benefits afforded by Support Groups.
Autism New Jersey will continue to provide information regarding Support Groups in your local area. Many of the groups previously hosted by Autism New Jersey will continue to meet independently. In the next few weeks, we will be sending out an email with specific contact information pertaining to those groups who wish to continue meeting.
We recognize that you have many connections in the autism community and hope you will continue to use us as a resource and referral. Please do not hesitate to contact 800-4-AUTISM or visit www.autismnj.org if you are interested in finding a group in your area.
The following is a referral list of support groups, in the following categories:
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Parents of Children with Autism
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Parents of Children with Asperger’s Disorder
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Adults with Asperger’s Disorder
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General Groups for Parents and Family Members of Children with Disabilities
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Support for Siblings
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Online Support Groups
Please contact the groups directly for more information and to verify meeting dates, times and locations.
Support Groups for Parents of
Children with Autism
Atlantic County
FACES Autism Support Network
Shore Area Chapter
Group meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Bounce U.
750 Delilah Road Pleasantville, NJ 08201
Contact: Mary Ann 609.641.1877
Website: http://www.faces-autismsupport.org/
Child care available
FACES Autism Support Network
Hammonton-Atlantic County Chapter
Group meets the first Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Early Childhood Education Center
601 N. 4th Street Hammonton, NJ 08037
Contact: Colleen 609.567.0568
E-mail: faceshammonton@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.faces-autismsupport/.
Bergen County
Bergen County Support Group (former Autism New Jersey group)
Group meets the first Friday of each month from from 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Mount Carmel Church
1 Passaic Street Ridgewood, NJ
Contact: Gary Lahm 201.503.9476
Burlington County
Githens Center Family Support Program
40 Cedar Street Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
Phone: 609.261.1667
Website: http://www.githenscenter.org/
Email: info@githenscp.org
Various activities are scheduled throughout the year for all members of the household. The activities include: parents support groups; sibling support groups; recreational activities in the community such as roller skating, miniature golf, and swimming; and center-based activities.
PACT (Parents of Autistic Children
Together)
Support Group of the Southwestern NJ
Chapter of the Autism Society
of America.
Group meets the second
Tuesday of each month from
7:00-9:00pm
Location: Durand Academy
110 Gaither Drive, Suite 101
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
Contact: PACT 856.278.0798
Website: www.solvingthepuzzle.com
Essex County
Essex County Support Group
(former Autism New Jersey group)
Group meets the first Monday of each
month from 7:00-9:00pm.
Location: Congregation Beth Ahm
56 Grove Street
Verona, NJ
Contact: Michele Havens 201.486.5607
E-mail: mhavens523@aol.com
Hudson County
Hudson County Support Group (former Autism New Jersey group)
Group meets the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00-9:00pm.
Location: Jewish Community Center
1050 Kennedy Blvd. Bayonne, NJ
Contact: Patricia Kennedy 201.823.9541
E-mail:
patricia_kennedy_calvo@yahoo.com
Hudson County - Spanish Speaking
Padres Ayudando a Padres
El grupo encuentra el primer jueves del mes de 7:00 a 9:00pm.
Localidad: Iglesia San Augustin
3900 New York Ave. Union City, NJ
Contactar: Susana Albistur 201.864.7262
Mercer County
Mercer County Support Group (former Autism New Jersey group)
This parent-led group will meet on an occasional basis.
Contact: Kelly Lutz
Phone: 609.584.8825 (evenings and weekends.)
E-mail:
kellylutz@optonline.net
Ocean County
FACES Autism Support Network
Southern Ocean County Chapter
Meetings TBA
Contact: Isabelle Mosca
Phone: 609.412.3750
Website:
www.facesautismsupport.org
Somerset County
Hop Skip and a Jump - Outreach Support Group
Group meets from 7:00-9:00 pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month on alternating months beginning in December 2010.
Location: Green Knoll Firehouse
Bridgewater, NJ
E-mail:
hopskipjump@optonline.net
The is an outreach group from Hop Skip and a Jump, a play program for children with special needs. The group is free and open to anyone, not just Hop, Skip and a Jump families.
Sussex County
SCAC: Support for Caregivers within the Autism Community
Group meets the third Thursday of the month from 7:30-8:30pm.
Location: Hopatcong Civic Center
32 Lakeside Boulevard Hopatcong, NJ 07843
Contact: Mati Falconetti
Phone: 973.978.5393
Union County
Union County Support Group (former Autism New Jersey group)
The group will meet on the following dates:
February 22, 2011
April 26, 2011
June 28, 2011
August 23, 2011
October 25, 2011
December 6, 2011
Location: Children's Specialized Hospital
150 New Providence Rd. Mountainside, NJ
For more information, please email the facilitator, Nancy Arvizzigno at
nancycounselor@yahoo.com
Statewide Support Groups for
Parents of
Children with Autism
Fragile X Association of NJ
The Fragile X Association of NJ is an organization of parents and professionals dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by Fragile X Syndrome. The group provides education, support and awareness through a variety of activities.
All ages are served.
