Autism-related Community sites, Facebook groups and Forums

Facebook is a free social networking site where users can join groups. In these groups, members can post messages, interact with others or find relevant content. A few of the numerous Autism groups:

Age of Autism

• Description and content: "Age of Autism is the nation's first daily Newspaper of the Autism Epidemic featuring Dan Olmsted, Kim Stagliano and Mark Blaxill."

Autism

• Description and content: "1 in 150 children are diagnosed with AUTISM. One is mine." (Over 8,000 members)

Autism Awareness

• Description and content: The biggest Facebook group dedicated to autism awareness featuring over 160,000 members, several thousands of discussions and photos.

Autism!

• Description and content: "A learning and behavior disorder characterized by difficulty in understanding, or making sense of, what one sees and hears, and in learning to talk and to understand the meanings of words. Some children suffering from autism have normal or even high intelligence, and many can be helped through special educational programs to cope with their handicap."

Click here to see other autism-related Facebook groups.

Autism Awareness

• Description: Send Autism Items to Spread Awareness of an Important Cause.

Autism Picture Cards

• Description: "Spread autism awareness and have a little fun! Send a picture card to your friends. Picture cards are often used on schedules for people who can't read or communicate well."

Autism Community

• Description and content: "The Autism Community is a blog where you can find information about Autism Spectrum Disorder, treatment options, advocacy issues, resources for families and teachers of children with ASD, and other helpful information. In addition to this, I want this blog to be forum in which the autism community can come together and share their thoughts and get their questions answered."
• Quality: "This blog was created and is moderated by Abby Twyman, M.Ed. She has been working with people with autism and their families since 2004. She has a Master of Education degree from the University of Washington where she specialized in teaching children with moderate to severe disabilities. Additionally, she is a certified special education teacher. Currently she is also preparing to sit for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board exam in August 2009, after which she will be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)."

Autism Community Training

• Description and content: "ACT is an information and referral service created to support families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the province of British Columbia, Canada."
• Quality: Clear disclaimer, contact information and privacy policy.

Autism Parents

• Description and content: Galleries, autism-related discussions not only for parents.
• Quality: Almost 4000 members with almost 4000 discussions.

Autism Speaks

• Description and content: "Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families."
• Quality: Useful information for parents, walk events, community resources.

Autism.change.org

• Description and content: "Autism is a topic with many perspectives, each of which is important to fully appreciating its impact. We have therefore written primers on Autism from two different perspectives: one from an autistic self-advocate and another from a parent of a child with autism."
• Quality: Managed by Kristina Chew and Dora Raymaker.

AutismOne

• Description and content: "Autism One is a nonprofit, charity organization 501(c)(3) started by a small group of parents of children with autism. Parents are and must remain the driving force of our community, the stakes are too high and the issues too sacred to delegate to outside interests."
• Quality: "The Autism One Conference, Autism One Radio, Autism One Outreach and Autism in Action initiatives educate more than 100,000 families every year about prevention, recovery, safety, and change."

NetMums

• Description and content: "Here in this page we offer some basic information about ASD, debunk some myths and provide a gateway to gaining a more in-depth understanding of autism and getting specialist support and advice."
• Quality: "Founded in 2000 Netmums is the UK's fastest-growing online parenting organisation with over half a million members, mostly mums."

Revolution Health Autism Community

• Description and content: "Revolution Health is a leading consumer-centric health company founded to transform how people approach their overall health and wellness. By putting individuals at the center of their own healthcare, Revolution Health allows them to make informed choices and offers more convenience and control over their individual healthcare decisions."
• Quality: Accredited by HONcode.

Talk About Autism

• Description and content: "The TreeHouse Trust exists to transform the lives of families affected by autism through piloting, evaluating, delivering and disseminating innovative, evidence based ideas and interventions for learning."
• Quality: Groups, questions/answers about autism and members can ask medical professionals.

Your Autism

• Description and content: "This website has been set up as a place for neurotypical people to reflect on autism and aspergers syndrome."
• Quality: "This site has been set up by Rob Thomas, who has an interest in how people with autism can have thier rights upheld as equal citizens, he is based in Pembrokeshire, Wales."