YAI Autism Center

Serving People with Autism and Their Families

For more than 50 years, the YAI Network has been providing comprehensive person-centered services to people with autism spectrum disorders and their families

Our new state-of-the-art Autism Center, headed by Dr. Charles Cartwright, combines our long tradition and expertise of serving people with autism with an early detection and treatment center; family support and life planning services; and a resource library.

Check our blog for frequent updates on services and programs, as well as articles by experts from the YAI Autism Center and other professionals in the field!

Do you or your child have: Repetitive behaviors or narrow interests? Difficulty communicating? Trouble making friends or maintaining relationships? Poor organizational skills?

If yes, you or your child may qualify for one of the following studies:

• Arbaclofen Clinical Trial (ages 5-21): Examines whether arbaclofen improves social withdrawal symptoms associated with autism. For more information please call 212-241-2826
• Memantine Clinical Trial (6-12) Targets motor skills deficits associated with autism. For more information please call 212-241-3692
• Social Skills Groups with Imaging (ages 8-11): This study compares two different approaches to social skills treatments in 8-11 year old children with ASDs who demonstrate strong verbal skills. Participation includes a 12-session social skills group, a comprehensive psychological evaluation and neuroimaging (fMRI) scans. Goals include improving relationships with peers and learning coping skills for social situations. Participation involves an fMRI before the group starts and after 12 weeks. Parents will meet at the same time and will not be charged for any of the assessments or study treatments. For more information please call 212 241-2993
• Adult Imaging Studies (ages 18-45): Adults who qualify will have an fMRI scan and with the option to participate in an oxytocin challenge study to see whether oxytocin improves ability to read emotions in other people. For more information please call 212-241-0961

2012 Cigna Autism education series

This series of telephone seminars will help you better understand physical, mental and emotional growth in individuals who may display symptoms of developmental disorders like autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The seminars are free and there is no registration required. They are open to any parent or caregiver interested in learning more about autism and autism spectrum disorders. Download the schedule for more information.

Previously recorded Cigna Presentations 

Autism Matters - Newsletter Archive

Contact Information

For services in the New York metropolitan area

• 1-888-YAI-Autism
• YAI Link: Information & Referral for Services & Programs
  1-866-2-YAI-LINK, 212-273-6182 or TDD: 212-290-2787
• Support us: 1-877-YAI-GIFT