Autism Science Foundation and Autism Navigator Launch Virtual Community to Support Families Raising Young Children with Autism

New platform allows families to access content, interact with experts and exchange ideas to improve outcomes for children with ASDs amid pandemic

NEW YORK — July 29, 2020 — The Autism Science Foundation (ASF), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding innovative autism research, and Autism Navigator today announced the launch of the Autism Navigator Virtual Community, a web-based education platform designed to help healthcare providers, educators and families improve outcomes for young children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The Virtual Community will facilitate discussion of early childhood autism among multiple stakeholder groups. Users can interact directly with one another, allowing parents to exchange ideas, receive support and gain access to experts on the platform. It will also allow for the sharing of written and video content. Interested parties can learn more here.

Autism Navigator offers extensive resources to its users, from dedicated guides on topics like communication development in infants and toddlers and classroom success for children with ASDs to videos on how to administer interventions. Its mission is to enhance the professional development of healthcare and intervention providers and educators as well as to give parents the tools necessary to provide their child the best life possible, especially low-income families who lack access to leading professionals. The new Virtual Community was launched to continue these efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, an environment in which many families are struggling to access interventions, manage behavior and lean on their support networks.

“We are very excited about the launch of the Autism Navigator Virtual Community, which will serve as an incredibly important resource for both autism families and the wider community,” said Alycia Halladay, Chief Science Officer at ASF. “While this initiative was planned in response to the pandemic, what we’ve built has the potential to bring people together and address their concerns around early childhood autism for years to come. Autism Navigator has a long history of working with a variety of communities to reduce disparities in the diagnosis and care that people receive, and we are proud to stand with them in support of this mission.”

ASF has played an active role in supporting autism families and researchers during the pandemic. The organization recently announced the recipients of its inaugural round of COVID-19 Pivot Grants and has worked to compile a list of COVID-19 resources.

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About the Autism Science Foundation

The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c) (3) public charity. Its mission is to support autism research by providing funding to scientists and organizations conducting autism research. ASF also provides information about autism to the general public and serves to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the needs of individuals and families affected by autism. To learn more about the Autism Science Foundation or to make a donation visit www.autismsciencefoundation.org.

Media Contact
Sam Belden
Forefront Communications for Autism Science Foundation
212-320-8986
sbelden@forefrontcomms.com