The Austin Area Autism Resource Guide is the product of a joint project between the Autism Society of Greater Austin (now the Autism Society of Central Texas) and the Austin Area Task Force of the Texas Council on Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). After the two groups compiled the first edition of the guide in 2008, the Autism Society took over the maintenance and distribution of the document. The most recent edition, published in May 2014, provides a comprehensive list of treatment providers, early childhood intervention resources, disability agencies, camps, care providers, and other resources for all age ranges. Additional helpful local resources are the Austin Autism Society and the Arc of the Capital Area.
Autism Speaks is a national autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It has a number of resources (videos, articles, databases), toolkits (digital documents with detailed step-by-step directions on topics such as obtaining a diagnosis, seeking treatment, transitioning services), and helpful links for families. The following toolkits are highly recommended:
- First Concern to Action Toolkit – A step-by-step guide on what to do if you are concerned about how your child is communicating, interacting, or behaving.
- First 100 Days Toolkit – A guide created specifically for families of children ages 4 and under to make the best possible use of the 100 days following their child’s diagnosis of autism.
- High Functioning Autism Toolkit – A guide for parents of children with high functioning autism (previously called Asperger Syndrome).
- Transition Toolkit – A guide to assist families on the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
The Autism Today website aims to be the premier information dispenser to the autism community worldwide. It provides a tool for people within the autism community to list and locate events and conferences as well as other services like professionals, camps, and employment opportunities. Also, the website offers an extensive archive of articles and research summaries, a resource store, advice from a wide array of autism experts, an online gallery of creative works from the international autism community, Autism Education Online™, and live tele-classes.
An organization affiliated with The Arc that provides a number of resources and information on community-based solutions for individuals with autism, other developmental disabilities, and their families.
A comprehensive research report and guide outlining therapeutic interventions to treat autism that are supported by research (called “evidence-based practices”). This guide is in a downloadable pdf format and includes a description of each type of treatment approach. There is also an associated website that provides fact sheets on each evidence-based treatment.
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-Handicapped Children (TEACCH)
The TEACCH mission is to enable individuals with autism to function as meaningfully and independently as possible within the community. Other goals of TEACCH include generating knowledge about autism, integrating clinical services with relevant theory and research, and disseminating information about theory, practice, and research on autism.
This website provides information about group support and discussion meetings for people affected by Asperger’s Syndrome. The site lists meetings in many different cities and states, including one in the Austin area.
Tony Attwood is a researcher and clinician who specializes in Asperger’s Syndrome research. On this site you will find resources, information on his presentation schedule, messages boards about issues related to Asperger’s Syndrome, and papers he has written on related topics.