A new test can measure the language skills of autistic children of any verbal ability, at almost any age1. The assessment could help researchers track changes in a child’s language skills throughout development or in response to interventions, the researchers say. It is also the first test designed …

Black autistic children are diagnosed later than white children and are often misdiagnosed with other conditions first1. Systemic racism contributes to many inequalities that lead to Black-white disparities in autism diagnosis and outcomes2. Many Black caregivers report that their initial concerns w…

Leo Rodgers is a tall, athletic man living in the Tampa area. He works at a bicycle shop and loves to take his bike everywhere. What’s really unique about his bike is that it doesn’t have a pedal or crank arm on the left side. As an amputee with just one leg, his right one, Leo doesn’t need anything…

A tool that relies on video cameras and machine-learning software can identify mice that have mutations in a top autism gene by their behaviors. It also detects how a widely used autism drug affects their movements, a new study has found1. The work begins to link autism mutations to specific, subtle…

The first genetic analysis to include multiple types of variants from people with autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions has revealed hundreds of genes that may be linked to neurodevelopment. It also suggests a subset of these genes is tied more strongly to autism than to the other conditions…

Poetry by Sophie Dutsch-Zdanowicz Into the Black Pound in my head, chill in my skin Rattling breath stuck in my lungs Into the black Full moon in full glow, but does not Shine to where I stand Into the black Abandoned street, broken windows Hustle and bustle of maintown Muffled by distance and an ev…

"It's very hurtful to read that stuff. This is our child. If we could help her, we would." The post Neighbors’ Letter Asks Family to Stop Daughter from Stimming for “Well-Being of the Neighborhood” appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

She had gone to the store to get the one food her son will eat, but they were sold out. In desperation, she reached out to the company that makes them. The post Company Gifts Autistic Boy An Unlimited Supply Of His Favorite Mini Hot Dogs appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Si…

Nerve sensitivity or degeneration could have a huge impact on what people with autism feel and how they respond to touch. The post Autism Behaviors May Be Related to Differences in Peripheral Nerves, Study Says appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

People with autism appear to fall into two groups based on molecular differences in their brains, including alterations in gene expression and chemical tags on DNA, according to a new study1. One group shows a molecular signature distinct from that of controls, whereas the other group does not. Unde…

Spectrum is covering the 2020 American Society of Human Genetics conference, which is taking place virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here, we’re highlighting your reactions to some of the posters and talks we found noteworthy. Did you attend the conference this year? Let us know what yo…

Taffy had to be sedated for each of her scans and chemotherapy treatments to keep her calm. The post Woman with Nonverbal Autism Diagnosed with Breast Cancer After Caregiver Sister Finds Lump appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

His powerful message has inspired other people with autism, as well as parents with autistic children. The post Autistic Man Writes A Message To His Younger Self About Acceptance appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

Genome sequences from one of the first research cohorts of African children with autism and their families have revealed more than 4 million novel genetic variants, some of which occur in genes not previously linked to the condition. Researchers presented the unpublished results on Monday at the 202…