POLICY AND ANALYTICS CENTER

DIRECTOR OF THE ANALYTICS AND POLITICS CENTER: LINDSAY SHEA

There is an urgent need for understanding how life unfolds across the lifespan for people on the autism spectrum. Medical and clinical interventions are vital. But we must also learn about the experiences that help or hinder quality of life for people on the autism spectrum, their families, and our communities. Experiences such as transition into adulthood, employment and continued education, living arrangements, and community participation are understudied.

Click below to learn about Policy and Analytics Center projects

The Philadelphia Autism Project is a citywide initiative established by the office of former Councilman-At-Large Dennis M. O'Brien and continues to be supported through the office of Councilman-At-Large Derek S. Green. The Philadelphia Autism Project is conducted in partnership with the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). The goal of the Philadelphia Autism Project is to examine the services and supports for individuals and families who are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Philadelphia. This effort represents the first of its kind at the municipal level and is working in conjunction with the ASERT Collaborative. The project delivered a wide-ranging final report to identify the most effective, efficient, and comprehensive system of care for individuals with ASD and their families living in Philadelphia.

Please visit www.phillyautismproject.org or follow us on Twitter @PhillyAutism and Facebook @PhillyAutism to learn more about the Philadelphia Autism Project initiatives. Specific questions or training requests can also be emailed to PhillyAP@drexel.edu.

The Philadelphia Autism Project supports individuals with autism and their families living in Philadelphia through:

  • Community engagement and outreach through our Calendar of Events
  • Free tailored trainings
  • Seed funding to reach underserved populations
  • An annual conference bringing people and ideas together
  • Centralized resource hubs in person and online
  • Collaboration with stakeholders to work on Philadelphia Autism Project initiatives
  • PHMC

Completed Projects:

Cooking with Confidence

  • Funder: Drexel University Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center
  • Description: Cooking with Confidence was a free cooking program for individuals with autism presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literary Center and the Philadelphia Autism Project with funding support from the Drexel University ExCITe Center. In three hands-on classes, participants learned basic cooking skills, including how to follow a recipe and how to stay safe in the kitchen. To learn more visit: https://www.philly.com/philly/food/learning-how-to-cook-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-cooking-with-confidence-at-free-library-of-philadelphia-20181031.html