Autism

Developmental disorder that manifests in the first years of life and often limits one's ability to interact socially and to communicate.

Sub-headings:

Asperger's Syndrome

A form of autism in which difficulty with language is not as severe, and mental retardation is not present.

Resources in this category:

Autism Society of America
http://www.autism-society.org/

Promoting lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum. Website includes information about living with autism, research, local chapters, and more, including a newsletter and tip of the day. Includes a Spanish translation.

Autism Speaks
http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Organization dedicated to "funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder."

AutismLink
http://www.autismlink.com/

"Mission is to provide opportunities for inclusion, information, and support; to keep parents, family members of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and autistic individuals apprised of news and information." Includes discussion forums, provider databases, a chatroom, and mentor program information, as well as recent news articles.

Families for Early Autism Treatment
http://www.feat.org/

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 and advocacy resources to parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, as well as information about FEAT to professionals.

Information on Autism
http://www.teacch.com/aboutautism.html

The University of North Carolina provides answers to 20 common questions about autism, a family reference guide, and information about Asperger's Syndrome. Some information also available in Spanish.

International Child Development Resource Center
http://www.icdrc.org/

This site provides information about upcoming conferences and online trainings that relate to autism, and also links to articles. The ICDRC was co-founded by two doctors who specialize in the treatment of children with developmental disorders.

Talk about Curing Autism
http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/

TACA is a non-profit organization that focuses on building the autism community by connecting people and sharing information. Resources on the site help affected families find support and effective treatments as quickly as possible.

UnlockingAutism.org
http://www.unlockingautism.org/

This site provides information about autism and helps parents get in touch with a country-wide network of "Unlocking Autism Representatives" who can help them find the best available resources for their children. Users can post messages to the site community or search for experts to help them answer questions.