Autism Support Network listed in top 30 Facebook Fan pages, 2012

Autism Awareness Month, celebrated every April, offers a chance for the world to stop and consider the gifts and challenges autism can present. But for parents raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder, autism is something to be carefully considered each and every day, all year long. Tracking down the right diagnosis and the best treatments, staying up-to-date on current research, and finding the most effective ways to advocate for your child can feel like a full-time job. And it can be difficult to keep things in perspective and find other parents with whom to swap stories and strategies and find support. That's why more and more parents with children on the spectrum are turning to Facebook fan pages to stay informed about autism and Asperger's and find communities that extend far beyond their own hometowns. This year Babble’s trusted panelists — all parents of kids on the spectrum — have rounded up 30 of the best Facebook pages for families going through similar experiences.

Check out ASN's listing on Babble here

What You Can Do When Faced With Autism

By Dr. Connie Mariano (EmpowHER) April 16, 2012

Dr. Connie Mariano: You are not alone. There is help available for autism. I'm Dr. Connie Mariano, Chief Clinical Officer with EmpowHER, with what you can do about autism.

Dealing with an autistic child can be overwhelming. The Mayo Clinic offers these tips...

Start by connecting with other parents of autistic children. Approximately one percent of all kids are autistic, so you are not alone, and you can find free support at the Autism Support Network.

Make sure to take the time to find the right team to work with your autistic child. Teachers, doctor, and therapists can make a huge impact on your son or daughter.

The Autism Society is another great resource and can help you get started, if you need some direction make sure to get your information on autism from reliable sources. There's a lot of information out there on autism, some of it good, some bad.

Again, the Autism Support Network and autism society are great resources for information.

Finally, parents, make sure to find some time for yourselves. This disorder can overwhelm not only your child, but your relationships too. You should never feel guilty about getting some much needed down time.

I'm Dr. Connie Mariano with EmpowHER, with what you can do about autism.

Autism Support Network celebrates second anniversary, supports global audience from over 200 countries

October 11, 2010 (Fairfield, CT) – Autism Support Network (ASN) today announced its second anniversary of providing a full suite of free services available at www.AutismSupportNetwork.com. One of the leading autism support communities available online, ASN connects families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, provides support and insight, and acts as a resource guide for autism treatments and therapies, news and information, services, grants, and strategies.

“Since our launch two years ago, we’ve seen tremendous growth tied to the explosion of need for those whose lives are affected by autism,” said Brian Field, co-founder of Autism Support Network. “Our members come from virtually every country in the world, clearly indicating the global impact of autism today. With our professional and peer-based resources -- combined with our multilingual capacity -- we continue to serve as a source of information and comfort for those whose lives are touched by autism.”

Autism Support Network has a roster of partners both in the United States and internationally, including: Autism Hangout; Aid for Autistic Children, Inc; Parenting Special Needs Magazine; Spectrum Magazine; Beijing Stars and Rain; Autism South Africa; Hagar International; and the Israeli Society for Autistic Children.

Today 1 in 110 children is diagnosed with autism, with a new case diagnosed every 20 minutes and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

Autism Support Network & Autism Hangout band together, guide those touched by autism

(Fairfield, CT / Rosemount, MN) August 31, 2010 – Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) and Autism Hangout (www.AutismHangout.com) today announced a content sharing agreement to further spread practical assistance to those whose lives are touched by autism.

Autism Hangout was founded by Craig Evans, who is the step-father of a child with autism. The site has four core sections including: News and Reports, featuring over 300 video interviews with autism thought-leaders discussing key issues as well as how to meet daily challenges in order to “thrive with autism”; Community, with a discussion forum and member-posted blogs; an Education Section, offering video curriculum developed by autism experts including Donna Williams and Rudy Simone; and a Resources section of member-posted product and service reviews.

“Craig and the people at Autism Hangout are completely in tune with our mission and are creating content that is of great practical benefit,” said Brian Field, co-founder of the Autism Support Network. “We see them as kindred spirits in the ongoing effort to provide insights and support to those parents, professionals and those with autism. Through broadening the distribution of each other’s content, we hope to build a greater communal base of knowledge, strategies and directions to help those whose lives are touched by autism.”

“For those of us living with autism there’s a great need for answers to the day-to-day challenges,” stated Craig Evans, founder of Autism Hangout. “Finding a partner like Autism Support Network that understands this and is devoted to the common goal of helping our loved ones with autism not just survive, but to thrive, is key to us. In helping further this goal through cross promoting each other’s content, we hope to make our collective voice stronger and reach more who can benefit from the help we provide.”

Today 1 in 110 children is diagnosed with autism, with a new case diagnosed every 20 minutes and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.

About Autism Support Network
Autism Support Network (www.AutismSupportNetwork.com) is a free global online community – with members from over 212 countries – connecting families and individuals touched by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with each other, providing support and insight, and serving as a resource guide for treatments, strategies and therapies.

About Autism Hangout
Autism hangout (www.AutismHangout.com) provides the autism community with an online resource that compiles news, knowledge and personal experiences on how best to thrive with autism.