Useful Links

      This section of the web site is where I provide links which I believe may be useful to other people. Since I did not make these websites, I cannot guarantee the quality or effectiveness of everything posted on these websites from now until forever. But I do think that these websites are worth recommending. The list is somewhat sparse for now, but I just started this. When I find more useful websites, I will add them on to the list.

Wrong Planet
      The first link I am recommending is WrongPlanet.net. This is a website where people with autism and Asperger's syndrome (and other similar conditions) can get together to talk with one another. It also has a parent's section where parents with autistic children can come and ask for advice, vent, and get to know other parents in the same situation. It is the 8th forum on the list, so you may need to scroll down to see it. There are many other forums out there for parents with autistic children, but most of them are populated with nothing but parents. WrongPlanet.net has a fair amount of autistic people who also post on there and can help to provide some insight.
      However, I must caution you that WrongPlanet.net is indeed a forum for autistic people. And as such, when you ask a question, you will often receive a direct and honest response. If you ask how you can improve your parenting, then the autistic people you will give a list of things that need to be changed. This isn't meant as an insult to your parenting ability, it is just directly addressing the point of the post. Also like all public forums, there is a possibility for trolling, and rude behavior. So don't get offended or take it personally if you get a reply to your thread which says something unkind. You'll get similar responses on any forum that you go to due to the anonymous nature of the internet.

Reports from a Resident Alien
      The second link that I am recommending is a blog written by an autistic woman in college. I have never met this person, but based on what she writes, and how she writes it, she seems very similar to me. She has written many informative and useful articles about autism, as well as how it affects her life personally.  She also has many interesting insights into how things work, and I find her blog to be very thought provoking.  If you are trying to understand how your child thinks, then you might want to visit her blog and read about things from her perspective. It might explain how all you normal people, and your world, seem from the perspective of somebody who isn't normal. If you are looking to learn more, not only about autism, but how autistic people think and view the world, then her blog is a good choice to read.

PECS For All
      Next up, I have a friend who is developing a PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) software. PECS is a method of teaching young children to communicate, and has proven very effective. His software is supposed to help with the creation and use of the system, and it seems like a pretty good software. Obviously this wont do you any good if your child is communicating fine with words. But for those trying to help their child develop speech, this can be a useful software to take a look at.