Part I
• What is Autism?
• What are the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)? 
• What is Asperger’s Syndrome?
• How can you tell Autism from Asperger’s Syndrome?
• What is Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)?
• What is Rett Syndrome?
• What is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder?
• What is the prognosis of children with Autism?
• Are there other diseases that have the same symptoms of autism? 
• Do autistic children commonly suffer from other illnesses?
• Is there an association between autism and Tourette’s syndrome? 
• I have heard that the symptoms of autism are exaggerated and incorrectly portrayed in the media. What are some of the common myths about autism?

Part II
• Are there risk factors for Autism?
• What are some of the symptoms of Autism a Parent should look for?
• How do doctors diagnose children with Autism?
• What are Screening Tools for Autism?
• What are some of the more common autism screening tools that are used today?
• What medical tests should the doctor perform when making a diagnosis of Autism?
• What is a multidisciplinary team and how do they help to diagnose an autistic child?
• Are their tests that are not recommended for the diagnosis or management of autism?
• Can I wait to have my child tested for Autism?

Part III
• Is there truth to the claim that the number of children with autism has been increasing ever since the MMR vaccine has been in use?
• Is there a link between MMR Vaccine and the development of Autism?
• What have studies found regarding MMR vaccine and autism?
• What should a parent do about childhood immunizations?
• Is mercury exposure dangerous?
• Does Thimerosal cause autism? 

Part IV
• How will I know if a new therapy is right from my child? 
• What is Applied Behavioral Analysis?
• What is Sensory Integration therapy?
• What is TEACCH?
• I’ve heard of an educational model called Floor Time.  What is it?
• Facilitated Communication
• What is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)?
• Are there other therapies that are useful in treatment of behavioral symptoms in Autistic children?

Part V
• Are medications useful in treating the behavioral problems of Autistic children?
• What types of medications are used to treat autistic children?
• Is there anything I should do before giving my child a medication?
• Are antipsychotic medications helpful in the treatment of autism?
• I’ve heard that anti-seizure medication can be helpful in treating some behavior problems associated with autism.  Is that true?
• How are Anxiety and depression treated in an autistic person?
• What medications are used to treat seizures in autistic children?
• What are some treatments for involuntary movements, vocalizations and Tourette’s Syndrome associated with Autism?

Part VI
•  Is there any harm in trying unproven treatments on my child?
• Are dietary interventions helpful to autistic children? 
• What are some common dietary interventions used to treat Autism?
• Is Secretin helpful in treating the symptoms of Autism?
• Is Naltrexone helpful in treating autism?
• What is chelation therapy?
• Can chelation therapy help my autistic child?

Part VII
• How long does it take for Social Security to determine if my child is disabled
• What is SSI?
• How does the government decide if A Child Is Disabled?  
• What are the eligibility criteria for Supplemental Security Benefits (SSI)?
• Does Autism usually qualify as a disability according to the Social Security Administration?
• What is Medicare?
• What is Medicaid?
• Is my autistic child eligible for Medicare or Medicaid benefits? 
• What other healthcare services are available for my child?

Part VIII
• I want to care for my child after I’m gone, but I was told by my lawyer not to leave any money in my child’s name.  Why is that?
• Why does a parent with an autistic child need a will?
• What is a Will? 
• What is a special needs trust?
• Now that I have a trust, who should I choose to be trustee?
• What is a "Letter of Intent" and why is it necessary when creating a special needs trust?
• What can a “special-needs trust” pay for?
• Why do I need to establish guardianship for my adult child?  Am I not his guardian already?
• What is guardianship?
• How do I obtain Guardianship for my adult child?

Part IX

• What does the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 have to do with the education of my child? 
• What is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and why should I know about it?
• What is special education?
• How do I get special education services for my child? 
• What is the Individualized Education Plan or IEP?
• What can I do if I don’t agree with the findings in the IEP?
• How do I choose the best special education program for my child?
• Are computers useful in the education of an autistic child? 
• What type of computer should an autistic child use?
• When discussing plans for my teenage son, I’ve heard the term “transition.”  What does it mean?

Part X
• My child was just diagnosed with Autism.  What do I do first?
• What are some tips for parenting kids with autism?
• Traveling with my autistic child is difficult.  What can I do to make “going out” easier? 
• Keeping my child clean and neat is a real challenge.  How do other parents deal with this?
• Getting (and keeping) my child dressed is very difficult.  What can I do to make it easier?
• What are some causes of behavioral change in autistic children?
• How can I help my children form a relationship with their autistic sibling? 
• How can I get my autistic child to exercise?
• I spent time and money childproofing my home when my son was an infant?  Do I have to change anything now that he has been diagnosed as autistic?
• Is my home unsafe from my autistic child?
• How do I make my home safe for my autistic child?
• How do I change my child’s behaviors to reduce risk of accident or injury?
• Where do Autistic People Usually Live?
• What is Respite Care?
• How can I tell if my family needs respite care services?

Part XI
• How are parents with Autistic Children stressed?
• What are some ways that parents can reduce their stress?
• Do some families deal with stress better than others?
• Do siblings suffer increased stress as a result of having an autistic brother or sister?  
• What can I do about my children’s stress? 
• What are some resources for learning more about autism?

Glossary
Index