Resources

Organizations, Foundations, Services and Resources
(Virginia and National) 

http://vtcar.science.vt.edu/research/vtcar_registry.html
The Autism Research Registry is a resource that can be used by investigators and approved personnel affiliated with the Virginia Tech Center for Autism Research and Autism Clinic. Parents: consider listing your son or daughter.

www.autismva.org
Commonwealth Autism Service’s mission is to provide leadership in the implementation of a statewide system of services to maximize the potential and quality of life of each Virginian with autism across the lifespan.

www.autismtrainingva.org
Welcome to the VA Autism Council’s website on Autism Training in Virginia. This is Virginia’s clearinghouse on best practices and research-based education and training opportunities to advance personnel development in autism in Virginia.

http://www.varc.org/
The Virginia Autism Resource Center’s mission is to provide training, case consultation, and information to parents and staff serving individuals with autism and related disorders.

www.autism-society.org
The mission of the Autism Society of America is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community.

http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/
Welcome to O.A.S.I.S. Although there is no oasis or paradise for those with Asperger’s Syndrome, they, along with parents and professionals, may find a bit of shade and support via the information presented and links available at this site.

http://www.templegrandin.com/
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is inarguably the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-guide
State-by-state guide to resources with a clickable map.

http://www.wrongplanet.net/
This web community designed for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, PDD, ADD, ADHD, OCD, and other attention behavioral continuum syndromes provides a forum where members can communicate with each other, an article section where members may read and submit essays or how-to guides about various subjects, and a chat room for real-time communication.

http://www.sarnet.org/events/texteast.htm
The Autism Calendar published by the Schafer Autism Report.

http://trainland.tripod.com/
Beyond Autism contains over 2,700 working links to other resources and is a comprehensive source of information for those of you just starting out – to help you move “beyond” the label of autism.

http://www.autism.org/
Formerly The Center for the Study of Autism (CSA) who partnered with Autism Research Institute (ARI), this website has changed it’s focus to “Autism Collaboration” — “A new research initiative with parents as partners which melds scientists and stakeholders in a novel research program.”  The website includes:

• Autism Research Institute (Inclusive of DAN–Defeat Autism Now–and their clinical protocol)
• Autism Society of America
• Autism One
• Generation Rescue
• Medigenesis
• The National Autism Society
• Safe Minds
• SAR (Schafer Autism Report)
• TACA (Talk About Treating Autism)
• Unlocking Autism
• Treating Autism

http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/
The National Autism Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting effective, evidence-based treatment approaches and providing direction to families, practitioners, organizations, policy-makers, and funders.

http://www.doctordisability.com/autism-disability.php
Physician’s Information on Autism Disability: This useful collection of links is provided by Doctor Disability Insurance from California.

Education and Interventions

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/autism_help.htm
Helping Children with Autism: Autism treatment strategies and parenting tips from helpguide.org. As this resource points out, “There are many things parents can do to help children with autism overcome their challenges. But it’s also important to make sure you get the support you need. When you’re looking after a child with autism, taking care of yourself is not an act of selfishness.”

http://www.wiseoldsayings.com/communicating-with-an-autistic-child-a-parents-guide.php
Communicating with an Autistic Child: A Parent’s Guide. This resource has a collection of general links on autism, plus tips on parenting and communicating with autistic children.

www.teacch.com
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication handicapped Children, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their mission is to To enable individuals with autism to function as meaningfully and as independently as possible in the community; To provide exemplary services throughout North Carolina to individuals with autism and their families and those who serve and support them; and As a member of the University community, to generate knowledge; to integrate clinical services with relevant theory and research; and to disseminate information about theory, practice, and research on autism through training and publications locally, nationally and internationally.

www.floortime.org
The Floortime Foundation’s mission is to redefine the potential of children with developmental and communication challenges by making the DIR/Floortime model broadly available.

http://edenautism.org/
Eden, a New Jersey-based nonprofit organization, was founded in 1975 with a unique mission – to meet the lifespan needs of individuals with autism. Parents and professionals alike joined together to develop a family oriented, multifaceted program with a well-trained and dedicated faculty. Inherent in Eden’s founding was the commitment to provide a cost-effective, community-based alternative to institutionalization and to offer programming that would meet the changing needs of children and adults with autism.

http://soeweb.syr.edu/thefci/
Established in the School of Education at Syracuse University in 1992, the Facilitated Communication Institute conducts research, public education, training and scholarly seminars. It was created as a way of bringing together the research community, people with disabilities, their families, and practicing professionals to examine, learn about, and share information on facilitated communication.

http://www.lovaas.com
The Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention is a research-based program that specializes in using the UCLA Model of Applied Behavior Analysis to teach children with autism, pervasive developmental disorders, and related developmental disabilities. The program provides services nationwide.

http://www.pecs.com/
This is the home of The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) that was developed in 1985 as a unique augmentative/ alternative training package that teaches children and adults with autism and other communication deficits to initiate communication. It is also home to the Pyramid Approach to Education that is a unique teaching method that establishes effective learning environments for children and adults with autism or related developmental disabilities and severe learning impairments.

http://www.sensoryint.com/
Sensory Integration International (SII) is a non-profit corporation concerned with the impact of sensory integrative problems on people’s lives.

http://www.sensorylearning.com/
At Sensory Learning Center International, we work with children and adults to improve perception, understanding and the ability to learn. The Sensory Learning Program is an innovative approach to developmental learning that unites three modalities (visual, auditory and vestibular) into one intervention allowing individuals to better integrate sensory messages.

http://www.georgianainstitute.org/
The Georgiana Institute is a nonprofit organization associated with Auditory Integration Training (AIT) and Digital Auditory Aerobics (DAA).

Books, Publications and Materials

https://www.aapcpublishing.net/
Books and publications from AAPC Publishing (formerly Autism Asperger Publishing Company) offer practical resources that parents, teachers or daycare providers need to offer meaningful, stimulating activities for individuals with autism, Asperger Syndrome and other pervasive developmental disorders.

http://autismshop.com/
This is the online home of the Autism Resource Network, a one-of-a-kind Book Store that is packed with merchandise and information for individuals with ASD and those who love, care for, and educate them. We are a Minnesota nonprofit corporation.

http://www.do2learn.com/
This web site provides activities to promote independence in children and adults with special learning needs.

http://fhautism.com/
Future Horizons is a leading publisher in the world in autism and Asperger’s.

http://www.shoeboxtasks.com/
This site offers innovative learning materials designed for children and adults with special needs.

http://www.usevisualstrategies.com/
Students with autism spectrum disorders and lots of other students with behavior or communication challenges tend to be visual learners. They understand what they see better than what they hear. Therefore, they benefit significantly from the use of visual strategies. Deciding when and how to use pictures and other visual supports is the key. Learn lots of great ideas here.

http://www.ccoder.com/GainingFace/index.html
This software helps people with Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, and similar issues learn to recognize facial expressions.