The+Autism+Society

The website [|www.autism-society.org] has a plethora of information about autism. The site is organized into sections for family members of autistic people, individuals on the autism spectrum, professionals, and advocates. You can do anything from signing up for their newsletter to finding local resources. There is an option to donate money and sign-up for the national conference. They even have a blog that, among other things, answers questions written by site users.

The Autism Society website is developed by the organization The Autism Society. You may contact them through snail mail, email, phone, or directly through their website. The site does not have the credentials of the staff members; however, it does include background information, including credentials, of its board of directors. The members of the board of directors have both the qualifications and knowledge to be trustworthy.

The purpose of The Autism Society is clearly stated for all to read. It exists, “to improve the lives of all affected by autism.” The website is a venue by which to do this and provide information and resources. The domain name of the site was chosen based on the name of the organization. There are appropriate links, mostly government sites and sites of partners. There are also links to follow The Autism Society on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I feel the site is organized well. If you cannot find what you are looking for, there is also a site map and a search feature.

The website claims, “The Autism Society is the leading source of trusted and reliable information about autism.” It is a comprehensive site that provides its own information. There are links to outside sites that are relevant to everyone as well as links that are geared towards persons with autism and their families. After looking at other autism websites, I feel it is one of the top two most valuable websites available about autism.

The Autism Society re-launched its website in January of this year. Updates appear to be continuous, however, it is not directly stated. Some pages have dates when items were posted or revised, but it is not consistent throughout the website. The website is fully developed, but promises additional services in the near future. While searching the website, I was only able to find one link that was not reliable.

The information on autism-society.org about autism is not biased. It offers information and services without trying to sway or persuade you. However, information on their society itself is biased. They are aiming to make you believe they are the best grass-roots organization and want you to donate money. There is no advertising that conflicts with the society’s purpose. Overall, I think the objective portions far outweigh the subjective.

The author of the website is The Autism Society and provides reliable information. They have statistics and other factual information with listed sources. I did not find any errors in grammar, spelling or composition. There are bibliographies for some portions of the website, although there is no comprehensive bibliography.

The design of the site is very user friendly. You can access the site through links on the homepage, use the search function, or navigate via the site map. The only limitation of the site is how you access some information. You must join, which is free, and log in to have full access to all information on the site.

Overall, I would fully, without hesitation recommend this website to many types of people. People with autism, their family members, professionals, advocates, and people who just want more information on autism would find this site useful. It is written simply enough for almost anyone to understand. Among other things, you can access resources, become involved, or learn more about the autism spectrum.