Legal and advocacy resources
These links are provided as a service. However, the Thompson Center cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content.
Autism Society of America
The Autism Society, the nation's leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.
Governor’s Council on Disabilities
Promotes full participation of the nearly one million Missourians with disabilities in all aspects of community life by educating employers and employees of their rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Family Partnership Program
Family Partnership is part of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Special Health Care Needs. It was developed to assist individuals with special needs and their families in building relationships with other families in similar situations and in obtaining useful information regarding health care benefits and choosing insurance plans.
Missouri Families for Effective Autism Treatment (MO-FEAT)
MO-FEAT provides leadership within the Missouri Autism Coalition and other statewide advocacy efforts.
Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services
Federally funded and mandated to provide protection and advocacy services for persons with disabilities at no cost.
Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities
The Council's mandate is to plan, advocate for, and give advice concerning programs and services for persons with developmental disabilities that will increase their opportunities for independence, productivity, and integration into communities.
Wrightslaw
Parents, educators, advocates and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities. Wrightslaw includes thousands of articles, cases and free resources on dozens of special education topics.
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
The largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice. For teachers, administrators, students, parents, paraprofessionals, related support service providers.
*Autism Society of America (ASA)
A national organization for people have, care for or work with children who have autism. The website describes the organization and services it provides and contains detailed information about diagnosis, treatment, education and transition into adulthood. An extensive list of links to different websites, advocacy agencies and local chapters of the ASA.
*Autism Speaks
An organization of parents, clinicians and leading scientists committed to accelerating the pace of biomedical research in autism through raising money for research projects, education and outreach.
