Autism Association for Overseas Families
in The Netherlands

Parents and professionals
working together for children
with autism

Are you an expatriate family, living in The Netherlands or considering moving to The Netherlands? Do you have a child with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder? Do you want to make links with other families who have children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders?

Then this site may be for you, whether you are new to the Netherlands or have been here for sometime already...

Children (and indeed adults) with Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorders see the world from a completely different perspective to everyone else, and this can make life very challenging for their parents, teachers and others who may be involved in their care. 

For many families a good network of support is essential in helping to cope with some of the day to day experiences involved in parenting a child with autism. However, when families move, these networks are often disrupted, and establishing new ones can sometimes be difficult. This is more likely to be so when one is moving country, and away from friends and family!

While there are already excellent voluntary groups for expat families with children who have special needs (notably the Hague Support Group), it does seem that the needs of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and their families are, at times, different.  In addition, the services and supports required may not be the same as those for other children.

The AAOF is a voluntary group that is being developed here in the Netherlands, to offer a link for such families.  While there is a very good Dutch national association for Autism, approaching them may not be the first choice if you don't speak Dutch. 

The AAOF has come about as the result of discussions between parents and various expat professionals with an interest in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (teachers, speech and language therapists, educational and clinical psychologists).  Through the AAOF you will, for example, be able to meet other families who have a child with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and you may get information from them about the range of services that are available either through the Dutch healthcare system or independent (often expat) practitioners.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The AAOF is a support group, run by VOLUNTEERS, whose aim is to connect expat families with children with ASD. It doesn't offer in any case job positions or internship/training possibilities.

Included in our Info & Links section are details of our book lending scheme, and advice on Dutch social security, support and claim systems.

Professionals and practitioners who offer services in support of families and children with Autism in the Netherlands are listed in the Professional Network section.

The Parents Network has been set up so that parents who have a child with Autism can contact each other (this information will only be circulated privately within the network and will not appear on this site).

Would you like to share with others, please join our AAOF forum on health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aaofnlforum.