February 2006

General Resources

Introduction

This knowledge path about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has been compiled by the Maternal and Child Health Library at Georgetown University. It offers a selection of current, high-quality resources about ASD identification and intervention, and it includes resources about biomedical research into the causes of ASD; resources that address the communication, education, and vocational challenges of autism; and resources about autism's impact on family life. Separate sections identify resources about autism and environmental health research as well as those that address concerns about vaccines. This knowledge path for health professionals, educators, researchers, policymakers, and families will be updated periodically.

Please note: The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) uses the term "autism spectrum disorders" to refer to a group of disorders that include autistic disorder (also called classic autism), Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (also called atypical autism). However, the term "autism" is frequently used in the literature to describe all of the disorders in the ASD spectrum and therefore appears often below, following the usage of the source cited. Please see NICHD's Autism overview: What we know (2005) for a description of autism. This booklet is also available in Spanish.

Related topics: Please see our knowledge paths about children and adolescents with special health care needs, locating community-based services to support children and families, and children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges.

Web Sites: A-Z

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs. Offers resources for health professionals and families about autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Includes links to resources about developmental screening, early intervention, and a glossary of terms. Recent resources include

  Autism A.L.A.R.M. (2004). This fact sheet provides health professionals with general guidelines on developmental screening for children, the prevalence of autism, the importance of listening to parents, and tips about identification and intervention.

  Understanding autism spectrum disorders (ASD). (2006).

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Offers position statements, reports, and program and conference information about ASD for families and speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
  
  
• Autism Research Institute (ARI). Offers information for families and health professionals about the causes of autism and about methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating it. Includes information about Defeat Autism Now! (DAN), a project that trains health professionals about the diagnosis and treatment of autism, and a contact list of health professionals that provide DAN!-based interventions. Resources include conference information, a publications list, and subscription information for ARI's quarterly newsletter that covers medical and educational advances in autism research.
  
  
• Autism Society of America (ASA). Describes the signs of ASD and provides information for families about its diagnosis, treatment and education approaches, and impact on family life. Includes an online directory of local resources and an online tutorial. Also includes a Spanish-language resources section.
  
  
• Autism Speaks. Contains funding, research, and legislative information about ASD. Autism Speaks facilitates research that will uncover the causes of autism, develop effective biomedical treatments, and hasten the discovery of a cure for ASD. Autism Speaks recently merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR).
  
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Autism Information Center. Offers information in English and Spanish for families, health professionals, and researchers about ASD. Describes CDC's autism surveillance activities and links to related reports and journal article citations. Offers information about and links to CDC-funded projects in several states that track the number of children who have ASD; conduct studies to find out what factors make it more likely that a child will have ASD; and offer education and outreach programs for researchers, families, and other people affected by ASD. Also describes and links to other federal activities focusing on autism. The Autism Information Center is part of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). Related initiatives include

  Learn the Signs. Act Early. Provides fact sheets for families with developmental milestones from birth to age 5 years that include a list of signs that could indicate a developmental problem such as autism.

• Cure Autism Now (CAN) Foundation. Includes information about autism research initiatives, legislative activities, conferences, funding opportunities, local chapter contacts, and resources for autism diagnosis, treatment, and coping. CAN is an organization of parents, health professionals, and researchers that supports autism-related research, education, and outreach. CAN sponsors the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE).
  
  
• Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online (dbpeds.org). Contains screening tools, articles, research news, program and conference information, online discussion groups, handouts for families, and other resources for health professionals to promote better care and outcomes for children, adolescents, and families affected by developmental, learning, and behavioral problems, including ASD. dbpeds.org is funded by the Commonwealth Fund.
  
  
• First Signs. Offers information to health professionals, educators, and families about the importance of early detection and intervention of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental and behavioral disorders. Lists key social, emotional, and communication milestones for young children (birth to age three) and describes critical warning signs for when a child is at risk for developmental delays and disorders. Resources include an educational videotape, a developmental milestones wall chart, validated screening tools, screening guidelines, an early intervention referral guide, and brochures for families. First Signs is a national, nonprofit organization that aims to improve screening and referral practices and to lower the age at which young children are identified with autism and other developmental disorders.
  
