The wurster, the better

This is a list of adults with autism social skills groups, service providers, camps, etc. As I find new ones or find limitations of the one’s I’ve listed, I will update this.

• SUMMER L.I.F.E.
  1777 N. Valley Road
  PO Box 730
  Paoli, PA 19301
  610-296-6725 x15
  Fax: 610-640-0132
  http://www.summermatters.org/
  SUMMER L.I.F.E. is an experiential learning program that offers youth, with and without disabilities, opportunities to experience “real world “learning within the context of innovative, highly motivating summer programming. Past programs have included a sailing trip in CT, a trip to the Outer Banks, social skills camps, film school, drama camp, science camps, and great outdoors camps. Programs are available for youth and young adults, ages 6 – 21, in the southeastern PA region.
  Contact: Holly Zipperer hozipperer@vfes.net
• There is a reference to “social skills training,” which one wonders if it is provided 1:1 in the community or in a social skills group with peers. http://www.upmc.com/Services/autism/adult/Pages/adult-inpatient.aspx

  Western Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center
  Specialized Inpatient services for adults with Autism

  A specialized inpatient unit at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC is available for adults experiencing acute behavioral and emotional problems, and who have autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, and other developmental disorders.

  The inpatient unit provides acute stabilization and specialized evaluation, treatment, and referral.

  Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment
  Assessment and treatment depends on the individual patient and may include:

  * medication review and therapy
  * medical assessment and referrals
  * individual, group, and family therapies
  * functional behavior assessment
  * behavioral interventions
  * behavior training with family, caregivers, and agencies
  * social skills training
  * adaptive and self-care skills training
  * disposition planning

  and more at the web site.

• http://www.collage-otp.org/ COLLAGE

  http://www.collage-otp.org/new_page_7.htm Groups, ages 3.5 through adulthood.

  Currently groups meet in:
  Newtown Square, Delaware County, PA (meets Wednesdays and Thursdays)
  Spring House, Montgomery County, PA (meets Tuesdays and sometimes Wednesdays)
  West Chester, Chester County, PA (meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays)

• http://www.med.upenn.edu/add/sldp_group.html – Asperger’s
  Adults with Asperger Syndrome & other social learning disorder
• http://www.newhorizonsclub.org/ Social Club for adults with Asperger’s
• http://www.gocenter.net/ Growth Opportunity Center- Groups- not sure if their groups includes adults
• Camp Joy http://www.campjoy.com/
  3325 Swamp Creek Road
  Schwenksville, PA 19473
  Phone: (610) 754-6878
  - day programs are for individuals up to 21 – residential programs are for those over 21 -
  - adults and children – accept Federal waiver funding (Medicaid and county funding like OMR) but don’t accept BAS Adult Waiver funding at this time -
• Camp Atlantic http://www.campatlantic.org/
  P.O. Box 7273
  McLean, Virginia 22106-7273
  Email: campatlantic@cox.net
  Phone: 703-863-9485
  Fax: 703-533-2354
• Ability Center http://www.umly.org/UMLY/ability.asp
  Upper Main Line YMCA
  1416 Berwyn-Paoli Road
  Berwyn, PA 19312
  (610) 647-9622
• When I spoke to Jennifer Whalen, Ability Center Director, UMLY, she described a lot of good programs they have. She also referred me to Teamwork Wins which supports their programs. The age group they seem to target is children under 18, but they directed me to Indian Creek Foundation which does provide services to adults.
• Indian Creek Foundation
  420 Cowpath Road
  Souderton, PA 18964-2036
  (267) 203-1500
  - under the BAS Adult Waiver, only services Bucks and Montgomery counties