Autism Information to Trust

More than a few parents of newly-diagnosed children–intimidated and exhausted in the face of so much, of too much, information–have asked me, “Where do I start? What has worked for your son?” The amount of information about autism–whether online, on websites, blogs, email discussion lists and more; in books and journals both scholarly and popular; in many other media sources–is simply staggering.  

The purpose of Autism Vox is to be an autism advocacy site, especially on issues of education and services throughout the lifespan of autistic persons. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, lists the following 10 Things To Know about Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web.

1. Who runs this site?
2. Who pays for the site?
3. What is the purpose of the site?
4. Where does the information come from?
5. What is the basis of the information?
6. How is the information selected?
7. How current is the information?
8. How does the site choose links to other sites?
9. What information about you does the site collect, and why?
10. How does the site manage interactions with visitors?

Here are my answers to these questions as they pertain to Autism Vox.

• 1. Who runs this site?
  Autism Vox is part of the b5media.com network. I am the mother of 9 year old Charlie, who has autism, and also hold a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Classics (ancient Greek and Latin literature). Ever since Charlie was diagnosed with autism in July 1999, I have been a full-time advocate for him to receive the best possible education and services. I currently am an Assistant Professor of Classics at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey. I have also taught at a number of other universities in the Midwest and the Northeast (including the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN), Williams College, Seton Hall University, and Princeton University), and have taught a number of college students who have had learning disabilities or who have been on the autism spectrum. I have been writing an autism blog, Autismland.com, about my son Charlie since June 2005; Autismland.com receives over 200 hits a day. I am also writing a book based on my blog.
• 2. Who pays for the site?
  Thus far, the b5media.com  network survives on revenue generated by Google ads and other affiliate programs. None of the information here at Autism Vox is bought or sold.
• 3. What is the purpose of the site?
  The purpose of Autism Vox is to advocate for the best education and services for autistic persons and especially for autistic teenagers and adults. The past decade has seen a huge increase in the number of autism diagnoses (1 in 166 children has an autism diagnosis today). While much attention has been given to Early Intervention services and to research on the aetiology of autism, much more can be given to issues facing autistic teenagers and adults across the lifespan. In addition, Autism Vox seeks to increase understanding and knowledge of autism for the general public.
• 4. Where does the information come from?
  My son Charlie and my experience as his mother for the past nine years are my basic sources of information about autism. I also regularly read articles (from both popular and scholarly sources) and books about autism; online news sources such as Google News and the Schafer Autism Report; autism parent email discussion lists; blogs by autistic adults and autism parents (which provide an inside and up-to-the minute perspective on life with autism). I am also in regular consultation with autism professionals (teachers, behaviorists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, neurologists, and many more) and attend autism conferences and lectures.
• 5. What is the basis of the information?
  Autism has been studied in the university since it was identified in the early 1940’s by the psychologist Leo Kanner at Johns Hopkins University. While there is a wealth of scholarly information on autism by professionals, one cannot understand what living with autism and as an autistic person is  without reading personal accounts by autistic adults and by autism families. That is, to be properly informed about autism, one must be well-versed in both scholarly literature and in these personalized accounts, whether these appear in books or on the internet. But the best way to understand autism is still, in many ways, to be or to live with an autistic person and I have been grateful to have had to become a sort of “autism expert” in raising my son Charlie.
• 6. How is the information selected?
  There are many, many websites and books that offer general information about autism and that promote a certain treatment. Autism Vox is specifically an educational advocacy website and I choose topics for posts that are either specifically about educational and school issues for autistic persons, or that address the autism education and understanding of the general public. I seek to make Autism Vox a unique voice for autism advocacy.
• 7. How current is the information?
  I read the above-mentioned sources (cited in #4) and write on Autism Vox everyday, so the blog’s information is as up-to-date as possible.
• 8. How does the site choose links to other sites?
  Autism Vox never links to any site that requests or pays for a link. The links I provide are only to other sites that I respect or that contain relevant information.

  I have no influence over the Google ads that appear on the blog based on Autism Vox’s content. I occasionally include a link to a book at Amazon.com for the convenience of a reader. I never write anything on Autism Vox with the intent of making money.

• 9. What information about you does the site collect, and why?
  b5media.com never sells or rents the private details of any readers to anyone.
• 10. How does the site manage interactions with visitors?
  I greatly welcome comments from visitors, and always learn a great deal from the views of others. I am open to hearing from all points of view in regard to autism and will always respond with the utmost respect. If you would like to contact me privately, please e-mail me at kristina@b5media.com with the subject Autism Vox (so your e-mail will not be treated as spam).

I hope that these answers will increase your trust and confidence in Autism Vox.