In May, the television channel Freeform announced that their show, “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay” had been renewed for a second season. In the show, which was released in January 2020, the main character, Nicholas, finds that he has custody over his two teenage sisters after the death of their father. One of his sisters, Matilda,…
There are many ways in which the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic – including disruptions to routines, social isolation, and inability to access healthcare services – have been particularly difficult for people with autism. Although many people in the autism community have stepped up to make adjustments and help others adapt to the current crisis…
In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the autism prevalence rate rose from 2014 to 2016. One in 54 8-year-old children have been identified with autism, according to an analysis of 2016 data, compared to one in 59 as reported in 2014. The report also found that 33 percent of children…
For many young adults with autism, fostering self-determination through independent living is important, and many parents are concerned that they will not be able to provide the level of care that their children need as they age. The Autism Housing Network also notes that 48 percent of autistic adults report feeling lonely, and 57 percent…
At 17 years old, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice, has been named TIME Magazine’s youngest ever Person of the Year, and has addressed world leaders in a now viral speech given at the UN Climate Action Summit. Thunberg is also on the autism spectrum and vocal…
When it comes to diagnosing autism, much discussion and emphasis are placed on early diagnosis. Nonetheless, for a variety of reasons, a number of people discover they are on the autism spectrum much later in life. For many of them, the diagnosis helped put events in the past in clearer context. Autism self-advocate Michael John…
Set to release this month on Disney+, Pixar’s newest animated short film, “Loop,” has sparked excitement throughout the autism community. According to Pixar, the film’s plot is set to follow a non-verbal girl with autism and a bubbly young boy during a canoeing trip. This news comes after the release of another Pixar short film,…
The airport experience can be stressful for even a seasoned traveler, but for those on the autism spectrum, it can be overwhelming. The airport’s loud, busy, and unfamiliar environment can be overstimulating, often resulting in meltdowns. Delta Airlines has recently joined American, JetBlue, and Alaskan airlines in creating a disability support airport rehearsal program. In…
Sports arenas have well-deserved reputations for being extremely loud, crowded, and over-stimulating, as anyone who has ever been to a game knows. Now NFL franchises are finding ways to accommodate individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disabilities. The Philadelphia Eagles, for example, recently opened the first NFL sensory-inclusive room at Lincoln Financial Field,…
While the use of virtual reality in teaching and supporting people with autism is not new, educators and others are finding new ways to use the technology. A Massachusetts school district, for example, has turned to the technology to serve its students with disabilities. According to a DisabilityScoop article, the Holten Richmond Middle School of…
