For Release: November 6, 2023
Contact: Cindy Bramble, cbramble@hospicefoundation.org
   
Creators of Autismandgrief.org, a new website for adults with autism, their families, and professionals announced that 20,000 visitors have tapped into the website’s resources during its first year, including hundreds of clergy, social workers, and nurses who have accessed education focused on providing competent support.

“The site is filling a long-ignored gap. Grief for a person with autism is experienced and expressed differently. This website provides a comprehensive guide to help visitors recognize, understand, and acknowledge those differences,” said Amy Tucci, president of Hospice Foundation of America, which developed the website with funding from the NLM Family Foundation.

Autismandgrief.org was launched in September 2022, and popular areas of the website include:

• Downloadable social stories that offer guidance to autistic adults about grief, including anticipating the death of a family member or friend, attending funerals, and coping with the death of an animal companion.
• First-person accounts of adults with autism describing their grief reactions and what helped them.
• Two animated videos, including one that is award-winning, which tackle some of the more common reactions adults with autism experience while grieving.
• Spanish-language resources.

“Autismandgrief.org is a one-of-a-kind resource. It's the first of its kind too,” said Alex LaMorie, an adult with autism who serves on the website’s advisory board. “It gives people information, providing a foundation for them to find answers about their own grief. Information is available in different formats for everyone on the spectrum.”

In addition, the website offers two free professional continuing education (CE) programs—one for clergy and a second for healthcare and social service professionals (also useful for adults with autism, family members, and employers)—are earning high marks from viewers.

• Although I am not a clergy member, I still found this webinar to be rich and informative.  I learned new and creative ways to share with families in my work to support autistic members. Thank you so much!
• Great material. I didn’t know how much I didn’t know! Thank you.
• Fantastic course!!!! Truly appreciate the scope of real-life perspectives from those with autism sharing how they experience grief, and the expert panel was fantastic!!
• Very valuable information for my role as a Palliative Care Counselor. Thank you!
• This program is excellent. I will use what I learned not only professionally, but to offer support with my nephew who has autism. Thank you so much!!!

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“We’re gratified to receive so many positive comments,” said Cindy Bramble, project manager for Autismandgrief.org. “Many grief resources exist for neurotypical adults and children, and for parents of young children with autism, but never has there been a website dedicated exclusively to adults with autism and their grief. Autismandgrief.org has changed that.”
We invite you to share the website with others. Please email Cindy Bramble at cbramble@hospicefoundation.org or call 202-457-5811 with questions, feedback, and suggestions.