Education and Treatment Websites for Autism
EDUCATIONAL & TREATMENT WEBSITES: These websites focus on providing information about educational and treatment strategies and products.
> Educational Synthesis
OVERVIEW: Educational Synthesis is a subsidiary of the Enabling Supports Foundation. Although this website does not specialize in serving students on the spectrum, they offer a wide variety of products and services that can be adapted and are free.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES: Products include lesson plans, units, activities, materials, and strategies. EdSynth's greatest service is that they are willing to design plans and materials for specific classroom situations as well as individual student needs.
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
> Future Horizons, Inc.
OVERVIEW: Future Horizons was started in 1996 by Mr. Gilpin who was a publisher with an ASD family member. The site's goal is to be a "Disseminator of information" about all levels of ASD. They do this by being a world leader in publications and conference on autism-related topics.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES: Their online store offers a huge range of books on ASD, ASD causes, ASD treatment theories, and ASD support strategies. They also produce the website and bi-monthly magazine Autism-Asperger Digest. They hope to eventually be a source for information about conferences, service providers, and support groups around the world.
http://www.fhautism.com
> Mayer-Johnson
OVERVIEW: Mayer-Johnson created the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) to help nonverbal individuals communicate with the rest of society. Since the use of computers to assist individuals with special needs, Mayer Johnson's products and services have expanded to meet the growing need. Because Mayer-Johnson provide educational materials for profit, their products can be pricey. But many of the web-based services are free and the customer service is excellent.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES: Products include assistive communication devices like DynaVox, computer programs to create PECS symbols, templates, and learning materials, treatment and education strategy manuals, and books about autism and other communication disorders. Services include training seminars, product supports, software download center, online tips & advice, and even an upcoming events calendar for anything to do with supporting individuals with special needs.
http://www.mayer-johnson.com
> ZacBrowser
OVERVIEW: ZacBrowser is the first Internet browser developed specifically for children living with ASD. It is free to downlaod, and the related website provides support to help teachers and parents who want to use this product to make it more comfortable for individuals with sensory and focusing challenges to use the internet.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES: Version 1.5 includes a drawing board, new sites to include on your child's fonrt page, new videos, various technical improvements including a recovery system, and opportunities to network with other users.
http://www.zacbrowser.com
> The Gray Center
OVERVIEW:
As a teacher, Carol Gray, created the cognitive rehearsal & social development strategies known as "Social Stories" and "Comic Strip Conversations". After retiring, she created the Gray Center which specializes in helping to alleviate the social impairments that occur between individuals with ASD and society.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES:
Products include information and strategies related to autisistic spectrum disorders with an emphasis on social, communication, and sensory issues. She has one of the largest book collections for people supporting those with Aspergers. Services include seminars and assistance in mastering the art of creating and using social stories and comic strip conversations. Relatively new areas of research: Bullying and "Thinking Stories".
http://www.thegraycenter.org
> Autism Books 101
OVERVIEW: This website is designed and maintained by a group of parents of children with autistic disorders. Its purpose is to provide a list of books related to ASD. The parents' goal is to provide "the best list". However, they do include a disclaimer stating that they are not professionals and that the books they recommend should be used in "conjunction with and not in lieu of the advice received from your health care and educational professionals".
PRODUCTS & SERVICES: The list of books is broken down into categories like "Parenting and Behaviors" which made it easier to find specific topics. The list includes widely recommended books as well as newer publications.
http://www.autismbooks101.com
> Autism Connection
OVERVIEW: Amber Kane, president, describes Autism Connection as a place where people go "for real-life help and information on treating, teaching, and raising a child with Autism or Asperger syndrome". This group hails from the western area of New York State. They are hoping to grow.
SERVICES: Her main website includes sections where parents and professionals can ask questions, read a variety of articles, and arrange to attend trainings. Autism Connection also runs a social network site called Grassroots Mama.
http://autismconnection.org/
> Helping Communicate
Overview: Emma Martin Tobes has been educated as a Speech and Language Therapist by the Pontifical University of Salamanca, in Spain. For the last eight years she has been working in the UK at various schools for children with autism and Asperger's syndrome.
Services: Assessment of student or group of students using the ComFor with Individual reports and recommendations for each student for both schools and parents.
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