IAN Community E-Newsletter - April 13, 2009

Date First Published: April 13, 2009

Contents
Romance on the Spectrum
Adult with ASD Questionnaire Launches!
Family Stress Report -- Part 1

Dear Members of the IAN Community,

These are only a few of the articles available on IAN Community, so please make sure to visit the website regularly. Recently, we have taken on a bright, new look, with some new user features, including an extensive menuing system that makes it much easier to find all the valuable, autism-focused materials packed into the site.

Read and enjoy!

The IAN Team

Romance and High-Functioning Autism

Tony Attwood, a renowned expert on Asperger's syndrome, writes that many high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) do hope to fall in love and have a relationship.

Because difficulties with interpreting the social world are a key issue for people with ASDs, dancing the intricate social dance that dating or a couple relationship involves can be especially challenging.

Attwood describes the pitfalls, the ways individuals with ASD can overcome them, and how those supporting them can help. He also lists the special gifts people on the autism spectrum can bring to a relationship.

Explore this subject in Romantic Relationships for Young Adults with Asperger's Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism.

Adults with ASD: National Research Project!

Since IAN's beginning, we have been inundated with requests from adults on the spectrum, as well as their parents and guardians, who passionately want adult voices to be heard through IAN. They have stated -- and we agree! -- it is far past time that advocates, policy makers, and researchers had a clearer picture of the experiences, challenges, and gifts of adults with ASD.

We are therefore pleased to announce the launch of the online IAN Adult with ASD Questionnaire.

Learn more here, or visit IAN Research to register and fill out the questionnaire.

Family Stress Report

This report, based on responses to the IAN Parental Depression History Questionnaire, provides a snapshot of some key stressors that affect families with a child on the autism spectrum. In Part 1, we discuss the impact of a number of child-centered factors on parents, including difficult behaviors, sleep issues, and worry about the child's future. In Part 2, we will address the impact on couple relationships, parent career, and family finances.

Read about the preliminary findings in IAN Research Report #8 - April 2009: Family Stress - Part 1.