Useful Web Links

The Internet abounds with autism-related resources with many sites maintained by HFA/AS individuals and psychologists specialised in pervasive developmental disorders as well as support groups like PHAD.

Website Disclaimer:: PHAD bears no responsibility for the content of linked Web sites. While we believe all these sites may serve as resources for further research, they do offer different perspectives and opinions on the causes, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of high-functioning autistic phenomena.

Autism-related Organisations active in Scotland

Act Against Autism: This organisation focuses on medical, dietary and other environmental causes of regressive autism.
B.A.A.G.S.: Based in the Borders. Meets regularly in Melrose. Offers support, advice and friendship to parents, relatives, friends and anyone with an interest in Asperger syndrome, autism or related behaviour. It is a group run by volunteer parents and people who work with autistic children. The aim of BAAGS is to make people aware of the condition and the effects it has on everyone, the teachers, the families the neighbours etc. it is important for the person with autism to be allowed the opportunity to have the correct care and attention individually planned around them.
Edinburgh Lothian Asperger Society (ELAS): AS/HFA adult support group nominally for residents of Edinburgh and Lothian but welcoming members from wider afield. The Website is in its infancy, but has plans to be expanded with contributions from members.
Fife Action on Autism: Our sister group deals with the full range of autistic spectrum disorders and organises clubs and social awareness courses
HandsOnScotland: News Item

The HandsOnScotland website is one year old on 6 June 2008. Over the past year there have been over 20,000 visitors to the site.

It was developed to help frontline workers, such as teachers, nurses, social workers, and foster carers, to improve the mental health of children and young people.

It is a one-stop shop for practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour, build up their self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing.

Visit the website at www.handsonscotland.co.uk
National Autistic Society: Probably the most comprehensive UK-based source of information on autism. Often found resistant to responding to, or taking up, issues of a general nature that are raised with it personally. Old domain name = www.oneworld.net
National Centre for Autism Studies: Established in November 2003, the National Centre for Autism Studies is located in the University of Strathclyde Faculty of Education. NCAS is linked with several external partners and is self-funding.
Scottish Executive - Education & Training: Government information on special educational needs

www.additionalsupportneeds.org.uk/
Education and the Law governing it.

www.asntscotland.gov.uk/asnts/asnts_Display.jsp?p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&pContentID=41
SEN tribunals.

www.ltscotland.org.uk/inclusiveeducation/additionalsupportforlearning/index.asp
support for learning act

www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk/AdditionalSupportNeeds/index.asp
A great site for parents with special educational needs children
Scottish Society for Autism: Official site of the Scottish Society for Autism with plenty of information about outreach and fundraising activities
Strathclyde Autistic Society: Glasgow-based association dealing with the full autistic spectrum and organises an Asperger's Social Group

Mailing Lists and On-line Fora

AS-and-Proud-of-it: This is a list for those with Asperger's Syndrome or their families. This list is to encourage us to look for the positives in our situations, learn as much as we can & above all SUPPORT one another through difficult times. NO flaming will be tolerated! Everyone's opinion is important here!
Aspergers & ASD UK Online Forum: This is a new forum which will be of particular interest to UK parents/carers and friends of anyone with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A place to discuss the British schooling system, care system, and diagnosis steps. Most of all, to seek advice and share experiences and not to feel alone.
UK Autism List: UK Autism list where parents, professionals, NAS representatives and adults with autism can express views and share experiences.

