Information & Referral | Family Advocacy | Support Groups
Parent Series on Behavioral Teaching | Workshops
Telephone & E-mail Advocacy
How do I find the appropriate program for my child?
How do I obtain an extended school year program?
What does the law say about inclusion?
Do I need to pursue due process?
The above questions refer to just a few of the issues that parents of children with autism may face. COSAC is dedicated to informing parents about the laws, regulation,s and their children’s educational and disability rights to foster the development of their advocacy skills. Advocacy assistance is available by calling COSAC’s Advocacy & Information Department at 1-800-4-AUTISM (in NJ) or by e-mailing [email protected]. Parents can also request advocacy-related publications. (Visit our
Information & Referral page for a list of available publications.)IEP Reviews and Clinics
As a benefit of
membership, COSAC staff provides the service of reviewing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for specificity and the presence of required components as specified by the New Jersey Administrative Code 6A:14. COSAC requests two to three weeks to complete a comprehensive IEP review.In addition, IEP Review Clinics are held several times per year throughout the state. These clinics, also a benefit of membership, allow parents to meet with COSAC staff for a one-on-one review of their child’s IEP and also to share ideas with other parents in attendance. Visit
COSAC News & Events for information about upcoming clinics or e-mail [email protected]. Other Advocacy InformationBe sure to visit our
Workshops page for information about advocacy-related workshops for parents and other family members. Also, visit our Advocate for the Autism Community page for information about COSAC’s state-level advocacy efforts and how you can get involved.Short-Term Emergency Care
Short-term emergency care (STEC) is free in-home assistance provided for qualifying families in emergency situations. An emergency situation may involve an absence from the home of a parent/guardian or primary caregiver due to illness, a death in the immediate family or other unusual circumstances that leave the person with autism without supervision at home. Short-term is defined as no fewer than 4 hours and no more than 48 hours of care. STEC is not a service that provides crisis intervention. Families qualified to receive STEC are those families, either natural or foster, who provide every day care for an individual with the primary diagnosis of autism and who reside in New Jersey. No pre-registering required. Please call with any questions.
Click here to download a STEC flyer for distribution.