Contact: Jennifer Keenan
Phone: 856.985.3257
Email:
jencofx1@att.net
Website:
www.fragilex.org/html/new_jersey.htm
Parents of Adults Support Group (former Autism New Jersey group)
Site to be announced
For more information please contact Barbara Wells at asatwells@gmail.com
Putting the Pieces Together Support Group
Group meets every Thursday from 7:30-9:00pm. Parents, grandparents, siblings, guardians and caregivers from all counties are welcome.
Location: La Salle Center
200 Ridge Road
North Arlington, NJ 07031
Contact: Debbie Wertalik
Phone: 201.966.8738 or 201.679.0569
Website:
www.puttingthepiecestogether.org
Support Groups for Parents of
Children with Asperger’s Disorder
ASPEN (Asperger Syndrome Education Network, Inc.)
9 Aspen Circle Edison, NJ 08820
See individual support group listings
Phone: 732.321.0880
Fax: 732.744.1622
Website: http://www.aspennj.org/
ASPEN of Bergen County
Meets the second Wednesday of each month, during the school year from 7:00-9:30 pm.
Location: Bergen County Technical Schools / Bergen County Special Services Cape Resource Center Suite 212
327 East Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, NJ 07652
Contact: Nicoletta LaMarca Sacco
E-mail: aspenbergencounty@yahoo.com
Phone: 201.995.3668
ASPEN of Bergen County Fathers' Support Group
The fathers’ group generally meets the fourth Monday of the month from 7:30-10:00pm
Location: Bergen County Technical Schools / Bergen County Special Services Cape Resource Center Suite 212
327 East Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, NJ 07652
Contact: Vince Varrassi
Email: vjvarrassi@gmail.com
ASPEN of Camden/Burlington County
Meets the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Katz JCC The Family Activity Center
1301 Springdale Road Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Contact: Deborah Hill, Chapter Coordinator
Phone: 856.234.0677
Email: deborahhill@comcast.net
-and-
Debbie Schmidt, Co-Facilitator
Phone: 856.616.0877
Cell: 856.261.3282
Email: dschmidt6@verizon.net
ASPEN of Essex County
Meets the third Monday of every month from 7:30-9:30pm
Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC) Ross Family Campus
760 Northfield Avenue West Orange, NJ 07052
Contact: Anita Finkel
Phone: 973.669.5757
Email: ednee@aol.com
ASPEN of Middlesex/Union Counties
Meets one Wednesday a month from 7:30-9:30pm
Location: Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County
1775 Oak Tree Road Edison County, NJ 08820
Contact: Lori Shery
Phone: 732.321.0880
E-mail: aspenorg@aol.com
Website: http://www.aspennj.org/
ASPEN of Northwest NJ
Meets the last Wednesday of the month from 7:30-9:30pm
Location: St. Clare's Hospital
25 Pocono Road
Silby Cafeteria - 1st floor
Denville, NJ 07834
Contact: Janice Lemmo
Phone: 973.541.0178
E-mail: Janlem1@hotmail.com
ASPEN of Ocean County
Meets the third Tuesday of the month from 7:00-9:00pm.
Location: The Presbyterian Church of Toms River Haven Room
1070 Hooper Avenue Toms River, NJ 08753
Contact: Eileen Davis Kovar
Phone: 732.473.9630
E-mail: aspenoc@comcast.net
ASPEN of Western Monmouth County
Meets the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Monmouth County Library Headquarters
125 Symmes Road (Near Route 9) Manalapan, NJ 07726
Contact: Ann Hiller
Phone: 732.446.7610
E-mail: ann0912@aol.com
Support Groups for Adults
with Asperger’s Disorder
Aspen Adult Support Groups
Aspen’s adult groups for individuals 18 and older offer social and recreational activities for adults who have Asperger’s Disorder. The groups also welcome other young adults with high-functioning autism and PDDNOS.
ASPEN- Camden/Burlington County Adult Social Group
Group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 7:00-8:30pm.
Location: Qdoba Mexican Grill Community Room
1630 Kings Highway Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
Contact: Julie Guthmann
Phone: 609.923.8331
E-mail: jguthmann@comcast.net
ASPEN - Adult Issues Chapter of Morris County
Group meets the second Tuesday of the month from 7:00-8:45pm.
Location: The Morris County Library
30 East Hanover Avenue Whippany, NJ 07981
Contact: Mrs. Bice Del Galdo
Phone: 973.503.0351
E-mail: bice2009@verizon.net
ASPEN Adult Issues - North Jersey
Group meets the third Wednesday of the month.
Location: West Bergen Mental Healthcare
120 Chestnut Street Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Contact: Mary Meyer
Phone: 201.825.3286
E-mail: mary.k.meyer590@gmail.com
Additional Adult Support Groups
National Institute for People with
Disabilities of New Jersey (YAI Network)
Support Groups for Adults with
Asperger’s
Northern:
William Paterson University Valley Road Campus
1600 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470-2135
Southern:
135 Monmouth Street Red Bank, NJ 07701
Group sessions are held 2 days per week, from 10am to 3pm. The major emphasis of the program is to enhance appropriate social and behavioral skills in order to make meaningful social connections, enhance employability, and if needed, explore additional educational or job training options. Open to adults who have a clinical diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.
