This section provides details of some of the feedback we have received about this site, including Feedback from the online questionnaire, which ran during 2007.
We want to know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you would change about this website. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.
“The Research Autism website is now the first-choice location internationally if you want to obtain clear, reliable, comprehensive, up-to-date, and independent summaries of the evidence for efficacy of interventions for autism”. Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge and Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge; and Director of the Autism Research Centre (ARC) in Cambridge.
“this is a very useful service and I assiduously keep every email (and forward them on to my wife). I have a suggestion that I’d like to share with you: would it possible/easy to sub-categorise the research studies updates into some of the same classifications as used by, eg Scopus – namely: review article, short review, article etc ‘The reason I ask is that I try to be across what is going on in the autism research front at a high level even though it is not my research area (my son has autism), and I find the most effective way to do so is to skim review articles and short reviews, and delve into more detailed articles where needed. If these were flagged as such, it would simplify the keeping-up-to-date process just a little. I doubt that I would be the only person (or researcher, for that matter) who would welcome and find useful such a fine-tuning of the excellent collation in each email.” Anonymous Australian subscriber to our electronic bulletins.
(Please note: We have done exactly what you asked with our new publications database, which we launched at the beginning of May. The database allows you to search by the terms you mention but also by author, title, subject, journal, format, scientific validity and so on. Launching the database is only the first step in improving the way we present information about studies and other publications as we still have to map and record many thousands more records. But we hope that the database, however small, will provide a powerful tool that makes our site even more useful. It also means you won’t need to store our email bulletins – unless you want to of course!)
“Took a look at the website to see how the colour implementation was, and was disappointed to see my options were all difficult for me: blue on white or two reversed-out options — nothing readable for more than a few lines. I had hoped the (now defunct) DRC website scheme would be followed, including my preferred Black on Pink.” The Goth.
(Please note: We have implemented the changes suggested by the Goth, including adding a wider range of colour choices. More information)
“just a brief note to let you know that we’ll be using your website once again for our parent training course which will start in a couple of weeks. Thanks for all your precious work you do for our families,best regards, paola” Autism Project Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
“I am constantly horrified by the lack of good scientific research into autism and the amount of parents who are using sometimes dangerous “treatments” on their children to try to “cure” them and respond with hostility to anyone who tries to question them. …. I think this is terrible and fear for the safety of autistic children undergoing these treatments. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for trying to be objective and get good science. Also for not excluding the voices of autistic people, which is rare for autism organizations. I do not want a cure for autism, as I think it is an important part of autistic people and not a disease. However I am all for treatments that can improve the quality of life of autistic people while respecting who they are. Thanks again”. Anonymous person with ASD.
“I have gone through the website and it has been extremely useful and has valuable information. I am really grateful for the work that has been put into this website.” Diana, Sunshine Autism Trust, Bangalore