3 Wikis: #2 -- The Autism Spectrum Wiki

This is the second installment in "33 Wikis," a close look at best practices in wiki-based collaboration.  Each day -- for 33 days -- we look at one wiki and briefly describe what the wiki is for, why we like it, and what we can all learn from it.  If you want to nominate a wiki, please let us know.  On day 34 we will post a public wiki featuring info on all nominees.

What this wiki is for:  As some of you know, there's someone very close to me who is on the autistic spectrum.  For friends and family of the autistic, finding information and resources from kindred folks can be a frustrating, lonely experience.  The Austistic Spectrum Wiki -- a project by Aspies for Freedom -- seeks to make life easier by tapping the collective knowledge of people around the globe.

Why we like it:   Like many other disorders, autism has many different support groups working on similar and overlapping projects.   The Autistic Spectrum Wiki seeks to bridge these efforts by providing a centralized clearinghouse of information and links.   

What we can all learn from it:  This is clear example of how a community can organize in an ad hoc fashion to respond to a challenge that institutional resources cannot meet.   We expect to see many ad hoc communities like this, especially in areas where resources and learning are badly fragmented -- e.g., health, education and government.

Comments

[Amy Nelson]

Thanks for featuring the Aspies for Freedom Autism Wiki. I look forward to reading your other entries.