Category Archives for "Autism News"
The latest autism research, news and events.These up-to-date articles can include medical news and innovative programs surrounding autism.
New Program Gives People With Autism a Chance to Give
For six years, I worked with speech pathologists, ABA therapists, and IEU planning to teach autistic adults and children one-on-one. The in-home class structure, as many know, is very intense and demands much hard work on behalf of both the autistic child and the adult. My students’ time was split between several hours of study […]
Continue readingNew Specialized Autism Program Creates Blueprint for Success
If you broke your leg and needed an orthopedic specialist, would you settle for an appointment with a heart surgeon? A revered specialist in his/her own right, a heart surgeon would likely not provide the proper diagnosis or treatment for your leg to heal properly. To get the best care possible, an assessment and treatment […]
Continue reading2019 APM Awards: Let’s Applaud Our Outstanding Autism Community
It’s a new year, and the possibilities are infinite! While we’re energized about the future, we also want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to our supportive autism community over the past year. Honestly, everyone deserves applause. As we look back on 2019, we are inspired by the exceptional group that has […]
Continue readingAutism Myths vs Autism Facts
While the term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been used by scientists and doctors for decades, we don’t have all the answers surrounding this developmental disability. Finding the advice and support autism families need can be challenging as there is a lot of inconsistent information and technical progress can be slow. To understand autism and […]
Continue readingWhy It’s Important to Embrace Autism Research
Research is very important for parents to understand—unfortunately, it isn’t something that a lot of families have time for or can easily access. It may seem that research exists in an ivory tower. I want to inspire you to embrace research. It helps inform the practitioners and teachers that work with your loved one on […]
Continue readingJP’s Law Passed To Protect All People With Special Needs
My 14-year-old son, JP, has autism. As I’m sure you can understand, while this wasn’t something I signed up for, I do believe God chose me and my husband, Perry, to be JP’s parents. Being JP’s mom has been an unexpected and wonderful experience. Through JP, I have become a member of the special needs community. […]
Continue readingThe Latest Autism Research Presented at the INSAR Annual Meeting
As a parent, university faculty member and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) researcher, I have been to many conferences that focus on those impacted by ASD. When I think of my favorite and most informative, The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), formally International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) is always at the top of my […]
Continue readingThe Wonders and Benefits of Art for Children With Autism
The experience of expressing one’s self through art has widely been practiced as a form of therapy, as it’s no surprise that art brings a sense of calmness and serenity. This type of therapy is known as ‘art therapy,’ and it is a treatment widely used by therapists in meeting the challenges often faced by […]
Continue readingAmazing Bakery Run Totally by People on the Autism Spectrum
As a society, we have come a very long way to embrace children with autism in the educational system. Still, we have not made good educated progress to integrate adults across the autism spectrum to the workforce. As a society, we must break down the barriers and create new paths to employment. “In the United […]
Continue readingThe Best Way to Serve People with Special Needs: Live with Them
Inclusion, or placing different ability levels together in the classrooms, has been a proven practice in education for years. Research has shown that this mixture has been good for everyone, including those with and without disabilities. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 13 percent of public school students in the U.S. have a documented disability. Autism, […]
Continue readingIn the Patterns of Shakespeare, a Method to Break Down Autism Barriers
The past 30 years have brought greater support and understanding for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with new interventions helping bridge some of the most challenging social challenges. We now know social skills can be taught through a diverse array of approaches, from group interventions and social stories to response training and problem-solving. Most […]
Continue readingNew Study Highlights the Importance of Fathers in the Care of Children with Autism
Education, social care, and health services need to become more aware of the important role that fathers play in the lives of children with autism, alongside mothers, according to research by Leeds Beckett University. The new research is one of the largest studies to have been undertaken with fathers with autism so far. It was […]
Continue readingSensory Enrichment Therapy: A New Approach
Children with autism often have sensory issues. They may be sensory seeking, or they may be sensory avoiding or even a little of both. For a child who is living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), some textures can be very irritating. Sounds, crowds, lights or smells can upset them. Many sensory approaches already aim to […]
Continue readingSpecial Needs Kids Won’t Miss Out with the National Inclusion Project
The National Inclusion Project has created a model that builds inclusive friendships for all children, called the Science of Friendship Method. The Science of Friendship Method is a step-by-step guide, which helps adults help children of all abilities make connections and build friendships. The desire to connect with others is a basic human one, but […]
Continue readingDoctor Makes Great Strides with Unique Treatment for Autism
Significant overall improvements often occur in those with autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by medically treating their coexisting inner-ear/cerebellar-determined (dyslexia or learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety related) symptoms with inner-ear-improving medications. Despite significant scientific advances, we currently do not know the primary cause(s) and cure of autism. Thus a […]
Continue readingIs the Weed Killer Glyphosate Harming Your Health?
