Table of Contents Introduction Understanding Autism What is autism? Autism Symptoms & Diagnosis Child Autism Causes Are there accompanying disorders? Finding Help and Hope Is there reason for hope? Can social skills and behavior be improved? What medications are available? What are the educational options? Can child autism be outgrown? Can adults with autism live independent lives? Do families learn to cope? What hope does research offer? What are sources of information and support? Keeping on Top of Your Condition Resources

What are Sources of Information and Support?

Parents often find that books and movies about autism that have happy endings cheer them, but raise false hopes. In such stories, a parent's novel approach suddenly works or child autism is simply outgrown. But there really are no cures for child autism and growth takes time and patience. Parents should seek practical, realistic sources of information, particularly those based on careful research.

Similarly, certain sources of information are more reliable than others. Some popular magazines and newspapers are quick to report new "miracle cures" before they have been thoroughly researched. Scientific and professional materials, such as those published by the Autism Society of America and other organizations that take the time to thoroughly evaluate such claims, provide current information based on well-documented data and carefully controlled clinical research.