Autism

Autism is a complex condition affecting the functioning of the brain. Precise definitions are hard to come by because the symptoms can vary greatly in number and severity, but persons with autism generally have difficulties with communication and social relationships.

Most researchers now talk about Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) as an overarching term that covers a wide variety of conditions along an "autism spectrum." Some talk in rather negative terms about autism being a "mindblindness" whereas many high functioning persons with autism view their brain as simply functioning differently, more holistically in pictures rather than in a linear sequential fashion.

Although regarded in the past as a mental illness, autism is generally classified as a developmental disability since it shows up in early childhood. There are a number of conditions along the autism spectrum that are more precisely named. Among those are Asperger's syndrome, Angelman's syndrome, and fragile X syndrome.

This site makes an attempt to list some of the major general autism sites as well as sites that have extensive lists to other web resources on autism. Another section gives behavioral and educational resources particularly appropriate for persons with autism. A section on medical resources points toward the latest research. Finally, a section is devoted to Temple Grandin, a Colorado animal control specialist, who has given the world the best glimpse of autism from the inside.

Persons with autism may also develop a mental illness in their later developmental years (often called a "dual diagnosis").

General

AutismInfo.com
A site run by parents of a child with autism that is teeming with links on all aspects of autism. Updated daily, its goal is "to provide parents, particularly those with newly diagnosed kids, a good source of information" with the belief "that there are many treatments and therapies available and all have helped some kids."

The Secrets of Autism
Time magazine cover story and related articles from April 29, 2002. A helpful overview of the latest thinking on autism.

Autism Society of America
Involved in advocacy, education, public awareness, and research since 1965, the Autism Society of America promotes "lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum and their families, to be fully included, participating members of their communities through advocacy, public awareness, education, and research related to autism." The site includes a helpful article on What is Autism?

The Center for the Study of Autism - (CSA) Located in the Salem/Portland, Oregon area. Provides information about autism to parents and professionals, and conducts research in collaboration with the Autism Research Institute in San Diego, California on the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions. Site includes an overview of Autism by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. with translations into Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Also contains information on subgroups and related disorders.

Center for the Study of Autism
The Center for the Study of Autism is an affiliate of the Autism Research Institute (see above). The site has a nice set of links to other autism sites.

The MAZE - Ooops...Wrong Planet! Syndrome
A Canadian mother of an autistic child who herself is affected by a mild autism spectrum disorder has put together an amazing site filled with over hundreds of links to information on autism and conditions related to autism. In addition, there are plenty of stories of families living with autism. Not the easiest site to wade through, but worthwhile!

Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support (OASIS)
Asperger Syndrome or (Asperger's Disorder) is a neurobiological disorder named for a Viennese physician, Hans Asperger. Asperger Syndrome is sometimes considered the same as High Functioning Autism or as a "Nonverbal Learning Disability." This website gives a wealth of information on Asperger's.

Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA)
Part of a larger disabilities resource site from Indiana University.

Definitions of Autism
An illuminating comparison of some of the main attempts to define autism prepared by the folks at Boston Higashi School, highly regarded for its educational program for persons with autism.

Autismconnect
Originating in Great Britain, autismconnect aims to be "the first port of call for anyone interested in autism, providing news, events, world maps, and rapid access to other web sites with information on autism." Requires you to sign up (free) in order to access information on the site.

Behavior and Educational Resources

Picture Exchange Communication System
Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc offers a wide range of consulting services and products for educators and parents of children and adults with autism and related disabilities. The PECS system focuses on teaching speech by initially non-verbal means, using pictures and "exchanging" them with the educator. The Pyramid Approach to Education provides additional applied behavior analysis tools. The website provides an introduction to extensive seminars offered by the company.

Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention
Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas of the Psychology Department of UCLA, founded this Institute to foster research in teaching pre-school aged children with autism, pervasive developmental disorders, and related developmental disabilities. The Lovaas behavioral intervention program has many advocates, but has been modified and supplemented over the years in response to some of its critics. The website is mainly an introduction to the Institute which conducts clinics for persons affected and workshops for parents and professionals.

