An online resource reveals all major cell types in the developing human brain during mid-gestation, the period in which autism is thought to arise1. The researchers used a method called Drop-seq to sequence the RNA of single cells, which identifies all active genes in the cell. Each type of cell has…

Kodi Lee had the judges and his mom in tears.Source: The Autism Site

An analysis of whole-genome sequences from nearly 500 families has implicated 16 new genes in autism1. In all of these genes, some mutations are passed from neurotypical parents to their autistic children. Most studies of autism genetics focus on families in which only one child has autism. Autism i…

Developed in association with Sense International India, Samsung Good Vibes is an app for deafblind people that lets them communicate with others using Morse Code! The app has two interfaces  – “Deafblind mode” and “Caregiver mode”. In Deafblind mode, the entire scre…

9-year-old Justin can't stand loud and high-pitched music, but there are a few songs in particular that he loves.Source: The Autism Site

Theo Bennett had surgery to remove cataracts from both eyes after being diagnosed with congenital cataracts just a month before.Source: The Autism Site

Welcome back to ABA Journal Club! One of the tenets of ABA is to provide evidence-based practice. The best way to help us do this is to keep up with the literature! Each month, Sam Blanco, PhD, LBA, BCBA will select one journal article and provide discussion questions for professionals working withi…

As a BCBA, I am often asked to address problematic behaviors. One of the most common errors I see in addressing such behaviors is that the adults working with the child have not identified the function (or purpose) of the problematic behavior. Decades of research have shown that there are only four …

The post Can preventing seizures alter the course of autism? appeared first on Spectrum | Autism Research News. Source: Spectrum News

Fluctuations in heart rate and changes in pupil size could herald Rett syndrome, autism or related conditions, a new study suggests1. Heart rate and pupil size can indicate a person or animal’s state of arousal, or level of alertness. The new work suggests that the pupils of a mouse model of Rett sy…

"Anything could've happened to him."Source: The Autism Site

She’s 6 feet 9 inches, and her legs measure a whopping 53 inches — giving her the longest legs in the world!Source: The Autism Site

Assessment is the cornerstone of creating appropriate and effective interventions. Two common assessments used for youngsters with autism are the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills-Revised (ABLLS-R) and the Verbal Behavior – Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP). You’ve…

As adults, we’re fairly accustomed to contracts for car loans, new employment, or updates to our smartphones. But contracts can also be beneficial in the classroom setting. A contingency contract is defined as “a mutually agreed-upon document between parties (e.g., parent and child) that specifies a…