Who thought this was a good idea?!Source: The Autism Site

Although the number of people diagnosed with autism is on the rise, the proportion with severe features has declined since 2000, according to a study of children in Western Australia1. The findings, published 19 January in Autism Research, highlight a shift in the perception of autism. Until the 199…

This amazing mama got a college degree in her 40s, beat breast cancer in her 50s, and then became an entrepreneur!Source: The Autism Site

A computer program can accurately estimate the prevalence of autism from children’s medical and school records, suggests a new report1. The tool could help automate efforts to estimate autism rates over time, cutting down the enormous time and costs now required. In 2000, the U.S. Centers of Disease…

The 2021 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting (SfN) wrapped up yesterday, after four packed days of virtual presentations. The in-person portion of the event was called off a month ago because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A slew of technical glitches plagued the online offerings, but Spec…

By Megan Amodeo Ever since a was a little girl, I have dreamed about living in a world that accepts everyone. I know that sounds extremely cliché, but for me it’s true. I wasn’t diagnosed with autism until my mid-thirties, but from my earliest memories I remember being different. I was always the qu…

Here's how 6-year-old Olivia Anders ran a lemonade stand in Troy, Michigan, to meet her fundraising goal for an autism service dog.Source: The Autism Site

A new technique reveals how mutations on the X chromosome, including those associated with Rett syndrome, alter the function of various types of brain cells1. The findings could shed light on the biological pathways underlying Rett syndrome, a condition related to autism that is seen primarily in gi…

Problems with the minute ‘factories’ that yield energy for cells — the mitochondria — contribute to learning problems and other traits of fragile X syndrome, a new study suggests1. The findings also unexpectedly implicate huntingtin, the protein mutated in Huntington’s disease, in fragile X. Fragile…

A new analysis of nearly 40,000 people pinpoints 48 genetic variants that may determine the volume of certain brain areas1. The findings could help reveal the genetic roots of brain conditions such as autism. Brain areas that lie beneath the cerebral cortex are involved in a variety of processes, fr…

'The Doctors' weighed in on a new study that focuses on how screen time impacts the psychosocial development of children.Source: The Autism Site

We could all stand to be a little kinder to each other.Source: The Autism Site

"Once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was, because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he's on the spectrum are all of the reasons that I fell madly in love with him."Source: The Autism Site

By Ashleigh Evans, MS, BCBA With the start of Summer comes endless possibilities of fun in the sun, from beach days to festivals and fireworks. But for many children with sensory challenges, some of these activities can be overstimulating. Instead, there are many fun and individualizable acti…