Lisa Jo Rudy, Autism guide for about.com, has entered her last post: A Farewell to the About.com Autism Site.
She puts out a number of parting insights. I quote one below:
Life is for living. Even (and perhaps especially) when your child is autistic. PLEASE get out there, have fun, enjoy life, enjoy your kids, don’t spend your life, love and treasure exclusively on therapies. Go fishing. Go swimming. Take a hike. Volunteer. Sing. Play. LIVE! And while you’re out there, look for ways to help your child with autism to join in the fun. Use your imagination, and help your child with autism to use hers. Introduce your child to his world, and to the people in his world. Help them to get to know and care about your child. It’s the community that, in the long run, will make or break your efforts to help your child succeed.
She has always had many writing projects ongoing, and will continue to write.
Left Brain Right Brain 
The discussion for Lisa-Jo’s last article went a little awry, from what I’ve heard. Given that, I need to point out, this is not a chance for people to take that discussion here. I.e. I will remove comments that get overly harsh.
Sad news to hear things went awry in the comments. Also sadly predictable. I always thought highly of her blog posts on About.com. And was honoured when she dropped by and left a comment on my own blog once. Good luck to you Lisa-Jo.
Hi, folks. Thanks for the kind words! I believe I’ve said all I needed to say on the About.com site, and the articles and blogs will remain on the site for the time being. Meanwhile, yes, it always seems to turn into a circus when the topic is autism… heavy sigh!
Best,
Lisa
Idk, Lisa, you went off on a tangent about the most empiracally based treatment for autism and then disabled comments. There may not be one single formula for autism, but ABA is almost certainly your best bet, and I’m a tad offended by the idea that focusing on behavior is somehow dehumanizing to our children. I would argue arming my child with the tools to BEHAVE functionally without focusing too much on what is “broken on the inside” is not very dehumanizing at all. The negative comments about you being “Switzerland” are unfounded, at the very least. Good luck to you and yours, just the same.
Sunshine,
Did you miss the statement I made above, “this is not a chance for people to take that discussion here.”?