The Dorsey family isn't interested in pressing charges, but they hope someone will find it in their heart to return the specialized device.Source: The Autism Site

In the years immediately after a parent learns of a diagnosis of autism, it can be especially challenging to think of your child’s autism diagnosis long term. But as parents advocate for their child, and as practitioners work with the family to create goals for that child, the long term must be cons…

Finding Christmas gifts can be difficult for any family, especially for those with a child on the spectrum. At one end, there are the children who know exactly what they want, when they want it, and have no problem telling you all about it. On the other end are the nonverbal kids, who may have...Sou…

The post Pelphrey’s move; tech support; living space appeared first on Spectrum. Source: Spectrum News

The setting of this year’s International Society for Autism Research annual meeting (INSAR) — Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port — could not have been more appropriate. The meeting brought together autism researchers from across the field and all over the world to present their latest findings and exc…

When children are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall) are usually the first line of treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new guid…

By Megan Amodeo “Be true to yourself! Be who you are! Be fabulous!” So often we here mantras like “Be yourself,” “Let Your freak flag fly,” and “Be true to you.” I have always liked these sayings, but I couldn’t always embrace their true meaning. It’s so simple to recite these sayings. I often tel…

A survey that estimates autism prevalence in the United States includes too few black families to yield accurate data, according to a new study. Researchers presented their analysis today at the 2019 International Society for Autism Research annual meeting in Montreal. The survey, called the Nationa…

What this restaurant owner just did for his employee with autism is so awesome!Source: The Autism Site

Delivering a fragment of the Rett syndrome gene, MECP2, into neurons eases features of the syndrome in mice, according to a new study. The findings appeared today in Nature1. The MECP2 protein is a master regulator of other genes, and a lack of it leads to Rett syndrome. A portion of the protein is …

Mutations in the gene PTEN that are tied to autism may be less harmful than those linked to a syndrome characterized by benign tumors. Researchers presented the unpublished results today at the 2017 American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. The findings may help to expla…

The way children view both social and nonsocial situations may be determined at least in part by their genes, a new study of identical and fraternal twins suggests1. Identical twins tend to look at the same parts of pictures, whether they depict children playing or an object, such as a musical instr…

Boosting the activity of a class of neurons that dampen brain signals eases social problems in a mouse model of autism, according to a new study1. The findings support a theory that autism stems from too much neuronal excitation in the brain. The mice carry a mutation in NLGN3 gene that is present i…

Reflections on my experience with accessibility in an apprenticeship theatre program at Williamstown By Anton Spivack In 2009, one of my writing mentors suggested I apply for a scholarship through VSA, which every year allows two to four disabled actors to attend the Williamstown Theatre Festival Ap…