Autism from A to Z

Disorders along the autism spectrum remain, in many ways, a mystery. No one knows for sure what causes autism, and no one person with autism behaves exactly like another. But one thing is certain: as we share the knowledge we do have, we are able to make gains in treatment and education that, ultimately, benefit us all. In the spirit of information sharing, presented here is a list of autism resources for people with autism, parents and families, teachers and professionals.

ORGANIZATIONS

Autism Society Canada
Committed to advocacy, public education, information and referral, and provincial development support.
Orangeville, Ontario
Toll-free: 1-866-874-3334
E-mail: info@autismsocietycanada.ca
Website: www.autismsocietycanada.ca

Autism Treatment Services of Canada
A national affiliation of organizations that provide treatment, educational, management and consultative services to people with autism and related disorders across Canada.
Calgary, Alberta
Phone: (403) 253-6961
E-mail: atsc@autism.ca
Website: www.autism.ca

Geneva Centre for Autism
Provides training, resources and support for people with autism and pervasive development disorder (PDD) and their families.
Toronto, Ontario
Toll-free: 1-866-GENEVA-9
E-mail: info@autism.net
Website: www.autism.net

Association for the Neurologically Disabled (AND) of Canada
Offers a home-based, individualized rehabilitation program that treats the cause of the neurological disability rather than the symptom. Attempts to stimulate the brain’s ability to develop despite injury or inadequate development, including autism.
Toronto, Ontario
Toll-free: 1-800-561-1497
E-mail: info@and.ca
Website: www.and.ca

Canadian Hyperlexia Association
Promotes awareness of hyperlexia, which involves an intense fascination with letters, numbers, patterns and logos, and a self-taught, precocious ability to read, spell, write and/or compute as young children.
Thornhill, Ontario
Phone: (905) 886-9163
E-mail: cha@ican.net
Website: home.ican.net/~cha

Cure Autism Now (CAN) Foundation
A non-profit organization of parents, clinicians and scientists dedicated to finding effective biological treatments, prevention and a cure for autism and related disorders.
Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Phone: (323) 549-0500
E-mail: info@cureautismnow.org
Website: www.canfoundation.org

World Autism Organization
Luxembourg
Website: www.worldautism.org


WEBSITES

BBB Autism Online Support Network
www.bbbautism.com
Provides an electronic forum to share information and support with families and professionals living and working with autism spectrum disorder.

InternAUT: Independent Living on the Autism Spectrum
www.inlv.demon.nl
Offers an online support group for adults with autism spectrum disorders anywhere in the world.

Autism Today
www.autismtoday.com
An online source of up-to-date resources and information about autism and Asperger syndrome.

AutismConnect
www.autismconnect.org
Aims to be a worldwide, interactive, personalized forum for the sharing of information by people whose lives are touched by autism.

Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) of B.C.
www.featbc.org
Website topics include advocacy, legal issues, media and tax information, and site also includes a chat board and links.

Center for the Study of Autism
www.autism.org
The organization conducts research on therapeutic interventions. Its website offers a great variety of articles on the range of interventions and their results.

The Asperger’s Connection
www.ddleadership.org/aspergers
An interactive website for people with Asperger syndrome and others to support one another and share strategies and suggestions. It is intended to allow professionals and public policy makers to learn directly from consumers.

The Maze
www.isn.net/~jypsy/autilink.htm
A searchable website with hundreds of autism links, a pen pal registry, general resources, upcoming events, speakers’ bureau and inspirational quotations.


BOOKS

The Colour of Autism
By Toni Flowers
This book of tips and tools was written by the 1989 recipient of the Autism Society of America’s Teacher of the Year award in 1989.
Published by Future Horizons
ISBN: 1-885477-57-0

Ian’s Walk: A Story about Autism
By L. K. Lears
A picture book for ages 8-13.
Published by Albert Whitman and Company
ISBN: 0807534811

Children with Autism: A Parent’s Guide
Edited by Michael D. Powers
Touted as a must-have reference book for both experienced advocates and parents newly dealing with their child’s diagnosis of autism.
Published by Woodbine House, 2nd edition
ISBN: 1890627046

Emergence: Labelled Autistic
By Temple Grandin and Margaret M. Scariano
A fascinating firsthand account of autism by a successful U.S. designer of livestock equipment.
Published by Warner Books
ISBN: 0679772898

Behavioral Intervention for Young Children With Autism: A Manual for Parents and Professionals
Edited by Catherine Maurice
Evaluates research about early behavioural intervention and other treatments, and provides advice on how to set up a behavioural program.
Published by Pro Ed
ISBN: 0890796831


VIDEOS

Come Back, Jack
Chronicles the therapeutic journey of two parents responding to the diagnosis of autism in their son.
$34.95 (U.S.)
Jack Parish Foundation
P.O. Box 44
Terrace Park, OH
45174 U.S.A.
Website: www.comebackjack.com

The Different Shades of Autism
An award-winning introduction to autism addressed to professionals and parents. Recommended by the Oprah Winfrey Show.
$35 (U.S.)
Veronica Bird Charitable Foundation
P.O. Box 599
Riva, MD
21140 U.S.A.


SOFTWARE

Flash! and Flash! Pro2
CD-ROMs contain thousands of colour photo images in dozens of categories that you can select, preview and print as flash cards to teach speech and language.
ABA Materials
Victoria, Australia
Phone: (61) 3-9310-4038
E-mail: info@aba-materials.com
Website: www.aba-materials.com

Autism Coach Software
Offers over 80 software titles for children with autism of all ages and levels of ability.
Saline, MI, U.S.A.
Phone: (734) 786-4337
Website: www.autismcoach.com

Autism Software Online Discussion Group
This group was created to share information on computer software to assist parents and consultants in selecting the most effective products from the wide range available.
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/Autism-Software/


DISTRIBUTOR

Exceptional Resources Inc.
Canada’s largest distributor of books, videos and audiotapes on autism and Asperger syndrome.
Edmonton, Alberta
Toll-free: 1-877-482-1555
E-mail: info@exceptionalresources.com
Website: www.exceptionalresources.com


EVENTS

Autism Conferences Forum
www.network54.com/Forum/58400
A forum for posting information about upcoming conferences and events on autism.

Play and Imagination Workshops
May 21, Mississauga, Ontario
May 22, Toronto, Ontario
May 26-28, London, Ontario
These workshops provide strategies to improve qualitative play skills in young children with autism spectrum disorders.
Bridging the Gap
Phone: 44 (0) 1330-860498
Website: www.bridging-the-gap.info

Second National Conference on Asperger Syndrome
May 30-31, Toronto, Ontario
Aspergers Society of Ontario
Phone: (416) 651-4037
E-mail: conference@aspergers.ca
Website: www.aspergers.ca

Cycle for Autism
Starting July 5, two fathers of children with autism will cycle across Canada to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders as well as funds for research. John Keating and Luc Vandermeeren will begin their journey in Vancouver, B.C., and plan to complete it in St. John’s, Newfoundland, August 23.
E-mail: cycleforautism@sympatico.ca
Website: www.cycleforautism.com

2003 Europe Autism Awareness Campaign
A campaign to help people understand what autism is, the impact it has on the lives of those families touched by it, and what people with autism and their families need to live a happy and dignified life.
Brussels, Belgium
Phone: 32 (0) 2-675-75-05
Website: www.autismeurope.org