Women constantly deal with inherent gender biases in everyday conversations, jobs, and social life; new research shows that this gender bias is seen in diagnosing women with autism. The Guardian reported on a new study found the ratio of women to men with autism to be 3:1; these results were based on active screening rather…
According to a recent study cited in Spectrum News, about one in five adults with autism is unemployed. A research project, funded by a $1.1 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, aims to help change those prospects by introducing young students to career opportunities and building new skills. The research team created IDEAS, which stands…
One of the common challenges faced by people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is learning social skills, such as empathy and reading others’ emotions. Recent developments have suggested that therapists may soon be able to use robots to help teach those social skills. How does robot-assisted therapy work? First, a therapist teaches the child how…
Frasier Cox, a boy with autism, recently won best overall bedtime story in the Our Bedtime Story Competition. The annual U.K. competition for children between the ages of 5 and 11 offers winners the opportunity to collaborate with an illustrator and have their book published. Based on the 2017 theme of friendship, Frasier’s story, “There’s…
It’s not news to anyone in the autism community that, for many people with autism, finding a job after high school is stacked with obstacles. Project SEARCH is working to eliminate those obstacles. Project SEARCH is an innovative program that provides real-life work experience for people with disabilities. It originated at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical…
For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), popular vacation destinations such as theme parks can be overwhelming and frightening. With summer fast approaching, parents who are looking for a destination that suits everyone in the family may find the perfect spot at the nation’s first autism-friendly theme park. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit entity behind Sesame…
The $1.3 trillion spending package signed by President Trump in March provides funding to aid people with disabilities who wander, increase special education funding, tackle restraint and inclusion, and implement other measures as well, says a March 28 Disability Scoop article. Most notably, the article says, the legislation provides $2 million annually through 2022 to…
Having a stable job can greatly contribute to a person’s sense of well-being, purpose, and independence. Historically, that stable job has eluded many young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with approximately one in five adults with ASD unemployed and nearly half in residence with a family member, according to a recent study detailed in…
The newly developed Psychological Development Questionnaire (PDQ-1) could help pediatricians and other primary care providers identify autism more efficiently than the test currently used, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers – Revised with Follow Up (M-CHAT R/F), which requires an additional follow-up phone interview before determining whether an evaluation is necessary. A research study…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched the Milestone Tracker, a free app that enables parents and health care providers to monitor children’s attainment of developmental milestones. Part of the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” program, the new app aims to educate families and encourages them to seek the help of…
