MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome

MISSION STATEMENT

MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome is a worldwide nonprofit organization providing information, networking, referrals and printed materials for families, challenged individuals and professionals concerned with the autism spectrum. Founded in 1984, MAAP adheres to the basic principal that all individuals with autism spectrum challenges have the ability to learn, grow, and enjoy a good quality of life.

Annual Conference and Workshops

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MAAP

MAAP Services was started in 1984 by Susan Moreno. Susan had met with 24 other parents of more advanced individuals with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or pervasive developmental disorder, at the 1982 annual conference of the Autism Society of America (then known as the National Society of Autistic Children) in Omaha, Nebraska. At that time, all 25 parents agreed to share their names, addresses, phone numbers and information about their challenged loved ones with one another in hopes of corresponding about their common problems, advice, etc. Basically, no sort of that occurred for two years. Then in June of 1984, Susan contacted all the parents on that first list and asked if they would like to start sharing information and concerns with one another through a newsletter. All parents replied positively, and The MAAP newsletter (then called “The Residual Autism Newsletter” in keeping with the terminology of that time) was born. Susan volunteered to type, photocopy, and mail out the newsletter at her own expense. She continued to absorb all costs until 1987, when the mailing list had grown to over 400 families. At that time, she began charging enough to cover the costs of printing and mailing The MAAP.

Now The MAAP has reached over 10,000 families of more advanced individuals with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD/NOS) and hundreds of professionals. The MAAP is sent throughout the United States and 56 other countries. The MAAP is now incorporated as MAAP Services, Inc. and does business as MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome. It is a non-profit (501-C-3) corporation. The federal I.D. number for MAAP Services, Inc. is 35-1790246. MAAP Services is currently funded by the individual contributions of parents, professionals, private foundations, and philanthropic organizations. All donations are used for the purposes of producing and mailing The MAAP (our quarterly newsletter) and informing parents, professionals, and the general public about more advanced individuals with any of the three “Maap” diagnoses. This encompasses part time help to answer the average of 70 letters/week and phone and office supply costs.

It is the policy of MAAP Services to keep confidential all personally identifying information given by parents about themselves and their challenged loved ones unless specific consent is received from the individual parents to release such information. MAAP Services does not exclude any individual or family on the basis of the functioning level of their loved one.