Howard County Autism Society Inc

I'm a therapist social worker and have reached out to the society as autism isn't my specialty area of practice and I was seeking more supports for patients. They were very helpful and provided direction, resources and suggestions. Absolutely recommend!

HCAS is a great group of people dedicated to the cause of helping people on the spectrum (and their caregivers) live, thrive and enjoy life in Howard County. They have many programs for people on the spectrum and resources for their parents and caregivers. As the parent of an adult with autism, I was gratified to see that HCAS is involved in a housing development for people like my child. It is wonderful knowing that he will be able to reach out to this group even after I am gone. HCAS is a wonderful group of loving caring people. You never feel alone once you join.

Howard County Autism Society has been such a blessing to my family! This organization was one of the first we connected with after moving to Columbia, Maryland, and we have continually used their services and participated in various groups and events they sponsor. HCAS is run by truly caring people who have welcomed my autistic son into their social events and supported him throughout his transition into college life. I can not show enough gratitude to truly thank all of the people at this wonderful organization who work tirelessly to support autistic people here in our community. Much love and sincere thanks, HCAS! From the Lance-Charity family

I had been looking for organizations that my grandson could be apart of. HCAS is a perfect fit!! Mikhai has grown socially and looks forward to the activities he can participate in especially the "Monday Funday"!! Thanks HCAS for being there! Kathy Brooks

I have been on the board of HCAS for only a year and a half. Having served as a board member at several not for profits I can confidently say the Howard County Autism Society is an extremely effective and well run organization . From their Executive Director Melissa Rosenberg to the a remarkably dedicated board they make a difference. The number of events and services they provide is impressive to say the least. I am proud to be associated with them. Jim C

The Howard County Autism Society has been helpful for our family in so many ways. In the Asperger Support Group, we received information, much needed support and opportunities to meet other caregivers of people on the Autism Spectrum. In their workshops and Transition Symposium, we received guidance and information as to possible paths for our adult son on the Autism Spectrum. In their Adult Social Group, our son has had opportunities for socialization. Melissa Rosenberg, the Executive Director of HCAS, has taken this organization to a whole new level-she has helped create a true community in Howard County where people on the Autism Spectrum and their families/caregivers can interact, share information and support one another! (Michele L.)

I am always so impressed with the wide vareity of events that the Autisum Society of Howard County holds. I think they do a great job in helping families give their children the best quality of life through all the social and lesiure activities they hold. They also provide many an opportunity for the parents and caregivers to learn about services and organizations that will help them as they care for their child throughout their life span.

I am so happy I reached out to the Howard County Autism Society in late spring 2019. My son needed community service hours for graduation so I was helping him identify a few organizations to work with. I do not have any family members on the autism spectrum, but I do have several friends with children who are, and I have been fascinated with autism since a young age. So I contacted HCAS. I love volunteering so I signed both my son and I up to help with the HCAS pool party. I HCAS coordinators, Melissa Rosenberg and Susanne Mason, were wonderful. I loved working with them and interacting with the families who came to have fun.
My son and I also volunteered some time at the Autism Society National Conference in Bethesda, which was very nice. But my favorite so far was the HCAS 2019 Autism Walk & 5K. Although my feet and back hurt at the end of the day, I had so much fun. I was asked to help with obtaining food donations from local businesses. Getting the opportunity to talk to managers at places such as Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A about the reason for my call was very rewarding. At the event I took the lead for the refreshments. I met so many children with autism, families of children with autism, volunteers, vendors, and other contributors. It was obvious that we were all there for the same reasons - raise awareness of and money for autism, but most importantly, have fun. And we did! I have volunteered for many different organizations and many different types of events, but never for anything of this magnitude. I was truly amazed at how well it came together and was executed. I know a lot of work went into it and it was obvious. The people who made this event happen should be so proud of themselves. I can't wait to get started on next year's event.

For my family, the Howard County Autism Society, has been a great help and support in different ways, personally I have learned more through the different speakers / workshops / activities that the chapter frequently offers, so I have been able to Help my two children with autism more. We have also been able to access / attend different social activities in our community, where my children feel in an environment of acceptance.
As a volunteer, I thank Mrs. Rosenberg for the opportunity she has given us to create a support group for Latino parents so that we can help our growing community in need of information and resources.

The Howard County Autism Society has been a trusted resource for our family for over 17 years.

Our law firm has partnered with Howard County Autism Society for many, many years, and we have found HCAS to be a leader in central Maryland in helping families with loved ones with special needs. From its innovative programs to its commitment to education for families, we could not think of a better organization to recommend our clients to for assistance for their loved ones. HCAS is always on the leading edge when it comes to new programs for families and their loved ones with special needs, and the Transition Symposium is holds each March is a wealth of information, bringing families together to learn about the latest trends and support services available for their loved ones. A strong organizations always has outstanding leadership, and it begins at HCAS with its Executive Director, Melissa Rosenberg, who is a visionary in her field and leads the way for HCAS. I along with my firm highly recommend Howard County Autism Society as a resource for anyone looking for support for their special needs loved one.

The HCAS has been a great source of information. Through the organization I have developed relationships with several families and been able to learn valuable information regarding external programs, activities, and trainings within Howard County and in surrounding jurisdictions. From the Autism walk to the family and friend meet a greets, HCAS is wonderful at providing a space for families and students on the spectrum to truly blossom. As an educator within the county, it is great to see that there is a group of citizens that seek to support families and promote growth for students on the spectrum! HCAS rocks!

To me, the Howard County Autism Society often feels like a home away from home. I don't live in Howard County, but my young adult son with ASD lives in Columbia. And so, from time to time I have attended meetings of other parents with young adult children, meetings about housing options, meetings about employment and transition issues, and smaller groups such as the Asperger parents group, and one of the young adult volunteer outings. So even for a relative stranger, I have always felt welcome.

And while HCAS is clearly a group that works because individuals with autism and their families choose to be involved, there is no question that the Board of Directors and Executive Director Melissa Rosenberg set the tone in many ways. Melissa makes it her business to reach out to the members, their families and the community at large. She is creative and seeks new ways to solve problems. She follows up on suggestions and looks for ways to implement them.

I know that HCAS is a great community and a wonderful resource for families with young children on the spectrum. But as any parent of an adult with autism knows, when your child leaves the school system, he or she is often on his/her own. Moreover, Mom and Dad's roles as advocates become more difficult and far less effective. HCAS goes a long way toward closing that gap and being there for families of all ages.

~Careen Wallace

HCAS has been a true partner in helping my family raise our son on the autism spectrum. Knowledge is power and through the years it was the first place that i would go to gain a perspective. This included surviving IEP meetings, finding social outlets and understanding government assistance. Ultimately, relating to others who are kindred souls on a common journey. This is HCAS.

Eric A.

HCAS was an integral part of the success we were able to have finding therapies for our son upon arrival in Maryland from overseas. Emails and phone calls returned, referrals to other parents for advice whose child had similar needs as our son. From the family activities that they host that helped us meet other autism families, to the mom and dads nights out, HCAS and the community they have cultivated is an integral piece to families affected by autism not feeling alone, not being lost without guidance from those who had blazed the trail before us. Their dedication to families and children affected by autism is unwavering. We are extremely proud to be members of this amazing organization.

Howard County Autism Society (HCAS) has been a blessing to the county. Under the leadership of Melissa Rosenberg, HCAS has blossomed into an organization that advocates for those with autism for all facets of their lives. It is an organization by the parents for their children and others to let everybody know that there is a place for every person with autism in our world. It is one of the most well organized society I have seen.

I sought out the Howard County Autism Society, Inc., in April 2018, after my adult daughter was diagnosed with autism. I was looking for information, support groups, guidance, outreach, and anything I needed to know to help her.

I met other parents with adult children who experienced similar issues: difficulty with interpreting social cues, low-frustration tolerance, difficulty with securing and maintaining employment, concern for independence and housing, low self-esteem and few friends.

With the help and support of the Howard County Autism Society, Inc., I offered my time to organize a social group for adults over the age of 24. I received their total support and encouragement in this endeavor. The group meets weekly at their headquarters. It is humbling to offer a program, have it publicized, and watch it grow and flourish.

I could not have done this or initiated this without the guidance, support, encouragement, information, care, concern and empathy I received from the Howard County Autism Society, Inc., and specifically Melissa Rosenberg, Director.

Howard County Autism Society (HCAS) is an outstanding resource. Their team go above and beyond to support individuals and families with Autism in our community. HCAS staff are knowledgeable, empathetic and helpful when it comes to sharing information and resources. I have worked with HCAS as a professional partner in the community and routinely asked for their guidance on how my organization can better serve people with Autism, and have invited them to teach multiple classes about Autism for both staff and customers.

HCAS is a valuable community partner as well a great local resource for individuals and families. If you are seeking information or are researching resources related to Autism, I highly recommend that you reach out to HCAS. The positive impact that they make at an individual, family, and community level is very real and very meaningful.

I have only been with HCAS for a short while but in this time span I have seen what amazing things we do. The support we are able to give to families is insurmountable and the way the entire autism community in Howard County, and even surrounding counties, comes together to help raise awareness and advocacy is an amazing thing to be a part of. I look forward to being a part of this organization for a long time because of the dedication and compassion of our staff as well as volunteers.

My son was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3 years old. I had no idea what to do or where to turn. HCAS offered education, support groups, family events that we could go to and enjoy and feel understood. This group provides so much to families and adults with Autism we would be lost without them!

The Howard County Autism Society has supported my family for over 15 years. By providing advocacy within the community, bringing families together, and most importantly providing meaningful opportunities for folks with autism.

Some of the events our son has participated in include, yoga, swimming, bike riding, monthly family activity nights, and movies to name a few.

As a parent, the Howard County Autism Society has provided me with information via seminars, monthly meetings and efforts to tackle tough issues such as Adult housing!

I highly recommend this group to anyone who has an Autistic person in their life or anyone who would like to learn more about supporting Autistic persons.

Every penny that is donated goes to supporting individuals with autism and their families. The HCAS provides information for new families dealing with a recent diagnosis, it helps the school system understand how to best support students with autism, and now is it working to help individual with autism post-graduation with transition into the workforce and independent living. I highly recommend this nonprofit organization.

I was invited by a friend to attend one of their support groups when my son was young. We were really struggling with behaviors and next steps to support him. To find a group of people who understood what I was experiencing and offer suggestions and support was amazing. In the years since, we have participated in social events for kids, families, and moms, speakers on a myriad of topics, and now are relying heavily on them again for support as we transition out of the school system. Autism is a lifelong diagnosis with different struggles along the way. The Howard County Autism Society has been a strong local resource for us.

I was introduced to the world of Autism when my son was diagnosed at 18 months. I was introduced to The Howard County Autism Society (HCAS) that same year. To say that HCAS has been an influence is the biggest understatement possible. Their guidance, their trailblazing, and their support cannot be understated. I owe my confidence and my knowledge in large part to the many parents who came before me and who fought the battles to pave the way to where we are today. Thank you HCAS!!

Our family grew up with the Howard County Autism Society and we became very involved in its efforts to support individuals with autism and their families. Though we have since moved away from Howard County, I credit the organization for giving us so much support and numerous learning opportunities.

Always tremendously helpful to families in need, especially if you are new to Howard County. They have folks you can query on any topic related to an autistic family member.