Guide to Internet Resources

See our bookstore for books by, for, and about people with Asperger's Syndrome.

Asperger's Syndrome Resources
on the Web

A broad range of resources concerning Asperger's Syndrome is available or described on the Internet. They include:

• factual information about AS and related conditions
• information to assist in obtaining AS-related educational services and placements
• references to books, periodicals, and other non-computer information
• organizations, both online and non-computer
• clinicians, researchers, advocates, and other professionals
• personal accounts and stories
• e-mail and message-board based support groups
• online chat channel based support groups

Some of these resources are websites like this one, but many are in the form of Internet media other than the Web, such as:

• Internet mailing lists ("listservs")
• Usenet Newsgroups and other message-board systems
• IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and other online chat systems.

Some key World Wide Web pages include:

OASIS -- Online Asperger Syndrome Information & Support

Probably the most complete site on the Internet focusing on Asperger's Syndrome, PDD, and other high-functioning forms of autism. Alternate address for OASIS.

AANE Board President Stephen Shore's Website

Serving to build greater awareness of the autism spectrum and in particular, Asperger Syndrome as well as helping people appreciate those on the autism spectrum for who they are and participate with them to develop strengths and accommodate for weaknesses.

Autism Resources site at Syracuse University

Probably the most complete general autism site on the Internet.

Ooops... Wrong Planet! Syndrome

Another very comprehensive informational site, with a personal angle as well: it's maintained by Janet (Jypsy) Norman-Bain, an AS woman from Prince Edward Island, Canada, one of whose kids is autistic.

Autism Society of America home page

Has good sections on Asperger's Syndrome, PDD, and high-functioning autism.

ASPEN: Asperger Syndrome Education Network

ASPEN provides families and individuals whose lives are affected by ASD and NVLD with education, support, and advocacy.

Autism Network International home page

Autism Network International (ANI) is a self-advocacy organization of, by, and for people on the autism spectrum, founded in 1992 by Donna Williams, Kathy Grant, and Jim Sinclair. ANI is a good resource for people with AS (and other forms of autism) to meet one another -- adults as well as kids -- and for families to network as well.
ANI holds an annual conference/retreat, Autreat. View the program brochures for past Autreats.

University Students with Autism and AS

This site, for university students on the spectrum (and former and prospective students too), is maintained by Clare S., an autistic graduate student in philosophy from England.

The Autism Picture Page

The Autism Picture Page is a work of art, composed entirely from real life: it documents, in captured moments and gestures and faces, the human side of life on the autism spectrum. It was originally created by Lindsay Weekes, an autistic man from Melbourne, Australia, who works with children at all points on the autism spectrum.

Institute for the Study of the Neurologically Typical

This site is an exercise in "putting the shoe on the other foot": it is a humorous look at the "normal" population using the language and categorical assumptions that researchers and clinicians all too often use when dealing with atypical populations such as the autism spectrum. It's all in fun, but it should open your eyes and challenge your assumptions too.

The Autistic Adults Picture Project

An effort to introduce Autistic Adults to a world that seems to think that all autistics are children. Maintained by Janet (Jypsy) Norman-Bain, an Aspie woman from Prince Edward Island, Canada, who is the mother of an autistic son.

The Autistic Advocacy Website

An excellent set of essays by Frank Klein, an AS man from Phoenix, AZ, outlining the perspectives on individual and collective self-advocacy shared by most adults on the spectrum who are allowed to voice their opinions on such matters.

Tony Attwood's website

Tony Attwood's site is a guide for parents, professionals, people with Asperger's Syndrome, and their partners.

Persons on the Autism Spectrum (PAS)

In the Netherlands a unique organization, entirely for and by people on the autism spectrum. English information is available and some of the articles are in English. See also http://autisme.pagina.nl, the main Dutch autism site

Advocates for High Functioning Autism, AS, and PDD of Long Island (NY)

A parent group whose primary purpose is to support one another as we advocate for the unique needs of children and adults with High Functioning Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

The Asperger Connection - the Shriver Center at UMass Medical School

An inter-active web site that allows individuals with Asperger's Syndrome, their families and anyone with an interest in Asperger's to interact and support one another as well as share ideas and problem solving strategies and suggestions. The web site is also intended to create access for professionals and public policy makers so they can learn directly from primary and secondary consumers.

AS Teens 

A website designed by a teen with Aspergers Syndrome to help other teens with AS.