  
• Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA). Offers a collection of articles for families on a wide range of topics related to ASD, including diagnostic criteria, assessment processes, behavior, sensory programming, education, communication, and family support. Also provides conference information and contacts for services in Indiana along with a few national resources. IRCA is supported by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.
  
  
• MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Provides information to families of individuals within the autism spectrum who do not experience severe cognitive disabilities. Includes conference information, a newsletter, and a directory of local, state, and international professional and parent support groups. MAAP is a global nonprofit family support network.
  
  
• MedlinePlus: Autism. Contains a list in English and Spanish of authoritative health information sources about autism for consumers and health professionals. Includes links to overview articles and information about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, therapy, coping, clinical trials, genetics, research, and organizations that focus on the topic. Also links to local service providers for autism in several states, to an automatic search in PubMed, and to a MedlinePlus page about Asperger's syndrome. MedlinePlus is a health information service of the National Library of Medicine.
  
  
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). Provides a wealth of resources for families, educators, and other professionals on disabilities and disability-related issues that include specific disabilities such as ASD and more general topics such as early intervention, special education and related services, individualized education programs, family issues, education rights, and transition to adult life. State resource sheets list up-to-date contact information for state agencies and organizations, disability-specific organizations, parent groups and parent training and information centers, and other organizations within each state that address disability-related issues. Materials are available in English and Spanish. NICHCY is funded by the Department of Education (ED). Autism resources include

  NICHCY connections ... to autism resources. (2004). This guide lists autism resources under the following categories: research, education, Spanish-language materials, and additional resources. It links to related guides about the other disorders within the autism spectrum.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH). Supports initiatives and resources about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that include

  Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program. This research program focuses on finding the causes of autism and identifying new treatments for the disorder. ACE represents a consolidation of two existing programs, Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment (STAART) and Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism (CPEA), into a single research effort.

  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Offers publications about autism and its symptoms, causes, and treatment; vaccines; the role of genetics; and programs funded by NICHD, including the National Children's Study. Many of these materials are available in both English and Spanish. Recent publications include

  • Autism and genes. (2005). Also available in Spanish.
    
    
  • Autism overview: What we know. (2005). Also available in Spanish.

  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Autism Spectrum Disorders. Contains information about ASD and links to resources about research efforts. Resources and initiatives include

  • Autism spectrum disorders (pervasive developmental disorders). (2004). This booklet describes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of ASD with information about getting help and coping.
    
    
  • Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Offers reports and information about the activities of this committee that meets biannually to facilitate the exchange of information about autism activities, programs, policies, and research among the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), several nonprofit organizations, and families.

  National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Offers a booklet for oral health professionals called Practical oral care for people with autism. (2004).National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): Autism Information Page. Offers information in English and Spanish about autism and common signs of the condition, diagnosis, causes, treatment, and additional resources. Also links to similar resource pages about pervasive developmental disorders and Asperger syndrome. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Offers information in English and Spanish about autism and communication.

  Also see the following NIH-supported resources: Center for Childhood Neurotoxicology and Exposure Assessment, Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCEH), ClinicalTrials.gov, Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP), MedlinePlus, OMIM™ Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man™, PubMed, and Szpir (2006).

• National Mental Health Information Center. Offers resources about child and adolescent mental health, including publications and program information that are aimed at health professionals, educators, policymakers, parents, children, and adolescents. Topics range from cognitive disabilities to financing and systems of care. Includes a fact sheet about children and adolescents with autism and a series of monographs about promising practices in children's mental health. The center is a service of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), which leads federal efforts to treat mental illnesses by promoting mental health and by preventing or minimizing mental illness when possible. CMHS is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
  
  
• Organization for Autism Research (OAR). Offers resources and funding information for families, educators, and health professionals about the communication, education, and vocational challenges of individuals with autism. OAR is a national nonprofit organization focused on applied research into the challenges of living with autism. In addition to OAR's monthly electronic newsletter, recent publications include

  Life journey through autism: An educator's guide. (2004).

  Life journey through autism: A parent's guide to research. (2003).

• Professional Development in Autism Center (PDA). Offers articles, online courses, and links to additional information about ASD and special education. The PDA Center has six sites located around the country that provide training and support for school districts, families, and communities to ensure that students with ASD have access to high quality, evidence-based educational services in his or her local school district.
  
  
• Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic. Offers information about research studies, conferences, and publications about ASD. Includes answers to frequently asked questions by parents and contact information for clinics, support groups, professionals, summer camps, and computer-based learning.
  

