ASERT

What ASERT does

ASERT (Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative) is a Pennsylvania statewide initiative funded by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, operating as a public-private nonprofit collaborative. Its mission is to provide streamlined access to autism-related information, resources, training, and support for autistic Pennsylvanians, their families, caregivers, professionals, and justice system personnel. The organization operates through three regionally-situated academic health center partnerships: the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University (Eastern Region), Penn State College of Medicine (Central Region), and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (Western Region), collectively covering all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

ASERT's product surface is built around digital resource delivery rather than commercial software. Core offerings include the PAAutism.org resource portal (categorized content for individuals, parents/caregivers, family members, professionals, and community members), an eLearning platform with training modules, a call center (1-877-231-4244) for personalized assistance, listings of support groups and social groups, a Justice Training Program for law enforcement and court personnel, Medicaid waiver navigation content covering Consolidated, P/FDS, Community Living, Adult Autism, and ACAP waivers, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) resources, the Autism Unmasked podcast series, the annual Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC), and the Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) Program in Philadelphia. Underlying technology is a content management system powering the websites plus a learning management system for eLearning; no API, SDK, or AI capabilities are documented.

ASERT's business model is a single-source state appropriation rather than commercial revenue: all resources, training, and services are provided free of charge to end users, with no pricing, billing, or subscription structure. The ODP funds and oversees the initiative, the regional academic health centers deliver content and expertise, and county MH/ID offices act as referral channels. The organization has also participated in federal-agency initiatives (CDC ADDM Network, ACL DIAL, DHS COVID-19 response), broadening its funder footprint modestly, but it remains structurally dependent on continued Pennsylvania state funding. Reach, as of 2014 census data, includes 55,000+ Pennsylvanians with ASD; current headcount and operating budget are not disclosed.

Name

ASERT

Legal name

The Autism, Services, Education, Resources and Training Collaborative

Website

https://paautism.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Resource and Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Autism resource services
• Autism training programs
• Developmental disability support
• Autism education materials
• Disability advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pennsylvania

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ASERT is a statewide initiative funded by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. As a public-private collaboration, the organization operates as a non-profit resource center rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASERT is a statewide Pennsylvania initiative that provides free autism-related resources, educational materials, training programs, and support services to individuals with autism, their families, caregivers, and professionals. The organization operates the PAAutism.org resource portal, an eLearning platform, support and social groups, a justice training program, the Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) program, the Autism Unmasked podcast, and the annual Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC). All resources are provided at no charge to eligible Pennsylvanians across all 67 counties through three regional centers in partnership with Drexel University, Penn State, and UPMC.

Product overview

ASERT operates as a statewide initiative providing a network of digital resource portals and programs for Pennsylvanians with autism. The core offerings include PAAutism.org (the main resource portal), eLearning platforms, Support Groups, Social Groups, Justice Training Programs, Medicaid Waiver Information resources, AAC resources, the Autism Unmasked Podcast, and the annual Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC). The Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) Program provides peer support services. ASERT also manages related portals including ASDNext.org and MyODP.org. These resources serve individuals with autism, families, caregivers, professionals, and community members through categorized content, training, and support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Autism Unmasked: A podcast series produced by ASERT exploring autism-related topics including justice system interactions, self-advocacy, and community experiences.
• Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC)

Products and services

• PAAutism.org Resource Portal The primary ASERT web portal providing streamlined access to autism-related resources, information, training, and support services for Pennsylvanians on the autism spectrum, their families, and professionals. The portal organizes content by audience category (Individuals with Autism, Parents & Caregivers, Family Members, Professionals, Community Members) and features resources, events, groups, eLearning, and announcements.
• eLearning Platform Online educational platform offering training modules and courses on autism-related topics for individuals with autism, families, caregivers, professionals, and community members.
• Support Groups Program Listings and coordination of autism support groups across Pennsylvania, available for individuals with autism, parents, caregivers, and family members to connect with peers and share experiences.
• Social Groups Program Listings of social groups for individuals with autism to connect with peers and build community relationships in their local area.
• Justice Training Program Free customized training program for justice system professionals (law enforcement, courts, probation) to increase autism awareness and improve interactions with individuals on the autism spectrum. Includes training modules, social stories, guidebooks, and interactive videos.
• Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) Program Peer-support program connecting individuals with autism to certified peer specialists who provide mentoring and support for self-advocacy, wellness, and community participation. Currently available to Philadelphia County residents age 14+ with Medicaid eligibility, in partnership with Community Behavioral Health, Mental Health Partnerships, Philadelphia Autism Project, Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, and Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
• Autism Unmasked Podcast Podcast series featuring conversations with autistic individuals and experts, exploring topics related to autism including experiences, challenges, self-advocacy, and interactions with systems such as law enforcement.
• Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC) Annual statewide conference featuring educational sessions, personal stories from autistic individuals and families, artistic showcases, and professional training opportunities for the autism community, typically held in November.

