A Very Necessary Book

Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Carol Greenburg
Jennifer Byde Myers

Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Shannon Des Roches Rosa writes about autism, parenting, evidence-based approaches, iPads, and geekery at www.Squidalicious.com, as BlogHer.com's contributing editor for parenting kids with special needs, and as a cofounder and Senior Editor of The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. Her writing and interviews have also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Parents Magazine. She, her handsome husband, and their three capricious children live near San Francisco

Carol Greenburg
Carol Greenburg, executive director of Brooklyn Special Needs Consulting, is a special education consultant and lay advocate in private practice serving the five boroughs of NYC and beyond. Her unique perspective as an adult with Aspergers Syndrome and as the mother of a severely languagedelayed autistic child, informs all of her work. A frequent speaker at National Conferences and area universities, parent support groups and community based organizations, she is a member in good standing of Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Carol lives in Brooklyn with two humans: her magnificent husband and son, as well as two cats.

Jennifer Byde Myers

Jennifer Byde Myers is a writer, editor, and parent of a child with autism. She has been writing since 2003 at www.jennyalice.com, chronicling her familys journey from diagnosis to daily living with her sons special needs. She is a founder and editor of The Thinking Persons Guide to Autism. Her writing has been featured at Salon.com, Autism Speaks, Care.com, and in several books including My Baby Rides the Short Bus. She is a regular contributor at Dandelion and lives on the San Francisco peninsula with her supportive husband, two wily children, and a dog named Gus.

Why Create TPGA?

The resource we wish we'd had when autism first became part of our lives One-stop source for carefully curated, evidence-based information Veteran and expert perspectives from autism parents, autistics, and autism professionals

Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Five Editors
Carol Greenburg: Self-Advocate, autism parent, professional advocate Jennifer Byde Myers: Co-founder, writer, autism parent Shannon Des Roches Rosa: Co-founder, writer, autism parent Emily Willingham: Science Editor, autism parent Liz Ditz: co-founder, educational advocate
Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Project Goals
Positive role modeling: get past stereotypes, misinformation, negativity Clear, thoughtfully presented, balanced, referenced information Promote autism acceptance: not merely noble but necessary attitude Promote rights to medical, legal, social, educational accommodation
Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Evaluating misinformation and pseudoscience

Does this practitioner or vendor promise miracles that no one else seems to achieve? Is the person promising the outcome also asking for money? Is there any scientific research supporting their claims beyond individual testimonials? Does the practitioner or vendor promise a blanket cure for unrelated disorders? Does the practitioner or vendor have strong credentials as an expert in the therapies theyre promising, or in the field of autism?

Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Thinking Critically
One of the most important actions we can take Embrace the best, fact-based autism approaches and attitudes Critical attitude: I love someone with autism and not I love someone with autism but Critical, primary voices: Autistics themselves

Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Self-advocacy is for everyone

Carol Greenburg

Type of advocacy depends on your goals

Carol Greenburg

Think Rights. Talk Responsibilities.

Carol Greenburg

Best advocacy works for everyone involved

Carol Greenburg

Fostering Community

Parents, Adults, Professionals

Online and Offline
Jennifer Byde Myers

Knowledge is Power

Setting up for success with service providers

Jennifer Byde Myers

Take the best path

Learn from those who have come before you

Jennifer Byde Myers

Where to find more info

www.thinkingautismguide.com
facebook.com/thinkingpersonsguidetoautism

@thinkingautism
Jennifer Byde Myers