A large array of electrodes can record the activity of neurons across a wide swath of a monkey brain1. Monitoring neuronal activity in many brain regions simultaneously could reveal how that activity is altered in autism. Typical electrode arrays for recording brain activity must be fixed in place t…

Folic acid, a B vitamin, may lower autism risk and ease features of the condition, according to findings from five unrelated studies published over the past few months. Three of the studies suggest that prenatal supplements of folic acid offset autism risk associated with in utero exposure to epilep…

Stephen has been married twice. Two wedding days. Two “I do”s. Yet Stephen has no happy memories from either — or, in fact, from the marriages or any of his relationships. He met his first wife on a pre-nursing course when he was just 16. Six years later, they were married. Three years after t…

Reposted with permission from Action Behavior Centers Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, most commonly known as ABA therapy, has grown to become the leading therapy for children with autism. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) primarily work with children on the autism spectrum and their fa…

A tribute to Remo Belli who made the “heart drum.” By James Billington, Hidden Wings The drum is tuned to approximate the frequency of the heart. As you drum closer to the center of these wide circular table drums you come closer to the common frequency of the heartbeat. The note is c#. …

The Art of Autism ends Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month with a message from Samantha Craft. By Samantha Craft If you are a voice for a marginalized minority of autistic people, who has faced continual discrimination, bullying, and isolation, spread kindness, acceptance, and tolerance. Be patient. …

For two weeks in September 2010, I sat with a team of Ethiopian mental health experts inside a hotel in Addis Ababa, drafting materials for a new health and education training program for rural community health workers. The program would provide community health workers with an additional year of tr…

This year, I have seen the continuation of some troubling trends from autism advocacy groups.  One major group booked me to speak at their conference (for which they will pay me) even as they assembled sessions with autistic panelists who are not getting paid.Another organization – involved in …

By Katherine Valdoria I have always had a hard time “owning” labels. You know when you’re taking a class or participating in a workshop and they sit you in a circle and ask you to say your name and “something interesting” about yourself, to break the ice? I hate that. I get overwhelmed with…

By Erin Clemens Going on holiday. Taking a vacation. Getting away. These are all ways to describe traveling, and they make it sound so relaxing! However, as someone on the autism spectrum, traveling can be challenging. I often struggle with changes in routine and communicating my needs to strangers…

“Design for accessibility, build for usability.” The importance of inclusive design has been emphasized by many people for a long time. However, creators and developers, more often than not, do not necessarily consider it as an important aspect of product conception and development. I…

Graeme Simsion’s new book, “The Rosie Result,” is the final installment of a trilogy focused on Don Tillman, a man who Simsion has implied since the first book is autistic. The first novel in the series, “The Rosie Project,” won multiple international awards and was lauded by Bill Gates. It charted …

As a black woman living in the United States, I am always mindful of what others think about me, and the assumptions they may make. As a black woman with autism, I am especially aware that colleagues often see me as an ‘angry black woman,’ even though my thoughts and behaviors are the opposite of th…

PBS Kids has enhanced the accessibility of their programming by introducing American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters to sixty episodes across six popular children’s series – Arthur, Alma’s Way, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkey Hodie, Work It Out Wombats!, and Pinka…