Last year, jazz composer and musician Justin Morell contacted the Art of Autism about his project All Without Words. Justin had composed jazz music that was inspired by his autistic son Loren. He wanted some artists to listen to the music and create a piece of art based on their experience of his …

There are many risk factors for autism, some genetic and others environmental. But few are more intriguing — and disturbing — than psychosocial deprivation in infancy. Psychosocial deprivation is essentially a lack of caregiver stimulation and investment. It is particularly common among children rea…

The question of autism’s heritability is compelling for researchers and laypeople alike, but many people in both groups misunderstand its definition. Heritability is defined as the proportion of variation in a condition that is attributable to variation in genetics. Heritability estimates can influe…

We were thrilled to feature Chris Bonnello of Autistic Not Weird after the release of his YA SciFi  novel, Underdogs. It’s a dystopian future story featuring autistic, dyslexic and other neurodiverse heroes. Since our interview, Underdogs has been such a success Chris’ publisher asked for a second n…

What I’m learning from Kevin’s DBT classes. By Debra Muzikar The first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 PM Kurt and I drive to El Cajon and pick up Kevin. We take Kevin out to dinner at his favorite little Mexican restaurant in University Heights. After our meal we walk to an office build…

Around 650 million people around the world have some disabilities, and 10% of that population uses wheelchairs. Recently, Apple  announced that Apple Watch's next update will enable wheelchair users to use it for keeping track of calories burned as well as their fitness goals. What's remarkable…

“Garrett is such a unique little man who loves Batman things. I am most proud of Garrett for never giving up. No matter how hard things get for him, he continues to move forward. For a little guy with no friends he sure makes do. He teaches me new things ever day and I am so proud to call him …

The dance instructors won a $400 pay-it-forward award for their work.Source: The Autism Site

Brad and Bryan Manning were diagnosed with Stargardt disease when they were very little. Since then, they have been known as the blind brothers. Stargardt is a form of macular degeneration that causes a person to lose their central vision, keeping their peripheral vision intact.  However, t…

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A good night’s rest isn’t guaranteed for anyone, but it is downright elusive for many people with autism. Individuals on the spectrum often have trouble falling and staying asleep. And that may worsen certain features of their condition, such as repetitive behaviors, which can, in turn, make sleepin…

A few universities in the midwest have started offering degrees to students with intellectual disabilities with focus on providing skills that encourage independent living, prepare students for employment and instill lifelong learning. Traditionally,  these students have not been able to meet a…

Most people with autism have problems falling and staying asleep. And poor sleep can exacerbate behavioral problems, leaving these individuals — and their families — exhausted. The hormone melatonin, sold in the United States as an over-the-counter supplement, is a popular sleep aid. A string of stu…

By Kris McElroy I found out I was autistic when I was 30 years old after over two decades of misdiagnoses, misunderstandings, and maltreatment. The diagnosis helped make so much more sense to me about myself and the world around me. It helped me understand I was having meltdowns because I was overlo…