Here at The Longest Shortest Time, we hear from lots of parents whose kids are born different than they expected. Many of those kids are on the autism spectrum. Which can be a shock when you have no prior experience with autism. The good news is, there are lots of resources out there to help. These books and websites come highly recommended by our very own listeners.
P.S. This list is only a start, so please add your own, too!
Get Help
When you or your child has autism, it can be difficult to get access to the help you need. At school, at work, in your community. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is here to empower you.
Learn Stuff
Want to know what autism is? How it was discovered? What Asperger’s means, and who the hell Hans Asperger was? Yes. Yes, you do. Find those answers, and lots more, in Steve Silberman’s book NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity.
And if you want to know about the most current autism research, check out the Autism Science Foundation. Also their weekly podcast, hosted by ASF Chief Science Officer Alycia Halladay, which is a great way to learn about all the cool autism research out there without having to slog through the reports.
Join a Community
An autism diagnosis can make you feel lonely. The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism is a Facebook page devoted to bringing together people with autism, their parents, and professionals.
Read Stories
Sometimes the best way to feel not-alone is to read another person’s story. Ido in Autismland by Ido Kedar and The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida are both memoirs by autistic teens. And if fiction is your thing, Face Value Comics are the first comics featuring an autistic hero.
Dating with Autism
Dating is complicated enough as it is. For people on the spectrum, relationships pose unique challenges. The Atlantic article Dating on the Autism Spectrum by Emily Shire beautifully lays out those challenges. And the book Autism and Falling in Love by Kerry Magro, himself on the spectrum, offers tips on how to have a relationship as—and with—an autistic person.
What are YOUR favorite autism resources?
Share ’em! Down there in the comments.
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