By joining autism and neurodivergent communities, I’ve gained such a stronger and more confident sense of self! Amy Gaeta An interview with Amy Gaeta by Ron Sandison. Understanding neurodivergence was key to my success. As I discovered how my mind processed information and became an expert on auti…

After years on the rise, the rate of autism among U.S. children may be leveling off. According to data released today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 68 school-age children have the condition. The agency reported the same rate in 2014, hinting at a possible plateau…

Mutations that appear in only some of the body’s cells contribute to autism in about 4 percent of people with the condition, an analysis of more than 8,000 sequences suggests1. Mosaic mutations arise spontaneously after conception; the later they appear, the fewer cells of the body they affect. The …

Two new techniques could help reveal the molecular basis of conditions such as autism. One of them provides a way to quickly sequence and assemble an entire genome1. The other helps scientists synthesize thousands of versions of a single gene to test its function2. Typically, genome sequencing invol…

My son, Leo, turned 16 in November. He’s mostly thriving: He attends a school where he is surrounded by excellent teachers, speech-language pathologists and other special education experts, and he’s the middle child in a family that adores him (the occasional sibling fireworks aside). Despite all ou…

The first analysis of single cells from the brains of autistic people homes in on a group of neurons as central to autism1. These neurons are involved in communication between brain regions that mediate higher-order cognitive abilities, such as social and language skills. The study also reveals a po…

We have heard quite a bit about universal design and accessibility recently but what do they look like when actually implemented in real life? To promote universal design in houses, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation recently launched a new campaign called “Accessibility Is Beautiful” that…

People with autism have more brain-related health problems, such as headaches and epilepsy, than typical people do, according to a survey of twins1. The study is the first to look at associations between autism and physical health problems among twins. The study found no association between autism a…

This week, we’ve curated some of our best-selling items for keeping kids on track.  *Promotion is valid until May 8th, 2017 at 11:59pm ET. Offer cannot be applied to previous purchases, combined with any other offers, transferred, refunded, or redeemed and/or exchanged for cash or credit. Diff…

Mrs. P has been activating her voice for literacy on the web since 2008. She also activated her voice for autism, to speak up to end bullying and speak out for acceptance. But her real mission is to activate the voices of students. We had a chat with the real Mrs. P, actress and literacy advocate, K…

After a sluggish start, the Cal INDEX medical database has agreed to a merger that would create one of the largest repositories of patient records in the country. The nonprofit California Integrated Data Exchange, launched by insurers Blue Shield of California and Anthem Inc. with much fanfare in 2…

A new analysis has uncovered more than 1,200 new protein-protein interactions involving the proteins encoded by 92 genes strongly linked to autism, according to unpublished results. Researchers presented the findings virtually last week at the 2021 International Society for Autism Research annual me…

In a lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), all the work that goes on in a vast pharmaceutical manufacturing plant happens in a device the size of your kitchen refrigerator. And it’s fast. This prototype machine produces 1,000 pills in 24 hours, faster than it can take to produce so…

This April was the seventh anniversary of my becoming a national speaker and author. For Autism Acceptance Month, I decided to reflect back on my journey with autism and the lessons I’ve learned and the hardship I’ve endured. By Ron Sandison Every milestone and major event in my life took me longer…