After working on the causes of autism for almost 25 years, one of the most fascinating and puzzling aspects has been the marked increase in autism that has been noted over the last 30 years. To qualify as a cause of autism, the factor needs to be something that did not exist at the beginning […]
Continue readingWays a New Smartwatch Makes Caring for an Autistic Loved One Easier
PinPoint Technologies, Inc. is a smartwatch start-up based out of Detroit, Michigan, that has made it a goal to help the autism community. It was founded by its chief operating officer, Quincy Hyatt, a Detroit native. Quincy, who has a sister with special needs, knows all too well what families affected by autism experience every […]
Continue readingBenefits of L-Carnosine for Autistic Children
What is L-Carnosine? L-Carnosine is classified as a dipeptide, which is a compound made up of amino acid molecules that are linked together. It enhances frontal lobe function in the brain. Research suggests that it is also a powerful antioxidant. A synthetic form of carnosine is available and sold as a supplement to help treat […]
Continue readingCould Sperm Mosaic Mutations Be Linked to Autism?
According to a recent study, more than five percent of sperm cell mutations scientists believed to have appeared in a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) could, in fact, be inherited. Such mutations were seen in a subset of a father’s sperm cells, according to an unpublished study conducted by the University of California, San […]
Continue readingNew Study Proves Melatonin Effective Sleep Aid for Children with Autism
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry disclosed that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have refractory insomnia will benefit from prolonged release melatonin (PEDPRM). The trial conducted was random, placebo-controlled, and double-blind. Profiles of participants There were 125 participants in the trial aged 2 to […]
Continue readingStudy Reveals Congenital Heart Disease Link to Autism
With great advancements in the medical field and surgery, an impressive 90 percent of infants born with a congenital heart condition are able to survive until adulthood. The majority of these infants, however, often suffer from health problems including heart arrhythmia, neurodevelopmental deficiencies, autism, and respiratory issues. According to Martina Brueckner, genetics and pediatrics professor […]
Continue readingStudy Reveals That Unpruned Extra Synapses May Cause Autism
As part of a special brain-tissue study, a group of researchers from Columbia University Medical Center made an extraordinary discovery when they examined the brain tissues of children with autism. According to researchers, the study revealed that the brains of the children studied had an excess of synapses, the structure that permits a neuron to pass an […]
Continue readingExperts’ Advice: Fidget Spinners Are Not for ADHD Treatment
In the center of the huge frenzy the miracle gadget fidget spinner stirred, experts recently revealed that the spinner is nothing more than a regular toy. Fidget spinners have been marketed as easy to carry anxiety-busting gadgets that can aid children and adults with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and any type of anxiety disorder. […]
Continue readingAutism Discovery: Some Children with Autism May Benefit from Oxytocin Treatment
A study done by Stanford University of Medicine on the use of oxytocin as treatment for children with autism revealed that children with low baseline oxytocin levels exhibited improved social behaviors. The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was the first one conducted on how oxytocin baseline levels […]
Continue readingRevolutionary New Way to Diagnose Autism Revealed
Repetitive behavior? It’s all relative. And new research from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, illustrates that the repetitive behavior exhibited by parents themselves may hold the secret to determining what might be typical behavior for a developing child and what might be an early indicator of future developmental struggles. David Evans, professor of psychology at […]
Continue readingAutism and Anxiety Disorder – The Double Diagnosis
Over the years, lack of eye contact from a person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been mistaken as an indication of lack of empathy or connection with others. This theory began in the 1980s when psychologists Simon Baron-Cohen and Uta Frith indicated that people diagnosed with autism were not capable of using the […]
Continue readingHelping People With Autism Communicate in a Disaster
Lately, the news has been immersed in images of the city of Houston, Texas swallowed by a torrent of flood water. We’ve felt sympathy for those affected, we’ve worried about their welfare. And we’ve all probably thought, “What if that was my family?” We hope it will never happen, but sometimes it does. Fire, flood, […]
Continue readingCan Probiotics Help Your Child with Autism Feel Better?
