Autism Resource Library

NC-PAL promotes equity in behavioral health for North Carolina’s children, youth, and families. We provide mental health consultation and education to North Carolina clinical and social service providers—building their mental health knowledge and capacity. 

Providers looking for a pediatric or perinatal mental health consultation can call the free NC-PAL telephone consultation line at 919-681-2909 for help!

In the caregiver-delivered version of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), caregivers are coached to use strategies during their everyday interactions with their children that have been shown to promote social interaction, communication and learning. Free, online caregiver coaching modules are now available. 

This encouraging guide from the developers of a groundbreaking early intervention program provides doable, practical strategies you can use every day. Nearly all young kids—including autistic children—have an amazing capacity to learn. Drs. Sally Rogers, Duke Center for Autism Director Geraldine Dawson, and Laurie Vismara make it surprisingly simple to turn daily routines like breakfast or bath time into fun and rewarding learning experiences that target crucial developmental skills.

The AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit was created as part of an on-going research project by the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE) to help improve healthcare access and quality for adults on the autism spectrum. The project was funded by the National Institute Of Mental Health, Award Number R34MH092503. 

Our understanding and acceptance of autism has evolved over the years towards a greater awareness of what we call neurodiversity - broadly, the idea that each brain is unique and what used to be considered "disorders" are not at all, but rather reflections of these uniqueness with their own strengths and weaknesses. Joining the podcast is Dr. Lauren Franz, the associate director of Duke University Center for Autism and Brain Development, for an enlightening and important conversation. 

Living on your own for the very first time can be exciting yet nerve-wracking. Adjusting to this new life can seem especially difficult when you're on the autism spectrum. Drawing on her experiences, Lynne Soraya, one of ThAutcast.com's Most Inspiring Autistic People provides valuable advice as she guides readers through each step of transition into adulthood.

Leaving high school and going to college is complicated for everyone. Navigating College is an introduction to the college experience from those of us who've been there. The writers and contributors are Autistic adults, and we're giving you the advice that we wish someone could have given us when we headed off to college.

When traveling with a neurodiverse child or individual, It's essential to plan ahead and be ready with some useful tools along the way.  Caregivers can help make the trip as enjoyable as possible for the whole family by creating and using a travel "tool kit" to ease planning and preparation, and support the sensory needs of neurodiverse children.

Knowledge is power, particularly in the days after an autism diagnosis. The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit helps families of young children make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis.