Resources for Families when Navigating Common Health Concerns for Autistic Individuals

 Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Health Resources:

Health Resources

• Autism Internet Modules (AIM) Medication List
• Autism and Health: A Special Report By Autism Speaks

• Sleep
• Autism Speaks Toolkit
• Cincinnati Children's DDBP Caregiver Webinar on Sleep Hygiene

• Autism Speaks Toolkits
• Pica
• Constipation
• Feeding Behavior
• Dental Hygiene
• Haircutting

• Sensory Friendly Clothing Guide

• Inclusive Dentistry
• Dr. Stephen Beetstra at Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center
• Five Rivers Health Centers

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab! 

Family Resources for Board of Developmental Disabilities Services

 Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Local Board of Developmental Disabilities Services:

Board of Developmental Disabilities Services

• Montgomery County
• Behavior Support Services
• Recreation Program
• Community Calendar
• Summer Boot Camp for High Schoolers
• School to Adult Life Transition (SALT) Free Monthly Series Schedule
• Greene County
• Preble County
• Miami County (aka Riverside DD)
• Clark County
• Darke County

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab! 

Family Resources for Recreation Programs and Social Skill Groups

Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Recreation:

Summer Programs

• 2025 Summer Camp and Program Directory

• Camp Discovery

• United Rehabilitation Services

• Camp Emmanuel

• Abilities First

• Brighter Connections Theatre

Resources for Funding Summer Activities

• Ohio ACE

• Job & Family Services Application for Child Care Assistance

Sports & Recreation Programs

• North Dayton TOP Soccer

• South Dayton TOP Soccer

• Dayton Academy All Stars: Glitter Girls (Contact for more information)

• The Miracle League of Greater Dayton Baseball League

• Special Olympics Dayton

• Aqua Tots Special Needs Adaptive Program (SNAP)

• Kettering Rec Adaptive Recreation Programs

• Victoria Theater Association Discovery Series Master Classes

• "I Can Do It, Too!" - Special Needs Adaptive Gymnastics

• Bridge Riding for the Disabled

• Music Therapy Care

• PLAY Project

• Scene 75 Special Needs Program

• Capabilities Play for All Abilities

Social Skills Groups

• Therapy Connections

• Achieve Together, LLC

• Applied Behavioral Services

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab! 

Medical Resources for Families

 Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Local Medical Resources: 

Mental Health & Behavioral Support

• Ohio's Telepsychiatry Project for Intellectual Disability
• Montgomery County DDS Behavior Support Services
• Dayton Children's Mental Health Resource Connection
• Guide for New Mental Health Caregivers
• I am Boundless, Inc.
• South Community Positive Health Solutions (wrap around serviced available)
• Diana Holderman, M.Ed., LPC, TRCC (937)-694-0967 diana@stratsforbrhaviormgt.com
• consulting and counseling multifaceted behavior support services for children, licensed PLAY Project and Teaching PLAY Consultant

Wrap Around Services/Case Management

• Ohio RISE: a specialized managed care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs.
• Ohio Minds Matter
• CME Referral Link (Darke, Clark, Greene, Miami): https://form.jotform.com/221865738579171
• CME Referral Link (Preble, Montgomery): https://form.jotform.com/222503651849054
• Clark County Family Stability
• Greene County Family Stability

Medical Support

• Partners for Kids
• Family Resource Connection
• Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley
• Medical Equipment Loan Program

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab! 

Autism-Specific Online Resources for Families

Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the Autism-Specific Online Resources included in our Family Resources Tab:

New Autism Diagnosis

• OCALI Advice from Parents- New Diagnosis Now What?  
• OCALI Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Basic Introduction for Families
• OCALI Ohio’s Parent Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Autism Speaks- A Parent’s Guide to Autism
• 100 Day Kit for Families of Newly Diagnosed Young Children
• 100 Day Kit for Families of Newly Diagnosed School-Age Children

Autism Websites

• Autism Society
• Autism Speaks
• Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)
• ODE Families of Students with Disabilities
• Evaluation Roadmap

Girls on the Spectrum Resources

• OCALI Girls and Women on the Spectrum
• Autistic Girls Network
• Autism, Girls, and Keeping it All Inside

Online Courses

• OCALI Autism Certification Center
• OCALI Autism Internet Modules
• Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM)

Other Resources

• National Autism Center at May Institute- A Parent's Guide to Evidence-Based Practice and Autism
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Special Needs Resource Directory
• Asperger Experts
• Caregiver Skills Training Videos

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab! 

Resources for Respite and Childcare

Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Local Respite and Childcare:

• Caterpillars to Butterflies
• I am Boundless, Inc.
• United Rehabilitation Services
• Toward Independence, Inc.

Resources for Funding Child Care

• Ohio ACE
• Job & Family Services Application for Child Care Assistance

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab! 

Resources for Puberty and Sex Ed for Students with Special Needs

Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Resources for Puberty and Sex Ed for Students with Special Needs:

Information for Parents/Caregivers and Educators

• Webinar: Learn Strategies for Addressing Puberty and Sexuality
• Presentation: Sexuality and Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Parent’s Guide to Puberty and Adolescence for Children with Autism
• Autism Society: Puberty and Children on the Autism Spectrum
• Masturbation and ASD – A Part of Healthy Sexuality

Lessons & Instructional Materials (Free and Paid Options)

• The Healthy Bodies Toolkit
• Sex Ed Mart
• Teaching Sexual Health for Differing Abilities
• OCALI Lending Library: Puberty Resources
• Appropriate Behavior Social Stories

Family Resources for Local Support for Parents and Caregivers

Did you know we have a Family Resources tab on our website? This is our go-to place for providing information to families and districts regarding helpful resources that can be accessed online or even locally in the Dayton Miami Valley region. 

When you click on the tab, there are several sections including:

• Online Resources (topics include: New Autism Diagnosis, Puberty & Sex Ed, Girls on the Spectrum, Wandering & Elopement, and Healthcare)
• Local Resources (topics include: Local Support Groups, Mental Health & Behavioral Support, Wrap Around Services & Case Management, Medical Support, County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Recreation Programs, Social Skills Groups, and Childcare/Respite Care)
• Websites
• Online Courses

Today we are going to highlight some of the resources included in our Family Resources Tab for Local Support for Parents and Caregivers:

Virtual Support Groups

• Avenues for Autism Virtual Support Group
• Ohio Parent to Parent Statewide Mentoring and Support Program 
• Support is provided via email, phone, virtual communication (e.g. Skype, Zoom, etc.) and/or in-person.

Assistance with Special Education Rights and Working with Your School District

• Parent Mentors
• MCESC School and Family Facilitator
• Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD)

In-Person Support and Activities

• Autism Society- Dayton Chapter
• Autism Society-Dayton Chapter Facebook Page (frequent sensory-friendly family events)
• United Rehabilitation Services (monthly support group with free dinner and childcare)
• Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association

Facebook Groups

• Dayton Area Special Moms Group
• This group also hosts monthly in-person meet-ups for special needs moms. 
• Dayton Ohio Area Autism Support
• Dayton Aspergers Resource Network

Do you know of other great local resources to share with families in the Dayton Miami Valley region? Contact Allison Officer at allison.officer@mcesc.org and we will add it to our tab!