  
  

Additional Electronic Publications

• Anderson Center for Dental Care. [n.d.]. Healthy smiles for children with autism. San Diego, CA: Children's Hospital and Health Center. This tip sheet provides information on how to prevent early childhood caries in children with autism. Also available in Spanish.
  
  
• Brookings Institution, Help Group. 2006. Autism and hope. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution. This report summarizes the presentations of an autism policy conference held at the Brookings Institution on December 16, 2005. The report describes the nature and prevalence of autism, the effectiveness of intensive early intervention regimens, and the limited availability and expense of such interventions.
  
  
• DuCharme RW, McGrady KA. 2005. Treatment and prevention of dysfunctional behavior in adolescents diagnosed within the category of pervasive developmental delay. Brooklyn, CT: The Learning Clinic, Inc. This chapter is an excerpt from: Adams G, Gullotta TP, eds. 2005. Handbook of adolescent behavioral problems: Evidenced-based approaches to prevention and treatment. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
  
  
• Government Accountability Office (GAO). 2005. Special education: Children with autism. Report to the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives. Washington, DC: Government Accountability Office. This report describes the trend in the number of children diagnosed with autism served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the services provided to these children, the estimated per-pupil expenditures for educating children with autism, and approaches to their education.
  
  
• National Research Council, Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism. 2001. Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. This book outlines an interdisciplinary approach to education for children with autism. The committee explores what makes education effective for the child with autism and identifies specific characteristics of programs that work.
  
  
• Ralabate P, ed. 2006. Puzzle of autism. Washington, DC: National Education Association (NEA). This guide explains the common features of autism and suggests effective classroom strategies for improving communication, sensory, social, and behavioral skills.
  
  
• Robinson V. 2005. InFocus: Autistic child. Washington, DC: Center for Health and Health Care in Schools. This issue brief provides information about autism and its impact on families, schools, and health care.
  
  
• University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. 2005. Collaborating for effective health systems for children with autism spectrum disorders in New Mexico. Princeton, NJ: Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS). This set of publications contains an action plan, policy brief, and summary of findings and recommendations. The materials were developed by a workgroup that was convened to identify the appropriate mix of services for children with ASD and to determine how to finance these services within New Mexico's Medicaid managed care program. The materials were distributed to state officials to garner support for enhancing programs for children with ASD.
  

  
  

Print Publications

• Attwood T. 1998. Asperger's syndrome: A guide for parents and professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Bogdashina O. 2005. Communication issues in autism and Asperger syndrome: Do we speak the same language? Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Boushéy A. 2004. Parent to parent: Information and inspiration for parents dealing with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Bruey CT. 2004. Demystifying autism spectrum disorders: A guide to diagnosis for parents and professionals. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• DuCharme RW, Gullotta TP, eds. 2004. Asperger syndrome: A guide for professionals and families. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. See publisher's description and ordering information.
  
  
• Exkorn KS. 2005. Autism sourcebook: Everything you need to know about diagnosis, treatment, coping, and healing. New York: Regan Books. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Ghaziuddin M. 2005. Mental health aspects of autism and Asperger syndrome. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Howlin P. 2004. Autism and Asperger syndrome: Preparing for adulthood, 2nd ed. London, UK: Routledge. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Leventhal-Belfer L, Coe C. 2004. Asperger syndrome in young children: A developmental approach for parents and professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Little Friends Center for Autism. 2005. Visual training systems catalog. Naperville, IL: Little Friends, Inc. See publisher's description and ordering information for this collection of visual aides designed to teach individuals with autism new life skills.
  
  
• McAfee J. 2002. Navigating the social world: A curriculum for individuals with Asperger's syndrome, high functioning autism and related disorders. Arlington, TX: Future Horizons, Inc. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Molloy H, Vasil L. 2004. Asperger syndrome, adolescence, and identity: Looking beyond the label. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Neisworth JT, Wolfe PS, eds. 2005. Autism encyclopedia. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Ryaskin OT, ed. 2004. Focus on autism research. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Biomedical Books. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Silver K. 2005. Assessing and developing communication and thinking skills in people with autism and communication difficulties: A toolkit for parents and professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Stoddart KP, ed. 2004. Children, youth and adults with Asperger syndrome: Integrating multiple perspectives. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Szatmari P. 2004. A mind apart: Understanding children with autism and Asperger syndrome. New York, NY: Guilford Press. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Volkmar FR. Paul R, Klin A, Cohen DJ, eds. 2005. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders, 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  
  
• Wiseman ND. 2006. Could it be autism? A parent's guide to the first signs and next steps. New York, NY: Broadway Books. See publisher's description and ordering information.
  
