By the time he was four years old, he had memorized many different songs and could play them by heart. Now, he amazes the world with his musical abilities. The post Meet Derek Paravicini, The Blind Autistic Savant With Perfect Pitch appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

Hello, and welcome to the community newsletter! I’m your host, Chelsey B. Coombs, Spectrum’s engagement editor. As our readers no doubt know, this week marked the one-year anniversary of when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Many people have taken to Twitter to talk…

By Clare Smith What makes us human? Autistic people already know that one of the enduring myths about us is that we don’t do empathy. That we don’t get how others are feeling. That we don’t even get how we’re feeling. But loads of us can. In fact, many of us have no filter for emotions, so we’re h…

Pediatric clinics can boost their rates of autism screening and diagnostic referrals by way of sensitive tests, electronic notifications and secondary screens, according to a new study. Clinicians are advised to screen toddlers for autism during regular check-ups at 18 and 24 months of age and to re…

By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch Jerry Rothwell’s documentary The Reason I Jump, a profoundly compelling commentary on the lives of several young nonspeaking adults on the autism spectrum. Based on the book of the same title by Naoki Higashida, this documentary explores the u…

Caiden Hooks has done what many high school athletes dream of but don’t often achieve: making it to... The post Blind Wrestler with Autism Battles His Way to High School State Tournament appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

The post Spotted around the web: Antidepressants, closing prevalence gaps, cannabis for autism appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Researchers can eavesdrop on the molecular chatter within neurons, thanks to fluorescent sensors that track many different signaling molecules at once. The new technique could help reveal how signaling pathways differ in people with autism and identify molecular targets for therapies. To detect spec…

Glenda Liner teaches kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders on the autism spectrum. The post Special Ed Teacher Visits Students Individually to Find Out How She Can Help Them appeared first on The Autism Site News. Source: The Autism Site

A street musician in Dublin performed "You've Got a Friend in Me" for a seven-year-old with autism on the train. A video of the performance, along with the child's reaction, quickly went viral. The post Street Musician Makes 7-Year-Old With Autism’s Day By Singing “You’ve Got A Fr…

This week’s blog comes to us from Kate Connell, the creator of the Picture My Picture flashcard collection. Visit our site to learn more!  Having three boys at home for three months in 2020 I understand the challenge of remote learning. There were certainly moments of chaos and ti…

People with fragile X syndrome in Colombia are diagnosed at age 27, on average, according to the first study to assess diagnosis in the country. By comparison, the average age of a fragile X diagnosis in the United States is about 3 years. Fragile X syndrome is caused by a mutation in the gene FMR1 …

"Children like A.V. don't need handcuffs or criminal charges — they need compassion, and an understanding of the needs of students with disabilities." The post Family Traumatized After Autistic 11-Year-Old Arrested and Jailed for Scratching Another Student appeared first on The Autism Site News. Sou…

Few hormones have captured as much interest from scientists and laypeople alike as oxytocin. This hormone is produced primarily in the brain, where it acts as a neurotransmitter, but it also has functions throughout the body. Researchers have known for more than a century that oxytocin helps to init…