Personal Accounts by People affected by AS, SPD or HFA

Aspie Advocacy by Frank Klein: A collection of articles by Frank Klein on the virtues of neurological difference.
Aspie site by Liane Willey-Holliday: This site is edited by Liane Willey-Holliday, author of Pretending to be Normal
ASPIRES - Asperger Syndrome Partners: An on-line resource for spouses and family members of adults diagnosed or suspected to be on the autistic spectrum. Our approach to one another and towards our "significant others" is directed towards solving problems in our relationship with a spectrum-sitting spouse.
Autism and Computing: Autism and Computing is a not-for-profit group. Its aim is to explore ways of helping people with autism to lead fulfilling lives. Its committee consists of: Rita Jordan and Francesca Happé, distinguished psychologists and specialists in autism.
Autism Spectrum: Spectrum contains autism news, information, feature interviews and holds live interactive seminars regularly on autism.
Autistics Truth and Justice Commission: The Autism Truth and Justice Commission aims to document the abuse of autistic persons and to propose specific practical solutions to the abuses it documents.
Ben's Asperger Room: A personal account of what it is like to grow up with AS.
Connecting the Dots: Maintained by Rhonda Drays with personal reflections and contributions from many other adults diagnosed with ADHD, AS or HFA.
David Shore's Autism and Asperger Site: Beyond the wall: Personal experiences with autism and Asperger Syndrome Editor of the newly released Ask and tell: Self-advocacy and disclosure for people on the autism spectrum
Donna Williams' Homepage: By the author of Nobody, Nowhere
Institute for the Neurologically Typical: earn how aspies view sheepish mainstream humanity. You might suffer from a neurotypical disorder
Jane Meyerding's Teddy Bear and Asperger Site: Personal site created by Jane Meyerding focusing on her interaction with the outside world as a differently brained person. Some thought-provoking insights, well worth reading!
Lars Perner`s Personal Home Page: Propositions on abstraction capabilities of high functioning autistic individuals, including those with Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome affected individuals may activate a literal detour.
Living with Asperger's Syndrome > Colin's Story: personal site about a mother's trials and triumphs with her growing son, recently diagnosed with AS.
Oops Wrong Planet! by Jypsy Norman-Bain: This is one of the Oldest Autism Spectrum Sites on the net and owned by an info-junkie, resident in Prince Edward Island Canada. You will find a massive pile of resources on these pages, a virtual guide to Planet Autism.
Spectrum ~ Fairness: Site for publicly airing unfair experiences with other sites, because this is a democratic necessity in the ASD scene.
Wendy Lawson's Autistic Spectrum Site: Site maintained by an educationalist, diagnosed with HFA, on people in the Autistic Spectrum.
Women's Ways of Knowing (AS and ....): The victim mentality and "women's ways of knowing," both strongly promoted and affirmed by feminists, are recasting Asperger's Syndrome as sociopathic in men and oppressive of women.
www.aspies.co.uk: A personal account of the various therapeutic interventions we have made for our son with Aspergers Syndrome

Good Sites for further Research

All About AutismSpectrum Disorders: A guide to what is being presented to the nursing profession with reagrds to autism related disorders.
Different Worlds - Basingstoke, Hants: We are a group of parents, carers, friends and relatives with a common link. We all have personal experience of Aspergers Syndrome or other Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The group was set up by parents for parents and other carers etc to find, and, offer some badly needed mutual support in this very challenging and often distressing area of daily life.
Heghog Training & Consultancy: Offers training courses in the development of good practice in the field of autistic spectrum disorders and organises seminars with keynote speakers such as Tony Attwood, Wendy Lawson, Carol Gray and Gary Mesibov.
OASIS Asperger Support Site: Support Site mainly aimed at parents and relatives of Asperger's children and young adults. It contains a wealth of information and an online forum and discussion group.
Scottish Autism Support: A small personal site(with a grand name) hoping to attract parent's of autistic children from around scotland, to support one another & share, ideas , strategies, and some welcome stress relief.
Tony Attwood's Site: Site dedicated to psychologist Tony Attwood's research papers and books on pervasive developmental disorders with his full speaking schedule.
Unlocking Autism: Unlocking Autism was founded primarily for the purpose of increasing awareness about the disorder.The incidence of autism is increasing at an alarming rate. Only 10 years ago, it was estimated that autism affected one out of 10,000 children. Two years ago, it was estimated that autism affected one out of 500 children. Current estimates are that autism affects one out of 300 children nationwide and in some areas of the country the rate is as much as one out of 150 children.
US Asperger Syndrome Coalition: Extensive coverage of research into AS and other phenomena within the autistic spectrum.

Dietary and Toxicological Issues

Allergy Induced Autism
Sweet Poison: A wealth of information about the dangers of aspartame, linked with ADHD and dyspraxia to which AS individuals are particularly susceptible. This additive, 200 times stronger than sugar, is now included in most diet or sugar-free drinks and snacks.

General Psychology and Mental Health Sites

Autistic People Against Neuroleptic Abuse: This organisation aims to end routine prescribing and re-prescribing of neuroleptics for asd reduce current neuroleptic, raise awareness of side-effects and withdrawal effects and raise awareness of the non-psychotic nature of autism.
Connects Learning Disability Site: Mental health and learning disabilities portal
Drug Encyclopaedia: Extensive pharmacopoeia. Always check for potential side effects and seek advice from your GP or psychologist. No medicine is a substitute for TLC!
Green Medicolega
Health Research Institute: A good resource on a variety of health issues that may be associated with autism.
Mental Health Foundation: wealth of information on various mental health issues, useful for those seeking a diagnosis.

Public Services and Other Charities

Enable: (Helps organise some activities for children on the spectrum).
Fife Council
Fife Employability Team: Also see our Services page
PHIS - Public Health Institute of Scotland
Say Project: Co-ordinates services for adults with learning challenges in Fife.
Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group: Phad was represented regularly at meetings of the Cross-Party Group on ASDs. Minutes should still be available in PDF format somewhere, but the group was disbanded abruptly by its MSPs in 2006.