How To Understand People Who Are Different
A simple but eloquent essay by a person with autism to communicate the differences in how persons with autism and related conditions experience the world.

Division TEACCH
TEACCH stands for Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped CHildren and comes from The University of North Carolina. The TEACCH mission in part is to enable individuals with autism to function as meaningfully and as independently as possible in the community. Resources on this site include information on autism, educational and communication approaches, supported employment program, research training opportunities, and TEACCH Regional Centers.

Center for Autism and Related Disorders
The center for Applied Behavior Analyses (ABA) approach for children with autism and related conditions. ABA is a systematic approach to the assessment and evaluation of behavior, and the application of interventions that alter behavior. It is based on the discrete trial method (more commonly known as the "Lovaas" technique) and is an offshoot of of behavior modification therapy.

Autism Treatment Center of America™
Utilizing his unique approach called The Son-Rise Program®, Barry Neil Kaufman, Executive Director of The Option Institute and author of the best-selling book Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues, which was subsequently made into an NBC-TV movie, teaches parents and professionals caring for children and adults challenged by Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), and all other developmental difficulties how to design and implement home-based/child-centered programs enabling their children to dramatically improve in all areas of learning, development, communication and skill acquisition.

Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT)
FEAT is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing world class Education, Advocacy, and Support for the Northern California Autism Community. Its resources are useful more broadly, particularly emphasizing early intervention for children at risk.

Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism
A very practical article by Temple Grandin

Gentle Teaching
Introduction to this non-aversive approach to behavior issues.

Medical Resources

Cure Autism Now
An organization of parents, physicians, and researchers, dedicated to promoting and funding research with a goal of treatment and a cure for autism. A helpful section of basic information is at Autism Resources.

Autism Genetic Resource Exchange
"AGRE was created by parents of autistic children who want to see genetic research, medical treatment and maybe even a cure for autism happen sooner rather than later-in their own children's lifetime. AGRE exists to serve the needs of researchers in the field of autism and, as such, will be responsive and as flexible as possible to individual researchers, institutions and collaborative research groups. Complex neuropsychiatric diseases such as autism are best approached by collaborative research efforts that pool large sample numbers to obtain sufficient power and meaningful results, rather than several smaller groups working independently."

Secretin and Autism
Secretin is a hormone found naturally in the body. Some persons have come to believe that a lack of secretin may be a key element to understanding some of the symptoms of autism. This page is a summary of current knowledge concerning the possibility that secretin therapy may help children with autism.

The Edelson Center for Environmental and Preventive Medicine's Autism Page
A very different approach to autism by Dr. Stephen B. Edelson who focuses on ridding the body of environmental toxins which he suspects are key factors in the early development of children with autism.

Autism and Mercury
This website is dedicated to asking the question about autism and mercury: "Coincidence or Cause and Effect?" The creators, parents and friends of persons with autism hope to provide the latest information, foster discussion, and promote research on the link between the mercury found in childhood vaccines and the apparent increase in the number of cases of autism. See also a Autism and Mercury, a summary paper which calls for more reasearch on the subject.

Autism Research Institute
This research organization focuses on the causes of autism and on ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating autism and related conditions. Much of its current effort is on a movement called Defeat Autism Now which focuses on mercury detoxification as a leading idea for preventing and treating autism in children.

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin has contributed greatly to our understanding of autism by giving us a view from the inside out. Through her writings she has described autism as an alternative way of thinking and perceiving the world--thinking in pictures, as she calls it. Here are some key sites with writings by and about Temple Grandin.

Short articles by Temple Grandin
Part of the Center for the Study of Autism site.

My Mind is a Web Browser: How People with Autism Think
A fascinating window into the mind of a person with autism and why such persons respond the way they do.

Thinking in Pictures
From the most important book by Temple Grandin, here is "Chapter 1: Autism and Visual Thought."