Welcome to the home page for Autism Speaks National Capital Area chapter. 

We have an active and busy volunteer community supporting our organization's mission: research, awareness, advocacy, and family services. Our chapter supports events in DC, Baltimore, Richmond, and everything in-between! 

Chapter Events and Initiatives in 2012: 

Light It Up Blue Committee: To commemorate the fifth annual United Nations World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) and Autism Awareness Month, Autism Speaks is asking iconic buildings around the world to turn their lights blue on April 2, 2012 Paint this town blue!—by organizing homes, businesses, school, houses of worship, websites, or anything you want in the color blue. Encourage retailers to participate in our shopping program below!

Download materials here:

National Capital Area Light It Up Blue Participation Packet

Light it Up Blue Shopping Program

Light it Up Blue School Flyer

Autism Speaks Triathlon - June 3rd, www.autismspeakstri.org , contact spereles@autismspeaks.org

12th Annual Autism Speaks 5K - July 4th, www.autismspeaks5k.org, contact spereles@autismspeaks.org

Bike to the Beach - August 3rd, www.biketothebeach.org, contact skeenan@autismspeaks.org 

Wilson Bridge Half Marathon - October 7th, www.wilsonbridgehalf.com, contact christina.markish@autismspeaks.org

Washington, DC Now for Autism Speaks - November 3rd, www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/dc, contact dcwalk@autismspeaks.org 

Richmond Walk Now for Autism Speaks - September 29th, www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/richmond, contact skeenan@autismspeaks.org

Baltimore Walk Now for Autism Speaks - October 27th, www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/baltimore, contact spereles@autismspeaks.org  

Community Outreach Ambassador: Please contact our National Capital Area office at nationalcapitalarea@autismspeaks.org to learn more about how you can get more involved in your community through the Ambassador program. Ambassadors are responsible for serving our chapter as volunteer representatives at health, education, and resource fairs in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Our goal is to reach as many newly diagnosed families in our area as possible. We would like at least three ambassadors in each county.

Upcoming Meetings: 

National Capital Area Meeting: Want to get more involved? Please attend one of our chapter meetings, open to all! To rsvp or for more information, please contact Christina at christina.markish@autismspeaks.org . 

Richmond Walk Committee Meeting: We need your help! Join us at our next Walk Committee Meeting, date TBA. Meet other volunteers to hear about our local activities and how you can help. RSVP to richmond@autismspeaks.org . If you are unable to attend but wish to join us by phone, please email Shawnie at skeenan@autismspeaks.org. 

Baltimore Walk Committee Meeting: We need your help! Join us at our next Walk Committee Meeting, date TBA. Meet other volunteers to hear about our local activities and how you can help. RSVP to baltimore@autismspeaks.org . If you are unable to attend but wish to join us by phone, please email Susan at spereles@autismspeaks.org.

Washington, DC Walk Committee Meeting: We need your help! Join us at our next Walk Committee Meeting, date TBA. Meet other volunteers to hear about our local activities and how you can help. rsvp to dcwalk@autismspeaks.org.

Autism Speaks Lending Library: Donate: Your gently used therapy materials for other families to use Borrow: Therapy Materials you need! Where: Thank you to Runners, Inc., who has generously donated their time and space to house our materials. 7924 Queenair Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (Main Office) 301-948-7500 / cell 301-252-1220 toll free 800-204-7501 / fax 301-330-1451 www.runnersinc.com / tsmith@runnersinc.com 

When: Items may be Borrowed or Donated weekdays between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to the address above. Pick up is also available for a nominal fee. Also, thank you to Christine McKee who has volunteered to oversee this program. Please visit our Lending Library page or phone 202.955.3111 with any questions. 

2010 Inventory: 

Autism Speaks National Capital Area Lending Library ABA Resources The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills - ABLLS - R Protocol The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills - Scoring Instructions and IEP Development Guide VB-MAPP - Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program - Protocol VB-MAPP - Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program - Guide A Work in Progress - Behavior Management Strategies and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism Augmentative Communication (PECS, sign, AAC devices) PECS books Books - Children's Baby Duck and the Cozy Blanket (Touch and Feel Book) Dora's Book of Words Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Book with Felt Letters and Tree Nursery Rhyme Book with Hand and Finger Gestures Books - Adult Resources The Child with Special Needs by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder Look Me In The Eyes, My Life with Asperger's by John Robison Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew - Ellen Notbohm George and Samm Two Boys, One Family, and Autism by Charlotte Moore The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz Autism and the God Connection by William Stillman Teaching Children with Autism, Strategies to Enhance Communication and Socialization by Kathleen Ann Quill Engaging Autism by Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder The Autism Sourcebook, Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, coping and Healing by Karen Siff Exkorn Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Development Disorders) by NIMH Send in the Idiots by Kamran Nazeer The Autism Acceptance Book by Ellen Sabin CD and DVD Materials Earobics Home - Sound Foundations for Reading and Spelling Sonas and Samonas Sound Therapy CD and Manual Mozart for Modulation - Modified - Therapeutic Listening Fine Motor - Lacing, Cutting, Handwriting) Lacing Tree - Battat Wooden Music Box - Dizzy Ducks Magnetic Sculpture Kit Magnetic Color Cubes Tote - n- Tiles - Mosiac Tiles Set - Discovery Toys Wooden Beads Lacing Set - Learning Resources Autism Speaks Family Services Outreach Project Washington DC (October 15, 2009) - Autism Speaks National Capital Area announced today that it has partnered with Children's National Medical Center's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders and the District of Columbia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (DC LEND) Program to disseminate information to the underserved communities in the DC metropolitan area. The Family Services' Outreach Project will be staffed by volunteers under the leadership of DC LEND trainee James Rutledge, who holds a masters degree in psychology. The DC LEND program is funded through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The Autism Speaks Family Services' Outreach Project includes dissemination of the First 100 Day Kit: a manual for newly diagnosed families; the online resource guide, a database with thousands of services categorized by state; and the local special project, the Autism Speaks National Capital Area Lending Library, from which families can borrow free of charge new and gently-used educational materials and toys to be used in home behavioral therapy programs. For more information or to invite Autism Speaks to present to a group or organization, contact nationalcapitalarea@autismspeaks.org or 202.955.3112.