The ability to identify human-like movements is rooted in genetics — and may share those origins with autism traits, a study of 117 twin pairs in China suggests1. The ability to interpret other people’s movements is important for understanding others’ intentions and making social connections. People…

Support from visitors like you has changed lives, and it's about to make an even bigger difference.Source: The Autism Site

Issue 17’s Big Question What is the most important thing for doctors to know about treating #ActuallyAutistic patients? Our editorial team asked this question to the #ActuallyAutistic Community on Twitter and Facebook. Here’s a snapshot of what many of them had to say: “Like any other patient, cons…

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…

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

In a feat of genetic engineering, researchers can now manipulate the DNA of human stem cells to faithfully recreate certain large structural changes that occur in people1. The method could reveal how these genetic glitches sometimes lead to autism. The new approach takes advantage of the wildly popu…

Doug Oliver of Nashville, TN, who was legally blind last year, can now not only see, but can also drive a car after a stem cell treatment helped him regain his vision he had lost because of a hereditary condition.Doug had full vision that he lost over a decade because of his condition and went from …

Shared interests. If your child with autism has something they’re really interested in, finding a hangout, class, or group activity that focuses on that interest. If you can’t find something, start it yourself. Why? Because it’s one of the best ways for your child to learn and practice social skills…

By Daniel Docherty I am enamoured with the *pulchritudinious art form that is singing and I am an avid writer in my spare time. Singing is my main passion. I aspire to one day be a professional singer. My prefered genre of singing is classical/opera and swing. I take immense influence from some of …

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…

Preventable injuries are the leading cause of death for Canadians under the age of 45. Unfortunately, individuals with autism are two to three times as likely to experience a preventable injury as those without. Children with autism are particularly prone to poisoning, suffocation and wandering that…

Hi there! I’m Grace Huckins, Spectrum’s editorial intern, your host for the Community Newsletter this week. Two new preprints on medRxiv have generated a buzz on Twitter. Both look at how common genetic variants, rare variants and sex interact to affect an individual’s chances of having autism. The …

While ABA is generally a long term commitment that a client and his or her caregiver makes, oftentimes before the child reached his or her third birthday, it is still important to have a fade-out policy in place in for when the client reaches their treatment goals or the provider is no longer able t…

By Martine Mussies 7 Types of Rest for Neurodivergent People Rest is essential for everyone, but it is especially important for neurodiverse people. Non-neurotypicals are simply more likely to experience sensory overload, autistic burnout, and other challenges that can be exacerbated by a feeling of…