Quantifiable outcome

• Justice System Professionals Trained
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• A.J. Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Eastern Regional partnership for autism research, training, and resource development. Drexel University serves as the Eastern Regional center for ASERT's statewide autism initiative.
• Penn State College of MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Central Regional partnership providing autism expertise, research capabilities, and training resources through Penn State's academic health center.
• UPMC Western Psychiatric HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2023Western Regional partnership through UPMC's psychiatric hospital specializing in autism services, training, and behavioral health expertise.
• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services - Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding source and oversight agency for ASERT. ODP funds the statewide autism initiative and oversees ASERT's mission to provide streamlined access to autism information for Pennsylvanians.
• Community Behavioral Health (CBH)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhiladelphia-based partner in the Community Autism Peer Specialist (CAPS) Program, collaborating on peer support services for individuals with autism.
• Mental Health Partnerships (MHP)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CAPS Program providing mental health expertise and peer specialist training resources for autism services in Philadelphia.
• Philadelphia Autism ProjectstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Philadelphia initiative collaborating with ASERT on autism awareness, training, and resource development for the Philadelphia autism community.
• Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility ServicesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency partner in CAPS Program expansion, providing local government support and resources for autism services in Philadelphia.
• Temple University Collaborative on Community InclusionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research expertise on community inclusion and participation for individuals with autism in the CAPS Program.
• Department of Human Services (DHS) - Regional Response Health Collaboration ProgramstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerASERT participates in DHS-led COVID-19 response efforts for long-term care facilities, providing support and resources during the public health emergency.
• Administration for Community Living (ACL)strategicOthersPartnership for Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) connecting people with disabilities to COVID-19 vaccine information and services. ASERT promotes ACL resources on its platform.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - ADDM NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerASERT supports Pennsylvania Autism Surveillance Project (PASP), Pennsylvania's new site in the CDC-funded Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network that tracks autism prevalence.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A.J. Drexel Autism Institute: An academic autism research and training center at Drexel University that serves as ASERT's Eastern Region anchor. Highly comparable as a producer of autism-focused research, training, and resources, though it operates as a standalone academic institute rather than a statewide service collaborative.
• FEAT Houston (Families for Effective Autism Treatment): A regional autism support and family-services organization offering trainings, support groups, information, and resources for individuals with autism and their families. Mirrors ASERT's community-led, family-and-caregiver-centered service approach but at a city/regional scale rather than statewide.
• Organization for Autism Research (OAR): A national autism organization focused on research and education, producing applied research, resource materials, and training for individuals with autism, families, and professionals. Comparable to ASERT in resource and training production mission, with a tighter research orientation.
• Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: A university-based center for research and training on developmental disabilities including autism, with a comparable tripartite mission of research, training, and community service delivery, and academic medical center anchoring similar to ASERT's UPMC/Penn State/Drexel partners.
• University of North Carolina Autism Research Center: A university-based academic center delivering autism research, training, and community resources. Functionally comparable to ASERT's Drexel/Penn State/UPMC academic anchors — same role of producing autism research and translating it into community-accessible training and resources.
• Autism Society of America: National grassroots autism advocacy and support organization with affiliate chapters delivering resources, support groups, and information similar to ASERT's community-led model. Highly comparable in mission and service mix (information, support groups, advocacy) though operating at national rather than single-state scale.
• Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA): A state-level university-affiliated autism resource center at Indiana University that provides training, resources, and information across Indiana — directly paralleling ASERT's role as Pennsylvania's designated statewide autism resource hub with academic anchor.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: A national disability services nonprofit providing autism services, training, advocacy, and community programs across multiple states. Comparable to ASERT in serving individuals with autism and families through education and direct services, but with a broader disability mandate and multi-state footprint.
• Autism Speaks: The largest national autism advocacy organization, providing resources, research funding, and a comprehensive online resource library. Comparable to ASERT in mission of providing streamlined access to autism information, but operates at national scale with broader portfolio including research grants, advocacy campaigns, and treatment network.

Regional players

• Autism New Jersey: New Jersey's statewide autism advocacy and information organization providing a 24/7 helpline, trainings, resources, and conferences comparable to ASERT's model. Same functional role as ASERT but serving the neighboring state of New Jersey rather than Pennsylvania, making it a strong out-of-state functional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ASERT_PAautism
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASERTPAautism
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paautism
• Instagraminstagram.com/asert_pa_autism

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ASERT