In a recent Biospace article, John Ricco, the co-founder of Atlantic Group Recruiting, explained that autistic employees “often possess a unique skill set that employers can benefit from, including attention to detail, innovative problem solving, and a strong work ethic.” Even with these skill sets, unemployment rates for autistic adults are eight times higher than…
When Ryan Neale went to UCLA, his dream school, he struggled in the first months of his freshman year, hiding his autism and trying to blend in, as he wrote in an essay for Business Insider. In those first months of his freshman year, he “exchanged sleep and self-care for going out and partying —…
It is summertime, and pools, beaches, lakes, and ponds are wonderful places to enjoy recreation. For autistic children, though, places near water can be dangerous because they have a tendency to wander. A 2018 study that surveyed parents reported that 40% of them said that their child had wandered or attempted to wander at least…
Two new studies have found older autistic adults are at risk for age-related physical conditions and injuries and are particularly susceptible to certain mental health issues. The studies were presented at the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) annual meeting, held May 3-6 in Stockholm, Sweden. The research presented is considered preliminary until it is…
In late March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the autism prevalence is higher that it was in 2018. Currently, one in 36 (2.8%) children are identified with autism spectrum disorder, based on 2020 data from 11 communities in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The previous 2018 estimate…
Judith Heumann, the “mother of the disability rights movement,” and an influential figure throughout the disability community, passed away on March 4, 2023. Renowned on a global scale as a fierce activist and advocate for the disabled community, she will be remembered for breaking barriers in both her personal and professional life. Breaking Barriers from…
Researchers at Rutgers University recently reported that, between 2000 and 2016, autism rates among children without intellectual disabilities rose by five times— from 3.8 per 1,000 to 18.9 per 1,000 in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. Rates among children with intellectual disabilities more than doubled – from 2.9 per 1,000 to 7.3 per 1,000.…
In January, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) approved a new strategic plan, as reported in Disability Scoop. The new plan provides recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding autism research, services, and supports, among others. In addition, it calls for a “substantial increase” in government funding for autism research to reach…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in mid-December that it would invest more than $20 million over four years to continue tracking autism prevalence and characteristics at the nine sites in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network and launch one new site in Puerto Rico. According to the latest data…
Just in time for holiday gift giving, there’s a new book for autistic people that is practical and just right for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With loads of good advice and 100 recipes, the Autism-Friendly Cookbook has been described as the “first cookbook for autistic people.” British journalist Lydia Wilkins, who is autistic, noted in…
