There are literally thousands of resources out there available to families now in 2014. In fact, one of the biggest challenges is finding which sources are reputable and many people find useful. While we certainly can’t get everyone on this list, here is a small sample of where to find some today.
If you wish to be included in this list, let us know and we’ll do our best to get you in there.
Resources Listed in Alphabetical Order
Autism Link: Their 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, help them in their quest for services, and also in their quest for camaraderie with others in the autism community.
Autism One Radio: Web-based radio with programs on biomedical treatments and other topics.
Autism Research Institute: Established in 1967, researches the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. This site contains information on experimental and alternative biomedical treatments and theories, vitamin therapy, chelation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT, and special diets.
Autism Risk and Safety Management: A web site by safety expert and author Dennis Debbaudt, has autism safety information for parents, teachers, paramedics and police.
Autism Society of America: Founded in 1965 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, Dr. Ruth Sullivan and many other parents of children with autism, the Autism Society is the leading source of trusted and reliable information about autism. Through its strong chapter network, the Autism Society has spearheaded numerous pieces of state and local legislation, including the 2006 Combating Autism Act, the first federal autism-specific law. The Autism Society’s website is one of the most visited websites on autism in the world and its quarterly journal, Autism Advocate, has a broad national readership.
Autism Society of America en Espanol
Autism Speaks: Founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and look forward to continued successes in the years ahead.
Autism Treatment Center of America: Since 1983, the Autism Treatment Center of America™ has provided innovative training programs for parents and professionals caring for children challenged by Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and other developmental difficulties. The Son-Rise Program teaches a specific and comprehensive system of treatment and education designed to help families and caregivers enable their children to dramatically improve in all areas of learning, development, communication and skill acquisition. It offers highly effective educational techniques, strategies and principles for designing, implementing and maintaining a stimulating, high-energy,one-on-one, home-based, child-centered program.
Autism Women’s Network: AWN is dedicated to building a community of autistic females, their families, friends, and supporters who have a place where they can share their experiences amongst a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN): The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for Autistic people. ASAN’s supporters include Autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators and friends. ASAN was created to provide support and services to individuals on the autism spectrum while working to educate communities and improve public perceptions of autism.
A Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism: Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism (TPGA) is the resource we wish we’d had when autism first became part of our lives: a one-stop source for carefully curated, evidence-based information from autism parents, autistics, and autism professionals.
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: nonprofit group of parents, lawyers and advocates involved in the education of children with disabilities. Search for a special ed attorney or advocate in your state.
Easter Seals and Autism: Easter Seals programs across the country provide a wide variety of interventions that help individuals of all abilities, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Easter Seals currently has a combination of services specifically targeting individuals with the diagnosis of ASD as well as other services that include individuals with ASD among their service recipients.
Fagel Law Autism Resource Guide: A resource guide for a large number of Autism Related Resources.
Generation Rescue: GR is an international movement of scientists, parents, and physicians researching the causes and treatments for autism, ADHD, and chronic illness. Our parent-volunteers are currently mentoring thousands of families going through the recovery process with their children
Interactive Autism Network, or IAN, is an online project linking researchers and families. Parents can fill out online questionnaires and read preliminary research data. Kennedy Krieger Institute, a medical center for people with developmental disorders, and Autism Speaks support IAN.
L.E.A.N. on Us has information for police, fire and rescue personnel on serving people with hidden disabilities. Free safety ID cards.
Model Me Kids: Model Me Kids® videos demonstrate social skills by modeling peer behavior at school, on a playdate, at a birthday party, on the playground, at a library, restaurant, and more. Real children model and narrate each skill.
National Autism Association: The mission of the National Autism Association is to respond to the most urgent needs of the autism community, providing real help and hope so that all affected can reach their full potential.
National Dissemination Center: The center that provides information to the nation on:
* disabilities in children and youth;
* programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities;
* IDEA, the nation’s special education law;
* No Child Left Behind, the nation’s general education law; and
* research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.
Project Lifesaver: Project Lifesaver International helps provide rapid response to save lives and reduce potential for serious injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other related cognitive conditions. Project Lifesaver provides equipment, training, certification and support to law enforcement, public safety organizations and community groups throughout the country and nation. Project Lifesaver has over 1,150 participating agencies across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, and has performed 2,233 searches in the last 11 years with no serious injuries or fatalities ever reported. 757-546-5502.
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA): (TACA) provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism. For families who have just received the autism diagnosis, TACA aims to speed up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments. TACA helps to strengthen the autism community by connecting families and the professionals who can help them, allowing them to share stories and information to help people with autism be the best they can be.
The Tommy Foundation: Founded in 2005 by parents of a child on the autism spectrum, The Tommy Foundation is an emerging voice for the autism movement receiving numerous awards including the Lancaster Red Rose award. Today, the Foundation provides direct assistance to families, as well providing trainings to hundreds of students, professionals, PhD candidates and doctors to date. Serving as producers for the full length autism documentary “The United States of Autism,” they also have thousands of individuals participate in events every year and partner with numerous organizations around the nation to serve their local communities. The Tommy Foundation continually seeks to embrace individuals on the entire autism spectrum, educate families and individuals to handle the condition, and to empower all those who desire to advocate for the autism movement.
Wrights Law: Attorney Peter Wright and psychotherapist Pamela Wright run the top-ranked web site for special education law and advocacy information. Hundreds of articles and legal cases are available in a free online library and newsletter.
Wrongplanet.net: Wrong Planet is the web community designed for individuals (and parents / professionals of those) with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, PDDs, and other neurological differences. They provide a discussion forum, where members communicate with each other, an article section, with exclusive articles and how-to guides, a blogging feature, and a chatroom for real-time communication with other Aspies.