Autism - Autism Support and Education

-----

Autism

Center for the Study of Autism
The Center for the Study of Autism (CSA) is located in the Salem/Portland, Oregon area. The Center provides information about autism to parents and professionals, and conducts research on the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions. Much of our research is in collaboration with the Autism Research Institute in San Diego, California.

Families for Early Autism Treatment
FEAT is a non-profit organization of parents, educators, and other professionals dedicated to providing world-class Education, Advocacy and Support for the Northern California Autism Community. This site provides information to parents of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders including Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), and Asperger’s Syndrome, and to professionals about FEAT, its goals, organization, and how FEAT can help families, as well as to provide information about other available resources.

Future Horizons - World Leader in Autism / Asperger's / PDD Publications
We became the leading publisher in the world in autism/Asperger's primarily because my son, Alex, was diagnosed with autism. This event led me to write a charming little book, "Laughing and Loving with Autism.", as I tried to show the world some of the positives and joys that a child with autism can bring. Soon other authors were bringing their books to us in numbers so large that in a short time, we stopped publishing in all other venues and focused in this field. For the first time in my life, I was blessed in that my vocation and passion were blended. Alex's perspectives constantly led me to redefine my language and outlook.

Unlocking Autism
The incidence of autism is increasing at an alarming rate. Only 10 years ago, it was estimated that autism affected one out of 10,000 children. Two years ago, it was estimated that autism affected one out of 250 children. In April of 2002, the United States Congress declared autism a national epidemic. In January of 2004, the CDC, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, estimated that one in 166 children are currently being diagnosed with autism. We are aware of what we as parents, teachers, doctors, therapists, and friends can do to uphold, encourage and enlighten one another. We know that there are families whose child was just recently diagnosed and those who fear hearing that word. There are countless people and professionals who are willing to support you and your family's needs. One of our goals is to harness and network all of this wisdom and kindness. We ask that you help us help others as we strive to set up networks in every state that are willing to come to the aid of families new to the diagnosis as well as those who may still encounter problems and struggles as they continue to grow in the understanding and acceptance of autism and its challenges.

The Options Institute - Overcoming Depression Information and Symptom Checklist
Our work originally began when our son, Raun, was diagnosed as profoundly autistic and severely retarded. In an effort to help him, we developed a totally unique, ground breaking program that enabled our son to make a complete recovery from his supposedly "incurable" condition. Since then, The Option Institute has evolved into a highly-acclaimed learning center serving thousands of people and hundreds of families from 80 countries around the world. The Option Institute and Fellowship is a nonprofit organization we founded in 1983 in response to folks asking for our help. Our 95 acre mountainside campus is located in Sheffield, Massachusetts (in the Northeast part of the United States. We offer a series of intensive personal growth programs for individuals, couples, families and groups who are either challenged by adversity or who want to improve the quality of their lives by becoming happier, more effective and more successful. The basis for the ideas presented in these programs are explored in my best-selling book Happiness Is A Choice. We also offer The Son-Rise Program, which is a unique way of working with developmentally challenged children and adults. It's based on the methods we used to help transform our son from an autistic, functionally retarded little boy into a high honors graduate of an Ivy League University.

The Autism Depot
This page is meant to be a resource for parents of autistic children. This page should grow, as we become more experienced handling Tara's problems. I've written short reviews of various books that I've read since Tara's diagnosis. Beyond that you will find a short listing of key resources.

Autism Research Institute
The Autism Research Institute (ARI) is the hub of a worldwide network of parents and professionals concerned with autism. ARI was founded in 1967 to conduct and foster scientific research designed to improve the methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing autism. ARI also disseminates research findings to parents and others worldwide seeking help. The ARI data bank, the world's largest, contains over 35,000 detailed case histories of autistic children from over 60 countries. ARI publishes the Autism Research Review International, a quarterly newsletter covering biomedical and educational advances in autism research.

Autism Society of America
The Autism Society of America was founded in 1965 by a small group of parents working on a volunteer basis out of their homes. Over the last 35 years, the Society has developed into the leading source of information and referral on autism. Today, over 20,000 members are connected through a working network of over 200 chapters in nearly every state. Membership in ASA continues to grow as more and more parents and professionals unite to form a collective voice representing the autism community.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders)
National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH, Health Information, Mental Disorders, Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Autism Today
The best resources for Autism and Aspergers. We are your online source for the latest resources and information on autism and Asperger's Syndrome. We are physically located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; however, we reach around the world with our worldwide Internet presence. The site's concept and direction germinated through one parent's extremely frustrating process associated with finding the best quality treatments and resources for her son with special needs. Autism Today aims to be a creative, interactive, one-stop shop where you can find everything you need to navigate the maze of ASD-related information. Though many websites endeavor to do this, Karen Simmons developed a vision to put meaningful information right at your fingertips so that your decision-making around autism-related issues results in better conditions and clearer communications for everyone involved.

Autism/PDD Resources Network
Online information, support and resources helping with issues pertaining to Autism Spectrum, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (ASD & PDD) for parents and adults with disabilities, a comprehensive, state by state, resource search and disability related database guide, checklist and communication milestones booklet, and special education laws.

National Alliance for Autism Research
The mission of the National Alliance for Autism Research is to fund, promote and accelerate biomedical research and science-based approaches that seek to determine the causes, prevention, effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for autism spectrum disorders.

Oral Chelation Therapy - Autism News - PCA-Rx
Oral chelation therapy utilizing PCA-RX Chelation for mercury toxicity from Awaken Nutrition. What is Chelation?Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) is a term derived from the Greek chele, meaning "claw." A chelation agent is a chemical agent that, like a claw, grabs and chemically bonds with metals or other minerals and toxins. Simply put, chelation is the process in which chemicals bind with minerals. While chelation is a naturally occurring biological process (hemoglobin binds with iron to provide oxygen to tissues), synthesized chelation agents were first developed during World War II as a way to clear toxic metals from the body. Chemists discovered they could create a heterocycling ring of molecules which surround or "sequester" mineral molecules and carry them from the body through normal elimination.

Aut2BHome
The AUT-2B-HOME list is a collection of families who are homeschooling their autistic spectrum children full-time or part-time. Our conversations encompass both education and autism: developing programs that meet individual needs and learning styles, teaching methods, curriculums, resources (books, webbsites, organizations, etc), autism therapies, homeschool laws, IDEA laws as applied to homeschoolers, homeschool support groups, addressing lack of support from family and professionals, environmental issues, diet, nutrition, etc. The atmosphere of the list is intended to be positive and supportive with exchange of information, brainstorming and sharing of triumphs and tragedies highly encouraged. Members of the list have experience with a variety of educational techniques (ABA, TEACCH, Options, computer curriculums, eclectic, unschooling, etc). Members are also from several countries. The list is secular, but religious expression is not forbidden or attacked. While the list is intended for homeschoolers, families who are not currently homeschooling, but who are considering this option, are welcome to subscribe so they can learn more.

Autism - The National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society exists to champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and to ensure that they and their families receive quality services appropriate to their needs. The site includes information about autism and Asperger syndrome, and about the support and services available in the UK. We provide an autism-specific quality assurance programme for over 200 organisations throughout the UK and across the globe including local authorities, NHS trusts, education authorities, local autistic societies and private companies. Actively seeks to help like-minded organisations throughout the world to use our expertise, in order to develop national standards on a franchising basis. The Centre for Social and Communication Disorders provides a complete diagnostic, assessment and advice service for children, adolescents and adults with social and communication disorders throughout the UK. Training courses are available for professionals in the use of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) for diagnosis and assessment.

Can't find what you're looking for? Try a Google Search!