• Autism Parent Support Group
Sponsored by Harbor Regional Center; meets the third Wednesday of the month.
Call Laura Matusoff (310) 377-3140 for information.

• Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 650, Bethesda, MD 20814.  Publishes
The Advocate for members and provides a variety of other benefits including
extensive booklists, an annual conference, voting privileges, government
advocacy, and chapter services.

• Autism Society of Los Angeles
3975 Landmark St., Culver City, CA 90232.

• Autism Society of Orange County
5581 Santa Ana Canyon Road, Suite J, Anaheim Hills, CA 92807.

• California Special Education Programs: A Composite of Laws, Part 30;
California Administrative Code, Title 5; AB2666 Pre-School Services
To get free copies of California laws and regulations, write to: Bureau of
Publications, California Dept. of Education, P.O. 271, Sacramento, CA
95802-0271; (800) 995-4099.

• Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACOD)  For information,
call (562) 570-6304.

• Community Advisory Committee for the Handicapped (CAC)
A support group for parents who have special education students in the
Long Beach Unified School District. Call (562) 987-8000 for information.

 
• Developmental Disabilities Area Board 10
Area Boards were created by state law in 1969 to ensure that people with
developmental disabilities and their families get the services they need.
The mission of the Area Board is to protect and advocate for the civil,
legal, and service rights of persons with developmental disabilities, and
to ensure that the support and services they receive are of the highest
possible quality.  To get on the mailing list write to:  Developmental
Disabilities Area Board 10, 411 N. Central #620, Glendale, CA 91203.

• Long Beach Early Intervention Council
Made up of parents and service agencies that represent infants and toddlers
with special needs.  For information, call the council at (562) 985-8481.
 
 

• National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
An information clearinghouse that provides free information on disabilities and
disability-related issues, referrals to other organizations, and information
searches of NICHY’s databases and library. Anyone may contact NICHY
for information.  All information and services are provided free of charge.
NICHY, P.O. Box 1492, Washington, D.C., (800) 695-0285.  Internet:
nichy@capcon.net.
 
• Orange County Support Group North
Call (714) 974-2149.

• Orange County Support Group South
Call (714) 249-9277.

• Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
Catherine Blakemore, Executive Director, 100 Howe Avenue,
Suite 185N, Sacramento, CA 95825; (916) 488-9955; (800) 776-5746.

• Sibling Support Group
For brothers and sisters of special needs youngsters served by
the Harbor Regional Center.  Call (310) 792-4541.

• South Bay Autism Consortium, The
“The South Bay Autism Consortium and the South Bay School for
Autism are partners in the provision of services for children with
autism and their families coordinating individualized academics and
therapeutic intervention.”  (310) 373-2922 or (714) 224-5157.

• South Bay School for Autism, The
“A humanistic learning environment for children with autism.”
25354 Noelle Court, Lomita, CA 90717, (310) 326-9445.

• Southwest SELPA Community Advisory Committee
Monthly meeting through the school year, and child care, conferences.
Call Marilyn Barraza (310) 545-5855 or Eileen Haden (310) 544-7059
for information.

• TASH
TASH (The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps) is an
international advocacy association of people with disabilities, their
family members, other advocates and people who work in the
disability field.  TASH actively promotes the full inclusion and
participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.
To receive an information packet, contact: TASH, 29 W. Susquehanna
Avenue, Suite 210, Baltimore, MD 21204 or phone (410) 828-8274,
ext. 105 or e-mail: info@tash.org.
 
 
 
• UCLA Family Support Community Program
Provides support to families with a child or adolescent with a diagnosis
of Autism, Asperger’s, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Fragile X,
or other social/communication disorders.  The program involves the
active participation of families rather than just individuals.  For
information: UCLA, Burbank, West Hills, San Gabriel Valley, Santa
Clarita Valley - Linda Andron, LCSW (310) 206-6150;  Ventura -
Sarita Freedman, PhD (818) 999-9330;  South Bay - Lisa Landon,
MA (310) 782-6585.