Writing Clara-Bear's Autism Diagnosis Story got me thinking. Our diagnosis experience was a negative one because we were waiting to be told what came next. We had a new ASD diagnosis, tons of unanswered questions, a reading list, and no clue what our first action step should be.

I've heard other parents express similar negative feelings about the follow up to their child's new Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger's diagnosis. I've also heard of more than one parent who has thrown him or herself into extensive research, then collapsed in depression because they didn't know how to pull it all together for their child.

Let's face it, the Internet and bookstores are flooded with information about the Autism Spectrum. Some parents just need to be nudged in the right direction to get started after their child is diagnosed with ASD or Asperger's. Others need step by step directions. Since the primary focus of Able2able... Your Special Needs Resource Directory, is to provide resources for families of Special Needs children I'd like to tap into the blogosphere to create a resource directory for parents new to Autism and Asperger's.

I'm asking Autism/Asperger's bloggers to share their personal experiences with their child's diagnosis and write a parent to parent advice post for their own blogs. I'll publish a resource directory here on able2able with links to the individual blogs and posts. This will give parents the opportunity to learn from a variety of experiences and not just ours. I'm also hoping that as parents read the different blogs, they might relate to a blogger's writing style or experiences and that blogger might become a resource for them.

Here's the details:

1. The subject is: advice for parents who have just learned their child has ASD or Asperger's. Title your post however you want and use your experiences to create action steps that you wish you knew when your child was first diagnosed.

2. Since the post will be part of a resource directory, please limit the post to the subject. If you share your child's diagnosis story or more detail about one of your suggestions, please do so in a separate post and then link to that in your tips post.

3. Your advice can be in the form of tips, resources, emotional support, or a combination. The post does not have to be bulleted, but please limit the post to 5 to 10 suggestions for parents trying to organize their approach and prioritize the many options out there.

4. If you suggest a book or a website, tell us why. Part of the problem with lists of books to read and information sites to visit is that an overwhelmed parent doesn't know what makes this resource stand out from all the others (remember those days?).

5. If possible, relate your tips and resources to where your child is on the Spectrum. If you include this in the title or first paragraph it will make our posts even more of a resource. This might also help parents decide if they want to follow your blog.

6. If you are an affiliate or distributor for nutritional supplements, books, or products you think parents should investigate, please include the usual FTC disclaimers.

7. You can submit a previously published post, as long as it is your experiences.

8. The directory will be in alphabetical order by blog name and post title. You can include a short description about your blog that will help readers relate (e.g. more than one child with Autism, Asperger's, you blog about siblings, your child's age, dual diagnosis, Daddy Blogger)

9. Feel free to share our directory on your blog (with backlinks).

10. I'd like to get the post up by the weekend, but if you are reading this after May 1st and are interested in joining the directory I can always add your link.

Email your post and blog description to me, or email me if you have any questions or suggestions!

5/2 The directory post is up:
Directory of Blogs with Tips for Individuals New to Autism or Asperger's

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