A Parents Guide To Autism by Charles Hart is a good starting point for explaining in general terms what autism is and information about causes, medications, diets and exercize, therapies and education helps. Another helpful book is called Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Second Edition by Cohen & Volkmar. It not only has very good descriptions of the different forms of PDD and ways to treat it, but also has a section encouraging parents they can get through it written by the mother of one of the 2 autistic children that Dustin Hoffman studied for the movie Rainman. There is also a chapter written by a sibling of an autistic child, relating how they dealt with it growing up. It is very insightful! Temple Grandin has written several books giving her own view of childhood and adulthood from an autistic person's view. She is a remarkable woman who has dealt with this disorder and created a life for herself in which she feels successful and happy. She credits her mother's dedication to her early learning and early intervention for helping her get where she is today.

Recommended books to read:

• Laughing and Loving With Autism by Wayne Gilpein


• More Laughing and Loving With Autism by Wayne Gilpein


• Thinking In Pictures by Temple Grandin


• Emergence: Labeled Autistic by Temple Grandin


• Let Me Hear Your Voice by Catherine Maurice


• Autism: From Tragedy to Triumph by Julia Crowder


• Nobody Nowhere by Donna Williams


• Somebody Somewhere by Donna Williams


• Autism-An Inside-Out Approach : An Innovative Look at the  Mechanics of 'Autism' and Its Developmental 'Cousins' by Donna Williams


• Dancing With Dragons by Gerard Mialaret


• Children With Autism, Special Needs Collection, edited by Michael D. Powers


• A Parent's Guide to Autism by Charles A. Hart


• Adults With Autism : A Guide to Theory and Practice edited by Hugh Morgan


• Andy and His Yellow Frisbee by Mary Thompson


• Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns by Myles and Southwick


• Autism : Identification, Education and Treatment by Dianne Zager


• Gentle Giant : The Inspiring Story of an Autistic Child by Wendy Robinson


• A Guide to Successful Employment for Individuals With Autism by Smith


• Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism by Laurie Lears


• Just This Side of Normal : Glimpses into Life With Autism by Gerlach


• My Brother Sammy by Becky Edwards


• Russell is Extr Special: A Book About Autism For Children by Charles Amenta III

Some Good links on the internet:

• Federal Law For Special Education


• Famous People and Developmental Disabilities


• Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI) Autism Resources


• Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI) Parents & Educators


• Section 504/IDEA/IEPs/Parental Rights


• Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)


• Our Place


• Autism Network International (ANI)


• More Autism Links Than You Can Shake a Stick At...


• Articles About Autism by Steven Shore


• John Wobus' Autism Resources


• Ray n mom's site

List Servers are a great way to learn from other's experiences. They send you an email each day with questions and comments from families just like yours. Try one of these links or send an email requesting to join their autism list server:

• Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT)  


• Special Grandparents Support List

• ME-List        rallen@iupui.edu


• AUTISM list  rjkopp@mailbox.syr.edu

Movies with the subject of autism:

• The Boy Who Could Fly (Jay Underwood)


• Rainman (Dustin Hoffman)


• Silent Fall (Richard Dreyfuss)


• Mercury Rising (Bruce Willis)


• Family Pictures


• Nell (Jodie Foster)


• Molly (Elizabeth Sue)


• When the Bough Breaks

• Backstreet Dreams (Brooke Shields)


• Change of Habit (Elvis Presley)


• House of Cards (Tommy Lee Jones)


• Silence (Will Geer)


• David's Mother


• The Innocent


• Journey of the Heart


• Under the Piano


• What's Eating Gilbert Grape?