As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child struggle with the abdominal pain, constipation, and other discomfort common for people with autism. Too often, those gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are accompanied by increased anxiety and oversensitivity. However, recent research into microbiomes may help. Microbiomes are the colonies of bacteria within and around us […]
Continue readingNew Research Suggests Vitamin D Benefits Children with Autism
In 2008, Dr. John Cannell, MD, Founder of Vitamin D Council, published the first paper suggesting a relationship between low vitamin D status and an increased risk of autism. He created his hypothesis based on the data that illustrated an increased prevalence of autism in the regions of greater cloud cover and rainfall. Only observational […]
Continue readingA Review: New App Changes the Way Families Find Autism Friendly Businesses
These days it takes a little more than a village to find a place out in the world that would be enjoyable for your child with autism. So what’s a father from Pennsylvania to do when he’s looking for a safe and fun place to take his son? He creates an app so he can […]
Continue readingGrandmother Creates Special Needs Clothing Line to Make Dressing Easier
I have a granddaughter who was born with Down syndrome. Her name is Maggie. As I watched her grow, I noticed that everything she wore never fit properly. The sleeves and pant legs were always way too long. She was four years old when my daughter challenged me to start a company to make clothes […]
Continue readingDentist Develops New Calming Product for Kids on the Spectrum The b-Calm – A Mother’s Review
When I met Dr. Ken Budke, I immediately knew he was full of energy, ambition, and innovation. I didn’t expect to be taken with a product he invented nearly 10 years ago, the bCalm. As a dentist for 38 years, one of the primary complaints from patients was the sound of the dental drill. This […]
Continue readingTreating Genetic Mutations in Autism
Genetic testing is the biggest medical advancement of the early 21st century. Our understanding of how genes play a role in brain function is advancing every year. While many children receive negative genetic tests for Fragile X syndrome, there are thousands upon thousands of genetic tests available. If you think you’ve exhausted genetic testing for […]
Continue readingChanges Made to Policy to Affect Thousands of Children with ASD
Valuable changes to U.S. policy have recently been made at the federal level over the past couple of months, potentially affecting thousands of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. These changes will essentially help those people denied coverage and give them access to appropriate autism treatment. In July, Medicare & Medicaid Services declared that comprehensive […]
Continue readingAutism in the News: Judge Rotenberg Center Petition
Trigger Warning: Parts of this article are scary and detail specific accounts of torture including the video. For many years the Judge Rotenberg Center, a “special needs day, respite and residential school” for children ages three to adult, has been under investigation for “highly abusive and questionable interventions” used on students and now there is […]
Continue readingAutism in the Blood?
Autism in the Blood? by Leslie Burby Recently in the news, autism and blood tests have been a common thread. The two main companies that seem to have caught my attention the most for autism research are Lineagen Incorporated with its FirststepDX genetics program and SynapDx Corporation on its quest to find a blood test […]
Continue readingA Nonverbal Autistic Girl amazes Everyone when given a Canvas
Candace Waters -Nonverbal Autistic Artistby Leslie BurbyWhen Candace was a toddler she was progressing at a normal rate. Her parents Sandy and Rob report that she was speaking 25 words and then all of a sudden she lost her speech and all her motor skills between two and a half and three years of age. […]
Continue readingAutistic Child Prodigy Jacob Barnett
Child prodigies have long been a fascination that interests the crowds, but Professor Joanne Ruthsatz attributes child prodigies to being autistic. Dr. Ruthsatz has studied child prodigies for over 15 years and recently has focused on Jacob Barnett. Jacob Barnett has just turned 15 years old but is in college acing his honors courses. If he continues […]
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