  
• Zager D, ed. 2005. Autism spectrum disorders: Identification, education, and treatment, 3rd ed. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. See publisher's description and ordering information for the book.
  

  
  

Databases

The databases listed below are excellent tools for identifying data, additional literature and research, and programs addressing ASD. Many of the entries below contain tips on how to use the databases efficiently. Please note that databases vary in how terms should be entered; for example, some require quotation marks and others don't. Enter search phrases as shown in bold below.

Data

• Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE). Describes this effort to advance genetic research in autism by obtaining blood samples and clinical data from families that have two or more children diagnosed with autism, pervasive development disorder, or Asperger's syndrome. Data are freely available for analysis by members of the scientific community. This effort is sponsored by Cure Autism Now (CAN) Foundation.

Literature and Research

• ClinicalTrials.gov. Provides access to information about clinical research studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including ASD. Included are a summary of the study purpose, recruiting status, patient participation criteria, trial location, and contact information. To identify studies on the topic, enter Asperger Syndrome OR Autistic Disorder in the search field. ClinicalTrials.gov is a service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was developed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
  
  
• Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Presents systematic reviews of health care interventions internationally. For reviews about ASD, see the topic, Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems. Access to the full-text article requires a subscription that is available in many hospital and university health sciences libraries. The database is published by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international nonprofit organization based in the United Kingdom.
  
  
• Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP). Contains information about federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. Search CRISP to identify scientific concepts, emerging trends and techniques, or specific projects and/or investigators. Type autism asperger in the search term box of the Query Form. and click on Submit Query to get your results. The database is maintained by the Office of Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  
  
• Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE). Contains summaries of systematic reviews that have met strict quality criteria. Included reviews must be about the effects of interventions. Each summary also provides a critical commentary on the quality of the review. Search the database by typing autism asperger in the search box and clicking on the button for Any of these words. Click on Search to get your results. DARE is produced and maintained by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York.
  
  
• Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) Database. Covers all aspects of education-related issues through journal articles, conference proceedings, papers, speeches, research reports, teaching guides, curricula, and books. To identify many items about ASD, click on Advanced Search. Under Search for: Keywords, type autism. In the next row, select Or and type "asperger syndrome". To limit your search, add keywords using the Eric Thesaurus and/or scroll down farther on the search form to select Publication Date, and/or Publication Type. Click on the Search button to get your results. ERIC is the information database of the Department of Education (ED).
  
  
• Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University. Maintains several databases to collect, manage, and disseminate knowledge about maternal and child health (MCH), with special emphasis on knowledge gained from initiatives and programs supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB). The library's bibliographic database is

  MCHLine®. Comprises an online catalog of materials in the Maternal and Child Health Library with several items about ASD. To identify them, type autism in the keyword field of the database search form.

  Also see the library's organizations database.

• National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). Contains evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and related materials for health professionals. Identify guidelines about ASD by entering autism in the Search field. The database is an initiative of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
  
  
• OMIM™ Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man™. Comprises an online catalog of textual information and references about human genes and genetic disorders. Also offers links to the National Center for Biotechnology Information's Entrez database of MEDLINE articles and sequence information. Type autism in the search box. OMIM™ is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
  
  
• PubMed. Contains over 17 million citations for biomedical articles that date back to the 1950s. These citations are from MEDLINE and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full-text articles and other related resources. To identify many articles about ASD, enter the phrase autistic disorder OR asperger syndrome in the search box. Then, click on Limits and make the following selections on the page: select a date (e.g. Published in the last 2 years); click on Languages: English; and select Tag Terms: MeSH Major Topic. Selecting Type of Article and/or adding additional search terms (e.g., (autistic disorder OR asperger syndrome) AND social behavior ) will further limit the search. Use MeSH to identify additional search terms. PubMed is a service of the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
  
  
• See also TalkAutism.

