Recent data suggests that 40% of autistic children under the age of 7 have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can exacerbate autism symptoms, such as worsening sensory over-reactivity and difficulty tolerating change, and contribute to social withdrawal and avoidance. Further, anxiety in young children is associated with a 3.5 times higher risk of anxiety and depression…
“Where do I see my adult child after they leave school?” This may seem like a daunting question, explains Courtney Gebura, transition coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Center for Autism, but it is one parents of autistic children must ask themselves. Gebura adds, “It’s important for parents to think about how and to what…
Being an entertainer on the spectrum is nuts, y’all. When I was a kid, I was practically addicted to spinning. I’d spin and pace in circles just about everywhere – at home, the churchyard at Sunday School, and the playground at recess to the chagrin of many teasing classmates. A couple of decades later, I’d…
Although social skills may not be necessary for your young adult to perform the actual job, they may be needed to help them keep the job or be more socially included at work. The social skills demanded vary from place to place, but there are basic skills that every employee should know. This blog post…
On November 2, the Hire Autism team trained 9 new navigators as a part of our fall cohort. Congratulations to our newest navigators: Jeffrey Crawford Frank Haynes Brooke Kacala Angeline Loaiza Mariel Loughlin Juan Martinez Briana Oliver Misha Sharma Claudia Zacharias Hire Autism navigators play a vital role in equipping job seekers with the tools…
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) at UCLA are co-hosting the Community Grant Competition. This competition supports the design, packaging, and distribution of informational resources that will improve health outcomes for autistic people. This competition recognizes the expertise of community members and aims to empower…
With multiple high-profile stories of negative interactions between autistic individuals and law enforcement, coupled with the fact that autism impacts individuals throughout their lives, there has been increasing attention to the need for better understanding of how to prevent adverse outcomes. Preliminary research has demonstrated that autistic individuals deal with the criminal justice system frequently,…
According to a report by the United Health Foundation released in early October, suicides among adolescents ages 15 to 19 jumped 29% over the previous decade, from 8.4 per 100,000 to 10.8 per 100,000. In March, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued new recommendations that call for pediatric health providers to screen all young people…
A new California law will make conservatorship a “last resort,” as noted in an article on the Disability Scoop website. Instead, it promotes alternatives to conservatorship, makes it difficult to set up conservatorships and easier to get out of them, and ensures that even when under a conservatorship, people have choices. The law, which becomes…
Calling 911 is a call that no parent wants to make. But that call to 911 is critically important when an autistic child is missing. It is the most important step in keeping your child safe in the event of a wandering episode. In Montgomery County, Md., where Officer Laurie Reyes works, it is more…
