ASPEN The Asperger Syndrome Education Network

President: Lori Shery

Mission Statement:

ASPEN provides families and individuals whose lives are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS, High Functioning Autism), and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities with:

◦Education about the issues surrounding the disorders.
◦Support in knowing that they are not alone, and in helping individuals with ASD's and NLD achieve their maximum potential.
◦Advocacy in areas of appropriate educational programs, medical research funding, adult issues and increased public awareness and understanding.
ASPEN is a national volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization with headquarters in New Jersey.
Membership includes a newsletter and resource directory, access to our lending library. Additionally, ASPEN maintains this comprehensive website and sponsors conferences featuring some of the most prominent names in the research community.

Along with our chapter coordinators, ASPEN's Board is comprised of a Professional Advisory Board made up of some of the most highly respected experts in their fields and an Honorary Board of talented, well-known individuals.

Membership Fee: Annual Dues are $35.00 for Families and $55 for Professionals.

Services Offered:
◦Education about the issues surrounding the disorders, support in knowing that they are not alone, and in helping individuals with ASD's and NLD achieve their maximum potential and advocacy in areas of appropriate educational programs, medical research funding, adult issues and increased public awareness and understanding.

Events:

Our sixteen chapters, including three that focus on adult and/or adolescent issues, meet monthly alternating support and information sharing with speaker presentations. Please check our web site for the nearest chapter name to learn more.

ASPEN offers professionals the opportunity to join us at meetings where speakers are scheduled and provides Professional Development Hours to those who attend.

Conferences/Speakers: ASPEN hosts 2 National Conferences each year, the fall converence focuses on school and family issues and the spring conference focuses on college and adult issues.

Fundraisers: Please send donations to: ASPEN 9 Aspen Circle Edison, NJ 08820 Other ways to donate to ASPEN: ◦United Way If the firm you work for has a program with the United Way, you can route your donations to ASPEN by specifying Agency Code 041331. The United Way website is http://national.unitedway.org/ ◦Gina R. Orent and Larry Rosen Memorial Fund Donations to this fund are used to support the outreach efforts of ASPEN. This fund was founded in memory of Gina Orent, an ASPEN member and mother of an Autistic child passed away tragically at a young age. Gina had worked tirelssly to educate, advocate and obtain services and therapies to improve her son's quality of life. She then took what she had learned and experienced and shared it with other parents. Sadly just three weeks after Gina's death her dad, Larry Rosen, followed her, losing his long battle with Parkinson's Disease. In Gina and Larry's memory we continue the work Gina had begun-reaching out to other parents. ◦It's in the Cards... Beautiful ASPEN donation cards Acknowledge a special event by making a donation to ASPEN (in honor of a birth, graduation, birthday, anniversary, or send a card in memory of someone special to you) and a beautiful card will be sent to the person to let them know of your concern and generosity. In addition to supporting and promoting ASPEN, you will be promoting awareness of Asperger's Syndrome. Minimum donation is $10 per card. Please contact the ASPEN office at info@ASPENnj.org. You can order cards one at a time and have them sent out directly by ouroffice, or purchase several at $10 each to keep on hand and then send out yourself when the occasions arise.

Support Groups: Our fifteen chapters meet monthly, alternating parent support meetings with speaker presentations. ASPEN offers professionals the opportunity to join us at meetings where speakers are scheduled and provides Professional Development Hours to those who attend. ASPEN is registered with the NJ Department of Education (registration #1619) as a Professional Development Provider.