The New Jersey Parents of Developmentally Disabled Adults

https://www.njpdda.com/

Is your child approaching adulthood?  Go to this site NOW. It’s SOOO user friendly and has every bit of information you need (and a lot you didn’t know you needed) about guardianship, housing, support groups and more.  It is run entirely by volunteers that want nothing more than to help you navigate the choppy waters of adulthood. And if you email them with question they actually answer you…promptly.

Autism NJ

https://www.autismnj.org/

Do you remember the good old days where when you had a problem you could pick up the phone and talk to a real, live, helpful human being?  Welcome to Autism NJ. This is a great site for newbies. It’s chock full of great stuff but when you’re new it’s hard to know exactly where to start and that’s where the helpline comes in.  These people are nice and they’ll break it down for ya. Also, the site has THE most comprehensive list of providers in the state. Need a OT, PT, speech therapist, social skills group, developmental pediatrictian, or all of the above?  Check out their providers tab and rest assured they’ve all been checked for proper credentials.

Peformcare

http://www.performcarenj.org/index.aspx

If your child has been diagnosed with a developmental disability of any kind they MUST be registered with the state via the DDD if you want to recieve any kind of services or financial help. Performcare is the place to do that.  If your child is a danger to themselves or others you need a caseworker and Performcare can provide you with one. They also have a helpline where if you need immediate help or just a little guidance navigating the site. Bookmark it.  Even if you’ve had bad experiences with this agency in the past you need them.

The Arc of NJ

 https://www.arcnj.org/

What would you like to learn about:  ABA, planning for adult life, guardianship, housing, treatment plans, IEPs, all of the above?  Look no further than the ARC calendar of events. Attend any one of their FREE conferences on virtually everything you’ve ever needed to know AND connect with an intelligent human being.  Does your child go to school? Are you part of a support group? Do you ever hang out in your pajamas with other parents of special needs children? If you answered yes to any of these questions then contact the ARC and they will send a speaker to you!  These people are awesome, educated and committed to helping you.  

Special Olympics

https://www.sonj.org/

The Special Olympics changed my life and Kevin’s forever.  He made friends and became a much better swimmer. I made friends who taught me more in an hour than I learned online in a year.  No matter who you are or what you’re facing you need a community with members who have been through it all and can share their experiences while wiping your tears.  I know Special Olympics doesn’t work for everyone but please give it a try.

Autism Speaks 

https://www.autismspeaks.org/

I am technologically impaired and extremely impatient which is why I LOVE Autism Speaks’ website.  It is so user friendly and easy to navigate. Everything you need is right on the home page and they can connect you with whatever resources you need in your home state (if they exist there).  They also break down some pretty heavy stuff in simple, compassionate language. Things like: Learn The Signs and Newly Diagnosed.  They also have a hotline where kind, compassionate, informed people actually answer the phone.  If you’re new to all of this it’s a great place to start.