Contact: Nancy O’Reilly, Program Supervisor
Phone: 845.358.5700 ext. 147
E-mail: nancy.o’reilly@yai.org
Support Groups for Parents of
Children with Disabilities
Statewide
Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey -Parent to Parent
The Parent to Parent Program connects parents of children with disabilities who are seeking mutual support with other parents who have been there. Parents may be matched with another parent for information on a specific topic, such as education, medical issues,or just to talk with another parent who understands how they feel.
Contact: Resource Coordinator
732.528.8080 or 800.372.6510
(NJ Only)
Website: http://www.efnj.com/
NJ Self-Help Group Clearinghouse
375 East McFarlan St. Dover, NJ 07801
Phone: 800.367.6274 (NJ only) or 973.989.1122
E-mail: wrodenbaugh@saintclares.org
Website: http://www.njgroups.org/
Provides contact information on more than 6,750 NJ support groups, more than 1,200 national and online groups, and more than
100 people who are seeking others to start new local groups.
Sponsors periodic workshops to help persons to start and run groups.
Provides training for members of existing groups who want to learn group facilitation skills.
SPAN - The START Project (Statewide Technical Assistance Resource Team)
29 Halsey Street Newark, NJ 07102
Contact: Dianne Malley, Project Director
Phone:973-642-8100
E-mail: dmalley@spannj.org
Website: www.spannj.org/START/
Through the START Project, Parent Group Specialists are available to provide technical assistance to help start parent groups for families with students who have disabilities, and to support existing special education parent groups. Provides an online listing of school district-specific special education parent groups and disability-related groups.
Bergen County
Washington Schools Parent Support Group
Meets the third Thursday of each month from 12:30 – 2:30 pm.
Location: Washington School South Rocco Montesano Campus
355 East Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, New Jersey 07652
Contact: Sue McHugh
Phone: 201.343.6000, ext. 6461
Gloucester County
Gloucester County Special Services School District – Child Development Center
Mother’s group meets second Thursday of the month at Bankbridge Regional School (registration required).
Father’s group meets first Thursday of the month at Bankbridge Regional School.
Grandparent’s group meets the third Monday at The Child Development Center in Turnersville.
Sibling Group meets the last Monday of the month at the Child Development Center in Turnersville (space is limited).
Mother’s Walk and Talk group meets monthly at the Deptford Mall—call for dates.
Contact person: Linda Snock
Phone: 856.875.3600 X 116
Email: lindasnock@yahoo.com
Hudson County
United Cerebral Palsy of Hudson County
English and Spanish speaking parent support groups available.
Contact: Reggie Neal
Phone: 201.436.2200 ext. 119
E-mail: rneal@ucpofhudsoncounty.org
Morris County
Butler Parents of Exceptional Children (PEC)
Holds open meetings once a month at various locations.
Contact: Frank Rivera
Phone: 973.283.9788
E-mail: butlerpec@optonline.net
Website: www.butlerpec.org
Passaic County
Association for Special Children and Families
Provides support groups for parents of children with disabilities, as well as trainings and workshops.
Contact: ASCF 973.728.8744
E-mail: ASCFamily@hotmail.com
Website: www.ascfamily.org
Somerset County
ASAP – A Step Ahead Program
411 King George Blvd. Suite 207 Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Phone: 908.542.0002
Website: www.asapprogram.org
E-mail: L.SlimTopdjian@asapprogram.org
Support for Siblings
Statewide
Autism New Jersey’s Sibling Pen Pal Program
Pen pal list for sisters and brothers of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Contact: Gale Rainier
Phone: 609.588.8200, ext. 13
E-mail: grainier@autismnj.org
Camden County
Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Southern NJ Sibshops for Siblings of Children with Special Needs
1301 Springdale Road Suite 150 Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
This 4-session group is just for brothers and sisters of kids with special needs and is available several times throughout the year. This group is geared towards children ages 8-12. Children will participate in activities and have opportunities to share their joys and their frustrations about having a sibling with special needs.
Contact: Jane 856.424.1333
E-mail: sibshops@jfedsnj.org
Website: www.jfedsnj.org
Online Support Groups
www.autism-network.com
Upon joining this group, messages from other members are sent to your email address rather than posted on a message board.
Google Groups
groups.google.com/
Searchable by keyword.
inlv.demon.nl/
There is a mailing list, and you can type on a message board for individuals on the autism spectrum.
meetup.com/
Type in “autism” or other topic of interest and your location to find groups near you.
OASIS@MAAP
www.aspergersyndrome.org/
Provides information, resources, and support to the Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism/PDDNOS
community.
Yahoo Groups
groups.yahoo.com
Searchable by keyword.
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Click below for additional listings of support groups
:
Support Groups for parents of children with autism or related disorders
ASPEN Support Groups for parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome, and for Adults with Asperger's and High Functioning Autism
Additional Support Groups