Some key Internet mailing lists include:

ASPERGER, the Asperger Syndrome Support mailing list adjunct to OASIS

ASPERGER is primarily a resource for parents of AS/PDD/high functioning autistic kids, but it has a vibrant and active contingent of AS adults as well, some of whom are themselves parents of AS/PDD/HFA kids.
ASPERGER is a private list. Contact the list owners at ASPERGER-request@maelstrom.stjohns.edu to subscribe.
ASPERGER was formerly known as AS-Support@UDel.edu, and was maintained at the University of Delaware by its founder, Barb Kirby, until its move to St. John's University in March 1997.

ANI-L, Autism Network International's mailing list

ANI-L is primarily a resource for people on the autism spectrum, but it has a vibrant and active contingent of parents as well, some of whom are themselves on the spectrum.
ANI-L is a private list. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to its automated list server, listserv@listserv.syr.edu, containing only the line (in the message body)
subscribe ANI-L your name
and you'll receive information about the list and about how to contact the list owners to join.

InLv, the Independent Living Forums of the On The Same Page project

InLv is a set of mailing lists for discussion of various aspects of living with AS/HFA/PDD and related conditions such as Tourette's, ADD/ADHD, OCD, and prosopagnosia. It's primarily a resource for people with AS/HFA/PDD and related conditions, but others with a serious interest are welcome.
To subscribe, contact the lists' owner, Martijn Dekker, at martijn@inlv.demon.nl, or visit the InLv home page.

autuniv-l, the University Students with Autism and AS mailing list

autuniv-l is a mailing list for university students -- and former and prospective students too -- who are on the autism spectrum. Family and friends of autism-spectrum students are welcome too, but the list is oriented towards the issues of students on the spectrum themselves.
autuniv-l is a private list. To subscribe, contact the list owner, Clare S., at cns@dircon.co.uk, or visit the autuniv-l home page

AutAdvo, the Autistic Advocacy mailing list

AutAdvo is a mailing list companion to the Autistic Advocacy website maintained by Frank Klein.
To subscribe, send an e-mail to AutAdvo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com, or visit the AutAdvo home page

AUTINET, an open, unmoderated discussion list on Autism, especially HFA and AS

AUTINET's aim is to be a point of unity between autistic/AS people, their parents, friends and helpers, and neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists (both clinicians and researchers) in the field.
To subscribe, contact the list's owner, Peter Wise, at autinet-request@iol.ie, or autinet.wise@iol.ie.

AUTISM, the Autism and Developmental Disabilities mailing list out of St. John's University in New York City

The St. John's AUTISM list is the longest-established clearinghouse for autism-related information on the Internet.
To subscribe, send an e-mail message to its automated list server, listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu, containing only the line (in the message body)
subscribe AUTISM your name
and, after replying to a verification message generated by the list server (to verify that mail it sends can reach you), you're on.

Some key Usenet Newsgroups include:

bit.listserv.autism

Originally a Usenet News mirror of The St. John's AUTISM list, bit.listserv.autism is now a completely independent entity, focusing on general information dissemination and covering all topics relating to the autism spectrum.

alt.support.autism

This Newsgroup focuses on support issues relating to living on and with the autism spectrum.

Some key online chat channels include: 

#autism

The #autism channel is open to all, and generally serves as an online-chat support meetingplace for parents of AS and autistic kids. A small number of AS and autistic adults check into the channel from time to time as well.

#asperger

The #asperger channel is open to people with AS or any related condition (despite the name), but only to them, not to non-autistic family, friends, etc. It's intended to serve as a support and social meetingplace for folks on the spectrum, where the conversation won't get flooded out by parents' issues. (There are so many more parents than adults-on-the-spectrum on the 'Net that that tends to happen otherwise.) #asperger's participants are mostly young adults, but range from high-school age to retirees.

#AutFriends

#AutFriends is open to both people with autism spectrum conditions and their families, friends, etc., yet it retains an orientation towards the issues and agendas of folks on the spectrum.

Some web rings (personal web pages of individuals, linked together so you can visit them one by one) having to do with AS and autism are:

AutiRing

AutiRing is a web ring of personal pages mostly from AS and autistic adults, but also from the parents of some AS and autistic kids. Its proprietor is an AS man from London, England, Glen Shannon. 

Asperger's Webring

Asperger's Webring is a web ring of personal pages mostly from parents and families of people with AS. Its proprietor is a parent from Ohio, Shelly Cline. 

The #AutFriends Autism Support Ring

The #AutFriends Autism Support Ring is associated with the #AutFriends chat channel. Like the #AutFriends chat channel, the #AutFriends web ring is a mix of autistic and AS people, and parents and families.