Title: Types of Support Available for Families with Members Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder | The Arc’s Autism Now Center
Headings: home
at home
Contents
What is Family Support?
Where does Family Support Policy come from?
What is the Desired Outcome of Family Support?
Who is Available to Support Families?
Examples of Family Support Programs/Initiatives
What Does Family Support Value in Practice?
Examples of How Family Support is Used
Who to Contact Regarding Family Support

Content: Programs advocate with families for services and systems that are fair, responsive, and accountable to the families served. Practitioners work with families to mobilize formal and informal resources to support family development. Programs are flexible and continually responsive to emerging family and community issues. Principles of family support are modeled in all program activities, including planning, governance, and administration. Generally speaking, organizations offering family support programs stick to the principles that the family is the most important population they serve. Examples of How Family Support is Used
Family support generally includes a wide array of services and support programs for families of people with disabilities. Services can include: Physical home modifications
Early intervention programs funded by local schools
In-home and out-of-home respite
Sibling programs
Family counseling
Parent support groups
After-school programs
Education programs
Behavioral training
Essentially any service funded to assist families to continue to care for their child or adult child with developmental disabilities in the family home
For more information on family support, see this policy brief on the subject. Who to Contact Regarding Family Support
Many disability organizations are dedicated to family supports. A few of the key organizations that may be able to direct you to local resources include: