SEARCH, Family Autism Resource Center
SEARCH
Support, Education, Advocacy, Resources, Community, Hope
The GSOE established its SEARCH Family Autism and Research center in response to the dramatic increase of autism cases in California.
Education Professor Jan Blacher, Ph.D., led the effort to establish SEARCH as a means to provide diagnostic and educational services for families, as well as research opportunities for graduate students and faculty at UCR.
Click here to see a video describing the SEARCH Program
SEARCH seeks to meet the following goals during its initial start-up period (first 3 years):
- To become the educational resource for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Inland Empire, and throughout California;
- To meet the needs of all families, but especially underserved families, including low income and Spanish-speaking families;
- To provide family-friendly educational services;
- To educate the educators (e.g., county, school district and private school staff) and service providers (e.g., regional center personnel) in evidence-based treatments for autism, and appropriate education for children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome.
SEARCH is the first UC center to serve families struggling with autism, spectrum disorder, and Asperger's Syndrome. It seeks to provide families of all income levels and backgrounds with support, education, advocacy and resources.
The large population of Spanish-speaking and low-income residents in the Riverside and San Bernardino areas provide a "living laboratory" for research on the growing impact of autism.
Services and Products
Services
SEARCH is developing the following types of seminars in both English and Spanish:
- Lifespan perspectives on ASD: what to expect in terms of behaviors and family impact at different points in development, as well as what parents can do to help
- How to select evidence-based autism treatments, and to differentiate them from unsubstantiated treatments
- Avoiding, or minimizing, the disruptions of transition (e.g., preschool to public school kindergarten; middle school and adolescence; young adulthood)
- Special needs of the high functioning child with autism or Asperger syndrome
In addition, SEARCH will make individual referrals and provide advocacy for families seeking appropriate educational services.
Products
SEARCH emerging product offerings include:
- Resource materials (English and Spanish) available in paper copy as well as electronically ( e.g., DVD, website)
- Educational, or clinical, services in terms of seminars or training groups. The priority for development is parents, although "educating the educators" model will be developed, as SEARCH is located within the Graduate School of Education
- Communication or liaison services provided by SEARCH Fellows and staff. This would include educational consultation with individual families around issues of assessment, referral, advocacy and follow-up
Support SEARCH
The SEARCH Center cannot meet its ambitious goals without monetary support from alumni, friends and the community. Make a donation now.
Contact SEARCH
Visit our website at WWW.SEARCHCENTER.UCR.EDU
Feel free to email the SEARCH Center at searchcenter(at)ucr.edu
University of California, Riverside
900 University Ave.
Sproul Hall, Room 1365
Riverside, CA 92521
Tel: (951) 827-5802
