Reliable information can be hard to come by sometimes when trying to understanding how the human body works. You are almost certainly not going to find accurate information in the news/social media. Even scientific journals run into trouble and find themselves having to retract published work for one reason or another. The blog Retraction Watch gives those interested in maintaining the integrity of scientific research the opportunity to keep an eye on what's going on in the research world.


If you're wondering what the relevancy of this is for the autism consider that a case of great significance to anyone with any connection to autism, that of the retraction of a paper by Wakefield, get's a mention in the blog's very first post about why the blog was started in the first place. Consider as well how much grief and angst in the autism community comes about because people don't seem to understand how the scientific process works. Retraction watch is a great opportunity to learn about the scientific process. When the latest news about the latest miracle treatment or the latest causation theory pops up in your news feed or inbox having spent some time studying how the scientific process actually works will help you evaluate said information.

When we think of social isolation in the context of autism spectrum disorders as parents we often worry about the social isolation our children may experience. We are concerned about the hurt we assume they will feel as a result of it. This spring I was dismayed when one of my teenagers missed out on a school dance. I was determined that he would not miss another opportunity to socialize with his peers. After all I know how much those opportunities to socialize meant to me when I was his age.

When the next school dance rolled around I made sure to have all my ducks in a row. I started with my husband first. You know that whole united front thing that parenting and relationship experts talk about. My husband’s response was something along the lines of, “Dance? Why would anyone want to waste time on something like that?” He then proceeded to retell the story of his parents writing notes to school to get him out of having to go to school dances. Something about being against their religion or some such. So much for united front.

I was having the conversation about the school dance with my son on my own. It was a very brief conversation.