By: Michael C. Selbst, Ph.D., BCBA-D Behavior Therapy Associates & HI-STEP Co-Author of POWER-Solving Curriculum “Mom and Dad, can Emma come over to play?” “Do you want to play together at recess?” “Can I ride bikes with Noah?” “We want to go the movies later, is that okay?” “I’m meeting my …

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Community Newsletter! I’m your host, Chelsey B. Coombs, Spectrum’s engagement editor. We’ve got some great tweets for you this week, so let’s dive in. Our first thread comes from Robert McCutcheon, clinical research fellow in psychiatry at King’s College London in t…

By Ron Sandison As a theologian with autism, I enjoyed reading Summer Kinard’s book Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability. Kinnard shares her insight on Orthodox theology and empowering people with disabilities for full participation in the life of the Church. On June 8th I wi…

The many genes missing in Williams syndrome, a condition related to autism, may all work together to exert their effects on behavior, a new mouse study suggests1. The findings add to mounting evidence that even in conditions that are strongly tied to just one or two genes, multiple genes are in fact…

Autism-linked mutations in the CUL3 gene may alter brain structure by disrupting the ‘skeletons’ of neurons, according to a new study. Like all cells, neurons contain long strands of protein that help them keep their shape. These strands, collectively called a cytoskeleton, also help ferry substance…

By Dana Trick Autistic Diagnosis The explanation of My life. The reasoning of My weirdness. The justification for My getting help. The solution of My struggles The assertion of My existence. The acceptance of Myself. Autistic Medication The little life-hack strategies And expensive therapies ar…

Brandon Bussi is a star goalie for the Western Michigan University hockey team, one of the top ranked... The post Hockey Player Wears Special Goalie Mask to Honor Brother on the Autism Spectrum appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

I’ve many times given advice on sensory seeking behaviours in autistic children, how to aid them and why they may occur. While explaining that a child spinning for example, is seeking to feed their vestibular sense or that a child stamping their feet is gaining proprioceptive feedback from the…

By The Silent Wave When searching for traits, characteristics, or symptoms of Asperger’s (and the rest of the autism spectrum, to an extent) online, the first–and the majority of–information you’ll probably find focuses on the negative aspects, at least as perceived by the “official sources” and “ex…

Some people with autism have trouble coordinating their movements. Some experience sensory disturbances, such that everyday sounds seem unbearably loud. And some have an atypical heart rate or disturbed sleep cycles. These seemingly disparate features are all tied to a tiny region called the brainst…

People with particularly low levels of FMRP, the protein lacking in those with fragile X syndrome, are more likely to also have autism and severe intellectual disability, according to a new study1. The lower the level of FMRP, the more severe a person’s traits. The findings could help researchers id…

Babies with autism are thought to be late to meet physical milestones, such as pointing and sitting. But a new report finds that most babies with autism and intellectual disability take their first steps — a major motor milestone — on time or earlier than those with other conditions that affect cogn…

The Art of Autism congratulates John Donvan and Caren Zucker for being Pulitzer Prize finalists for In A Different Key: The Story of Autism. In A Different Key chronicles the history of autism from Donald Triplett through the civil rights movement and covers controversies that are heated within our …

With the average hearing aid costing $3,000 for just one ear, those with hearing loss often suffer in silence, unaware of the many affordable personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) available at a fraction of the cost. To increase awareness and help people hear better, Harris Communications ha…