Autistic people who have rare mutations in autism genes tend to have lower intelligence quotients (IQs) than those with common mutations, according to a new study1. The results support the idea that a small subset of particularly damaging variants contribute to autism and co-occurring intellectual d…

“He sits in her lap in the wheelchair as she does her schoolwork and snuggles her throughout the day."Source: The Autism Site

“Gray skies are gonna clear up,” Susan Epstein sings into the phone. “Put on a happy face,” sings her daughter, miles away in a group home for adults with intellectual disability. (Spectrum is withholding her name to protect her privacy.) The two have not been in the same room in more than two month…

“I don’t see anyone talking about mothers. I don’t see anyone talking about children, and on top of those children, the kids who have special conditions."Source: The Autism Site

“He sits in her lap in the wheelchair as she does her schoolwork and snuggles her throughout the day."Source: The Autism Site

By Gretchen McIntire Sometimes an offering of grace is something we offer someone we love in the form of forgiveness but that can only be genuine if we first offer ourselves the same forgiveness. This comes with a radical change in mindset that we are generally always doing our best and that e…

Brain structures differ in volume depending on a person’s social environment and socioeconomic status, and between men and women, according to a new analysis1. The findings could help explain differences seen in the brains of autistic women and men, many of whom find social communication challenging…

This annual holiday is observed on May 20 to raise awareness about adoptable dogs living in U.S. animal shelters. Adopt, don't shop!Source: The Autism Site

In 2013, the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) — the ‘bible’ for diagnosticians in the United States and Australia — removed Asperger syndrome as a diagnosis separate from autism. In 2019, the World Health Organization followed suit, making the same chang…

A secure attachment offers three basic things: a sense of safety and security, a secure base from which to explore, and the ability to regulate emotions. Insecure attachments are often linked to aggression and anxiety.Source: The Autism Site

Autistic Author Interview Chase Taylor Ever since he was a little boy, Chase Taylor, has had a passion for letters and cute characters. Now that he’s an adult, he’s turned his passion into a series of children’s books that help children identify letters and words that begin with those letters.…

The relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to autism and traits of the condition have held steady over multiple decades, according to a large twin study 1. Among tens of thousands of Swedish twins born over the span of 26 years, genetic factors have consistently had a larger imp…

"This is the first CDC study to provide estimates of the number of U.S. adults with autism and fills a gap in data on adults living with autism spectrum disorder in the United States."Source: The Autism Site

High blood pressure during pregnancy may raise a woman’s chances of having an autistic child, according to a new analysis1. The onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy, a condition known as preeclampsia, also increases the odds of other neurodevelopmental conditions, the study found. “The effe…