Useful Links

03/09/11 16:26 Filed in: Autism | Asperger's syndrome
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ASAT is a not-for-profit organization of parents and professionals committed to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism. Since autism was first identified, there has been a long history of failed treatments and fads, levied on vulnerable individuals as well as on their families. From the scandal of the “refrigerator mother” theory, to th
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e ongoing parade of “miracle cures” and “magical breakthroughs”, history has been dominated by improbable theories about causation and treatments.
Many of these treatments have been too quickly adopted by professionals, too readily sensationalized by the media, and too hastily embraced by hopeful consumers – well before supporting evidence or reasonable probability existed for their effectiveness or safety. Since ASAT was established in 1998, it has been our goal to work toward adopting higher standards of accountability for the care, education and treatment of all individuals with autism.

AUTISM WATCH

The purpose of Autism Watch is to provide a scientific perspective on the many aspects of autism. This Web site is for families of autistic children (including adult children), practitioners treating autistic patients, and anyone else with an interest in autism. Their goals are to:
  • Provide basic information about autism
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  • Offer scientific analysis of autism therapies
  • Discuss the merits of the many proposed causes of autism
  • Identify reliable sources of help and information
  • Report improper actions to regulatory agencies
  • Help people seek legal redress if they have been victimized
Autism Watch collects no electronic or personal data from visitors. All e-mail messages are kept confidential except that comments about the site may be posted after deleting the sender’s name and e-mail address.


MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW!

The Medicare for Autism Now! Society was incorporated in August, 2008.  They are a volunteer,

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national coalition of non-partisan parents, advocates, professionals and growing numbers of other fair-minded Canadians seeking Medicare coverage for effective, science-based autism treatment otherwise known as ABA (applied behavior analysis). Over 40 years of research and litigation have identified this treatment as medically necessary. It is the only core health need not included in health care, therefore costing Canadian families thousands of dollars a year each to access the only uniquely effective treatment for their children.


AUTISM BEACON.COM

This website is designed to help parents come up to speed quickly with a variety of topics all related to autism. There are also several onlin
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e videos that are helpful to the new parent in particular. For Canadian parents of children with autism, this website is particularly useful since there is Canadian content as well as international and U.S. content.








Facing Autism in New Brunswick

04/08/11 09:54 Filed in: Autism | Asperger's syndrome
Facing Autism in New Brunswick is a particularly important blog for both Canadian members of the autism community and those worldwide who live in parliamentary democracies. Although New Brunswick is in the name, the author of this blog monitors the entire Canadian scene. He monitors the lobbying efforts of parents as well as the misdeeds of a bureaucracy that denies children with autism their rights on a regular basis. The techniques used by parents of children with autism in Canada may be valuable for parents around the world (aside from the U.S.), due to the way the political system works (or doesn’t work) when it comes to vulnerable minorities.

The author of the blog, Mr. Harold Doherty, is a lawyer who describes his involvement in autism:

My interest in autism, and my engagement in autism advocacy, began with my son Conor's Autism Disorder diagnosis and the realization that, locally at least, no serious efforts were being made to improve the lives of persons with Autism or to address the realities of Autism Disorder. Hugs are good, but hugs are not enough. Evidence based treatment, education and residential care by properly trained service providers are required to help the 1 in 110 persons who have an autism spectrum disorder.

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Autism after 16

04/08/11 09:53 Filed in: Autism | Asperger's syndrome
The internet inundates us daily with information that competes for our valuable time; as a result, good resources are often buried under mediocrity. I was fortunate to have someone introduce me to the site Autism after 16, which is a valuable project that brings together parents, siblings, very high functioning people on the autism spectrum, and professionals. Much of the information about U.S. Government programs is valuable, and there are many universally useful ideas on this website.

One of the articles that addresses transition to adulthood in a realistic manner is called Transition Undefined. In this section, there is a 2009 report written on the state of services for adults with autism in New York. Although not directly relevant to those of us who live outside New York State, it is nevertheless valuable since many issues are the same regardless of jurisdiction.

Most issues facing adults with autism are not easily solved; Autism after 16 attempts to define and grapple with these challenges.

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The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism

03/08/11 09:54 Filed in: Autism | Asperger's syndrome
The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism is a resource to parents attempting to navigate the waters of autism choices. It is worthwhile checking out their blog. If you would like to be a guest blogger, you are welcome to submit your thoughts. Their mission statement reads:

The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism (the website and the book) exists to help people with autism and their families make sense of the bewildering array of available autism treatments and options, and determine which are worth their time, money, and energy. We also want to encourage respectful attitudes towards autistics and people with autism.

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Music for Music Teachers

02/08/11 09:54 Filed in: Autism | Asperger's syndrome
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This web-site/blog is designed for music teachers to give one another advice; however, there seems to be a focus on teaching children with autism music, and there is a blog where teachers ask for advice on teaching children with autism. Since there are so many parents of autistic children who have had much success with children and music, it would be wonderful to help these teachers through their difficulties with children on the autism spectrum. The web-site helps teachers who teach a variety of instruments as well as voice.

In addition, there are some materials (flash cards and free sheet music) that may be valuable for parents of children with autism to acquire.

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