The Big Neurodiversity Resource List

Neuroclastic is an amazing free resource that offers insight into the autistic experience from autistic people. If you’re neurotypical or not autistic and looking to learn more about autism, what it’s like to be autistic, challenges faced by autistic people and how you can help, this site is a great place to start.

Their resource guide is robust and easy to navigate.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is run by autistic people, and their motto is “Nothing About Us Without Us.” This means that the autistic community needs to have a voice and be represented in discussions, decisions and laws are made about them.

This group offers insight into legislation that affects the autism community, ways to get involved to make a difference, and resources.

The National Autism Association‘s board of directors is comprised of parents of autistic people or people that are active in the promotion of advocacy. This group’s main focus is on safety, and offers training, resources for educators and caregivers, and tools for families at no cost. They are known for their Big Red Safety Box, which you’ll need to get on a mailing list to receive an alert when it’s back in stock.

The Autism Society has local chapters across the US that offer support (in-person and virtual) for caregivers and sponsor events for families with autistic members. Each local group has their own unique website (with links to local resources), and the directory is easy to navigate.

The resource section is robust and explains complicated subjects (like IEPs and financial planning) in easy-to-understand language.

The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida is somewhat of a classic and required reading for parents of autistic children. Higashida taught himself to communicate using a letter grid, and wrote this book when he was 13 using this method. This book offers insight into an autistic child’s experience that is eloquent and emotional. It opened my mind and changed my perspective about people that do not communicate by speaking out loud with their voice. It was one of the first books that I read, and I continue to go back to it. I believe this book made me a better parent and overall human being.

I Will Die On This Hill, coauthored by Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards, is a gold mine of information and resources. The unique perspectives of the authors (one is a non-autistic parent of autistic children, while the other is an Ojibwe autistic mother of autistic children) illustrate how important it is for neurotypical parents of autistic children and autistic adults to focus on their common goal of improving the lives and futures of autistic children instead of the differences between the two groups. I appreciated the diverse voices highlighted throughout the book, as well as the variety of resources that the reader can pursue for additional education. Check out my full book review!

While at the library on a Saturday morning, l saw this book while my son was taking every book about Egypt off the shelf. On a whim, I checked it out. I devoured A Different Kind of Normal in one day. While it’s targeted to pre-teens, this book is an insightful read for anyone. I loved the pictures throughout (the author likes cats, too!) and her honest, positive voice. This would be a good read for a child that’s trying to understand what autism is, or who is wondering if they are the only one who experiences life differently.

This might have been the first book I read after Eric received an autism diagnosis. I like this book as a starting point for parents that are new to autism and don’t know where to begin. It shifted my perspective and helped me consider what my child experiences and how I need to “un-learn” everything that I thought I knew about parenting to be the mom my son needed. Written by a mother, it is written with caring and compassion that helps you focus on your child, and what they may not be able to communicate to you. Ten Things has been updated and expanded, and I recommend it if your new to this world (and welcome!).

Dr. Barry Prizant is the author of Uniquely Human, and his simple, positive message for parents in this book is that autistic children are not broken. Dr. Prizant shares many anecdotes about his experiences in the field of autism research and therapies, many of which have stuck with me a year after reading this book. I found comfort in the message that there wasn’t anything wrong with my son, whereas the information that I was bombarded with told me that he needed to be fixed. I recommend that this is one of your first post-diagnosis reads, and offered to family members that don’t understand autism but are willing to learn.

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) offers a wealth of information, reasources and support for adults and children who experience ADHD. You’ll find educational content, online support groups, training classes, local chapters and more! I like that there’s a section for teachers (this is great for parents looking for some ideas to discuss for inclusion in their child’s IEP).

AACAP‘s ADHD resource center is a rich offering of information for parents that are trying to learn more about options for treatment and accommodations for their ADHD child. A couple pieces of content that I noted that were a bit unique were the medication guide, Facts for Families on specific topics/concerns, tools to find child psychiatrists near you, and a resource section.

ADDitude magazine’s website is one of my favorites for ADHD topics and practical advice. They offer information and strategies on topics that aren’t well-covered elsewhere, like health and nutrition, organizing (executive functioning) and schedules & routines.

I stumbled upon “The Explosive Child” by Ross W. Greene while I was lying in bed after a particularly challenging day, mining the depths of Google for insight on the challenges that had transpired. This book had great reviews, so I checked it out. Ohmygosh. Why had no one told me about this book sooner????? This is a gold mine! I felt like I was talking to a (psychologist) friend while I read it-easy to understand language and concepts, and I will admit that at one point I thought “Why haven’t I figured this out myself?”. I’ve never heard about the “lagging skills” point of view, but it made so much sense. I appreciated the two example families and their experiences woven throughout the book, and the Q and A at the end of each chapter. Greene has anticipated every. single. question. anyone could ask, and he has answers. I started using “Plan B”, and it’s working! Use this book, my friends!