AutismWeb: Autism Resources

AutismWeb ™
A Parents' Guide to Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)

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Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Resources Online

Information

Research

Teaching Tools

Law

Medical

Safety

Autism Society of America. Search the ASA web site for information on Applied Behavior Analysis, the diagnostic criteria for autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and news. To find a chapter in your area and receive information in the mail, call 1-800-3AUTISM. (Click on this link to see a chapter list). ASA chapters are a good place to meet other parents in your community. To find an autism organization outside the U.S., go to the National Autistic Society.

Need help with education or therapy funding, insurance, respite care or other services? Find your state's Developmental Disabilities Agency and other resources on this STATE LIST, and call to ask about services.

My Autism Network is a membership web site for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders, with research briefs, video tutorials and audio newsletters.

Looking for tutors, advocacy groups, special education lawyers or psychologists in your state? Visit www.yellowpagesforkids.com. You should check the credentials of anyone you hire.

Families for Early Autism Treatment, a non-profit organization based in California, provides education, advocacy and support through chapters in various states. Provides email newsletters and messages groups that are useful regardless of where you live.

For information on Asperger's Syndrome, a milder type of autistic disorder that does not involve a language delay, see the Asperger's Disorder Homepage, by Kaan R. Ozbayrak, MD, or Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support or MAAP Services.

Autism Information Center at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism publishes many articles about autism.

Sibshops programs offer support and events for siblings of children with disabilities.

The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation awards grants to residential, recreational, vocational, educational and family programs that benefit adolescents and adults with autism.

Research and Advocacy (return to top)

IAN, the Interactive Autism Network, is an online project linking researchers and families. Parents can fill out online questionnaires and read preliminary research data. IAN is supported by Kennedy Krieger Institute, a medical center for people with developmental disorders, and Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding the causes, prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. It has committed millions of dollars to research. Programs include the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange, Autism Treatment Network, Clinical Trials Network and Innovative Technology for Autism. It's the largest non-government agency funding autism research.

Autism Research Institute, established in 1967, researches the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. This site contains information on vitamin therapy, dietary intervention, chelation, "environmental triggers," and experimental and alternative treatments and theories.

National Institutes of Health's Autism Research Network lists major U.S. research projects.

Unlocking Autism promotes awareness of autism among politicians and the public. It has a national call center, and sponsors rallies and events.

Assistive Technology, Picture Symbols and Teaching Materials (return to top)

Do2Learn has free resources, such as 300 picture cards that can be printed, math grids, coloring pages, art projects, and images to help with the tracing of shapes and letters. For teachers and parents of children with autism and other learning disabilities.

Model Me Kids: Videos For Modeling Social Skills has videos and DVDs to teach social skills to children and teens with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and developmental delay. It also sells teaching manuals and student workbooks.

Free downloads/materials that help students read are available at Slater Software and Starfall. Jacob's Lessons has free, ABA-based computer educational activities.

Natural Learning Concepts has flash cards, social stories, conversation starters and materials geared specifically to autism spectrum disorders.

Several companies sell different picture communication symbols used to help children with autism learn words and express themselves: Pyramid Educational Consultants and Mayer-Johnson Co. CommuniPix sells a magnetic picture exchange product that can be personalized with photos that parents take themselves.

JoeSchedule.com has paper- and computer-based schedules and choice boards.

Flash cards for teaching colors, shapes, action words, sight words and vocabulary. Math, Time, and Money Flash Cards

Highlights.com educational toys.

WorkbookWindow.com sells an ABA teaching tool that turns any workbook into a write-on, wipe-off practice book.

See our ABA page for a complete list of Materials for Home Teaching Programs.

Special Education Law (return to top)

IEPs, ARDs, IFSPs, what does it all mean? Here are several web sites that help acquaint parents with the federal laws requiring that children with a disability receive a free and appropriate public education from birth to age 21. Find out what your rights are, and what to do if you believe your school district is violating those rights.

Wrightslaw - Hundreds of articles, legal cases and other information on special education law and advocacy in a free online library and newsletter. This top-ranked legal site is run by attorney Peter Wright and psychotherapist Pamela Wright, the authors of several books for parents on law and advocacy.

NCLB and IDEA: What Parents of Students with Disabilities Need to Know and Do: This printable guide explains two important U.S. laws, The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. From the National Center for Educational Outcomes with Council of State School Officers and National Association of State Directors of Special Education.

Council for Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nonprofit group of parents, lawyers and educational advocates, works to improve the education of children with disabilities. Search for an education attorney in your state.

Families and Advocates Partnership for Education - a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education to help parents and advocates improve the "educational outcomes" for children with disabilities. Information available in Spanish and other languages.

Medical (return to top)

Defeat Autism Now! A list of health care providers who have attended a DAN conference, sponsored by the Autism Research Institute, about alternative biomedical therapies for autism. Such therapies include dietary and nutritional intervention (see our Diet page for information on a diet free of gluten and milk) and chelation, which is the removal of heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body.

Autism One Radio: Web radio that features programs on biomedical treatments plus interviews with health care providers and parents.

Medline Plus: Autism information from the National Library of Medicine and NIH.

Autism Network Resources for Physicians aims to help doctors in their efforts to understand autism and study the treatment options available, so that the most beneficial treatments are accepted and recommended by medical providers.

Safety for Kids with Autism (return to top)

Dennis Debbaudt's Autism Risk and Safety Management has autism safety information for parents, teachers, paramedics and police.

Project Lifesaver provides wristwatch-like tracking devices that help police who participate in this program find someone who wanders away.

Select Autism Merchandise sells packs that include Medic Alert jewelry, ID card, window decal and cling, car magnet, two temporary tattoos, two autism awareness cards, and safety guide.

Safety Turtle sells devices that it claims will keep children safer near pools and waterways.

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