Programs

• Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University. The library's organizations database is

  MCH Organizations Database. Lists over 2,000 government, professional, and voluntary organizations involved in MCH activities, primarily at a national level. To identify autism-related organizations, type autism in the simple search field of the database search form. Conduct another search using the term asperger to identify organizations that focus on asperger syndrome.

• TalkAutism. Offers a communications network to facilitate resource-sharing among organizations, health professionals, and families dealing with autism. Databases include

  resourceFind. Offers an online resource directory for families to locate professionals, services, products, and information related to autism. virtualSpeaker. Contains a collection of online videotapes, presentations, and informative chats for parents and health professionals about autism diagnosis, treatment, and coping.

  
  

Electronic Newsletters and Online Discussion Groups

• Autism and PPD Support Network. Offers a series of online discussion groups for families affected by ASD. Topics include parenting, education, financial and legal resources, treatment, and conferences and events.
  
  
• Dbpeds.org Discussion Forums. Hosts online discussion groups to support subspecialty and primary care pediatrics practice. One group focuses on development and behavior issues in primary care, with an emphasis on identification, management, and referral issues. Another group focuses on professional education, with an emphasis on pediatric resident training. Membership is open to health professionals who care for children with developmental and behavioral problems.
  
  
• Family Village Coffee Shop. Lists many online communication opportunities for individuals with special health care needs and their families via disability-related mailing lists, discussion boards, family Web sites, and parent-to-parent and sibling-to-sibling matching programs.
  
  
• helpWanted. This message board, maintained by TalkAutism, serves as a forum for families seeking information about autism-related services and support.
  
  
• OARcle. This monthly electronic newsletter for families reports on recently released research and resources about autism. It is published by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR).
  

  
  

Special TopicsEnvironmental Health Research About Autism

• Center for Childhood Neurotoxicology and Exposure Assessment. Contains information about the center's research to determine the influences of environmental exposure to neurotoxicants on child neurological health and development with special emphasis on autism and related disabilities. The center is located at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, a jointly sponsored program of Rutgers University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
  
  
• Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCEH). Provides program information about this multidisciplinary collaborative research center established to examine how toxic chemicals may influence the development of autism in children. CCEH is located at University of California, Davis.
  
  
• Institute of Medicine (IOM), Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders. 2008. Autism and the environment: Challenges and opportunities for research. Workshop proceedings. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
  
  
• National Children's Study. Contains information about this study to examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of more than 100,000 children and adolescents across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. Researchers plan to examine such factors as the food children eat, the air they breathe, their schools and neighborhoods, their frequency of visits to a health professional, and even the composition of the dust in their homes. Study scientists also plan to gather biological samples from both parents and children and to analyze them for exposure to environmental factors. The study is seeking information to improve the prevention and treatment of such health problems as autism, birth defects, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The study plan released in 2004 outlines the objectives, methodologies, and measures related to the first years of the 21-year study and identifies the 96 study locations across the United States. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and a consortium of federal agencies are conducting the study.
  
  
• Szpir M. 2006. Tracing the origins of autism: A spectrum of new studies. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
  

  
  

Concerns About Vaccines

• Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER): Thimerosal in Vaccines. Describes use of thimerosal as a preservative in some vaccines and the potential relationship between autism and thimerosal. CBER is part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  
  
• Childhood Immunization Support Program (CISP): Vaccine Safety. Offers fact sheets and patient education materials about the general safety of vaccines, thimerosal and vaccines, and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. CISP is a service of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  
  
• National Immunization Program (NIP): Vaccines and Autism Theory. Offers general information and descriptions of research about vaccines and autism. Information is also available in Spanish. NIP is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  
  
• National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Provides information about vaccines and immunization to health professionals, the media, and consumers. Includes general information and a synopses of articles from the scientific, peer-reviewed literature related to thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. NNii is affiliated with several professional medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  
  
• An important publication about vaccines and autism is

  Institute of Medicine (IOM), Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 2004. Immunization safety review: Vaccines and autism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. This eighth and final report of the Immunization Safety Review Committee examines the hypothesis that vaccines, specifically the MMR vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines, are causally associated with autism. The board rejected a causal relationship between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism.

  
  

Author: Susan Brune Lorenzo, M.L.S., Maternal and Child Health Library.
Reviewers: Olivia K. Pickett, M.A., M.L.S., Maternal and Child Health Library; Audrey Yowell, Ph.D., Maternal and Child Health Bureau