Autism Information Center

Autism Information Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities caused by a problem with the brain. Scientists do not know yet exactly what causes this problem. ASDs can impact a person’s functioning at different levels, from very mildly to severely. There is usually nothing about how a person with an ASD looks that sets them apart from other people, but they may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most people. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary – from gifted to severely challenged. Autistic disorder is the most commonly known type of ASD, but there are others, including “pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified” (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer the Autism Information Center (AIC) to physicians, therapists, researchers, students, and especially families of children who may have been diagnosed with any of the ASDs, which include autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, and "pervasive developmental disorder--not otherwise specified." The AIC site includes information about symptoms, conditions, and possible causes of ASD along with resources, information about congressional initiatives, and much more. It also addresses the need for early diagnosis of developmental and behavioral disabilities--ASD, mental retardation, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder--which affect 17 percent of US children but are often not diagnosed before the child reaches school age. The site includes references for these disabilities and, on each page, the date of last update. This evidence of authority and currency is not only reassuring to those searching the site but also evidence of its value in an academic setting. Though not a substitute for the medical opinion of one's family doctor, this is an invaluable resource. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html  ACRL Choice Aug 2007.

The National Atlas of the United States of America

"The National Atlas of the United States of America home page on the World Wide Web.  Nationalatlas.gov is the single best Federal source for national maps and geographic information on the Web.  It contains an online map maker, dynamic maps, printable maps, articles, free geographic data, and additional resources for geographic information about the US."
The National Atlas of the United States® is a concerted effort to present consistent and reliable national maps that can be used to explore the human dimensions of American landscapes and environments. The individuals and organizations that collaborate on the National Atlas share these goals:

• to contribute to a better understanding of the environmental, resource, demographic, economic, social, political and historical dimensions of American life,
• to serve as a medium for the dissemination of information helpful to gaining a better understanding of the United States and other parts of the world,
• to make possible a comparison of the United States with other countries and world regions that will give Americans a better understanding of their country in relation to what takes place elsewhere in the world,
• to offer information for effective communication among scientists and scholars in the various fields of knowledge that can be appropriately presented in map format on a national basis,
• to provide useful information through graphical presentation and text to persons in positions of responsibility confronted with making important legislative, planning, management, business, and other decisions
• to provide materials useful to educators and students,
• to give additional visibility through map making to statistical and dynamic information, and
• to honor traditions of cartographic excellence while advancing the state of the art in the preparation and use of modern maps.

Cartography is the science and art of making maps.

Center for Creative Photography Digital Collections

The Center for Creative Photography holds more archives and individual works by 20th-century North American photographers than any other museum in the nation. These holdings include a research collection featuring the archives of over 50 photographers - Ansel Adams, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Richard Avedon, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, W. Eugene Smith, and Edward Weston among them. Archives include photographs, negatives, albums, work prints, manuscripts, audio-visual material, contact sheets, correspondence and memorabilia. CCP's art collection totals more than 80,000 works by 2,000 photographers.

Individuals or groups are invited to study works in the art collection by making an appointment. Researchers from all over the world visit the CCP to study the vast archives. CCP shares its collection with museums, educators, and publishers internationally through its Rights and Reproductions Department, with loans to exhibitions organized by other institutions and by offering original traveling exhibitions. Collection photographs and archival materials are on view in the Center's exhibitions and are reproduced in its publications; the Center also loans works from its holdings to other institutions.

The Center's collections of photographs by Ansel Adams, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Edward Weston, and many other artists are now available on the University of Arizona Institutional Repository.
From ACRL's Choice review, August 2010 "This easily navigable Web site contains some of the most iconic images produced by both Adams and Weston. The images are accessible under the headings Artists, Collections, or Images (where they are arranged alphabetically). Each image is accompanied by information about the artist, title, date of the image, image size, and medium. One hopes that the works of additional photographers will be added to this digital collection, along with anecdotal information about the works. This site is an exceptional resource for anyone interested in photography, photographic history, or art photography." http://www.creativephotography.org/index.html