Individuals with autism are a heterogeneous group with developmental disabilities that are difficult to pinpoint because their origin are unknown. The federal definition in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that autism is a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction, usually evident before age three, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movement, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routine, and unusual responses to sensory experiences. The following resources will help you explore this topic.

Books Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

• Hunt, N., & Marshall, K. (1999). Exceptional Children and Youth (2^nd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 371, 377-381.
• Kirk, S.A., Gallagher, J.J. & Anastasiow, N.J. (2000). Educating Exceptional Children (9^th ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 444-448.
• Lerner, J. (2000). Learning disabilities: Theories, Diagnosis, and Teaching Strategies. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, p.46
• Ysseldyke, J.E., Algozzine, B., & Thurlow, M.L. (2000) Critical issues in special education (3^rd ed.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 72.

Books Published by Other Companies

• Harris, S.L., & Weiss, M.J. (1998). Right from the start: Behavioral intervention for young children with autism - a guide for parents and professionals. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House
• Koegel, R.L. & Koegel, L.K. (Eds.). (1995) Teaching children with autism: Strategies for initiating positive interactions and improving learning opportunities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks.
• Matson, J.L. (Ed.). Autism in children and adults: Etiology, assessment and intervention. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
• Mesibov, G.B., Adams, L.W., & Klinger, L.G. (1998). Autism: Understanding the disorder. Plenum Publishing Corporation.
• Schopler, E., Mesibov, B.G., Kunce, L.J. (Eds.) (1998). Asperger Syndrome or High-functioning autism? Plenum Publishing Corporation.
• Williams, D. (1992). Nobody nowhere: The extraordinary autobiography of an autistic. New York: Times Books/Random House.

Journals

• Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice
• Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
• Focus on Autistic Behavior
• Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• The Advocate

Fact Sheet

• Autism Society of America: Fact Sheet Number 1 -- http://members.spree.com/autism/autism1.htm
• National Information Center on Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) Fact Sheet -- http://nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs1txt.htm

Web site Resources

• Autism Resources -- http://www.autism-info.com/
• Autism Society of America -- http://www.autism-society.org
• Center for the Study of Autism -- http://www.autism.org/
• On the Same Page -- http://amug.org/~a203/table_contents.html
• The Federal Resource Center for Special Education (Autism) -- http://www.dssc.org/frc/index.htm

Popular Movies

• Rainman. (1989) United Artists

Videos

• A is for autism (Films for Humanities and Sciences)
• Autism (1992) http://www.aquariusproductions.com/
• Autism: A strange, silent world (Filmakers Library)
• Autism: Reaching the child within (PBS Video)
• Behavioral Treatment of autistic children (Focus International)
• Breakthroughs: How to reach students with Autism (1998) http://www.aquariusproductions.com/
• Come back Jack (1999) http://www.aquariusproductions.com/
• Five severely autistic students -- before and after education and treatment (Behavior Research Institute)
• Introduction to Autism (Indiana Resource Center for Autism)
• Understanding Autism (Fanlight Productions)

Online Resource Documents

• Autism: An overview: -- http://www.healing-arts.org/children/autism-overview.htm
• Autism primer: Twenty questions and answers -- http://www.unc.edu/depts/teacch/20ques.htm
• Behavior Modification: An overview -- http://members.spree.com/autism/autism4.htm
• Nutritional Interventions in Autism -- http://members.spree.com/autism/autism6.htm
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders: Autistic Disorder -- http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~bordner/ani/dsm4-autism.html
• Learning Styles and Autism -- http://www.autism.org/styles.html
• Social Behavior in Autism -- http://www.autism.org/social.html
• What is Autism? -- http://www.autism-society.org/autism.html#causes