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Secure silence The UK government has kept an autistic man in a secure hospital for half his life, and used the courts to silence his parents. More
Sleep study At the age of eight, Chase Mazurek has rarely had a good night's sleep. He has autism and ADHD and has trouble falling asleep, wakes in the night and gets up about 4.45am. His mother, Melanie, says it's been exhausting and has taken a toll on relationships and family life. More Including us Much more must be done to make workplaces more inclusive for autistic people, according to Edinburgh-based Auticon, after it found that one in ten workers with the condition does not feel able to reveal their diagnosis at work. More Getting a feeling For some of our children understanding emotions is particularly hard. They may have communication challenges or struggle to read their own internal and physical signals. Some of our children have high anxiety and therefore have a huge challenge when it comes to regulating their emotions. More It’s about me ‘People said I was weak, lazy and fussy. I’m not – but I am autistic’. The late diagnosis of Melanie Sykes and Christine McGuinness came as no surprise to those who, like Sara Gibbs, have trodden the same path. More Safe online Online dating can be an avenue for autistic people to meet new friends and potential romantic partners, but it brings with it some pretty serious dangers. People who you meet via online dating sites may not always be who they seem. More Zayne’s world “At the beginning, life was really stressful and confusing, mixed with long waiting lists and no answers. We just wanted to be able to help Zayne the best we possibly could, but with very little knowledge and understanding of what he needed, it proved almost impossible to know what to do for the best.” More Support for signing SignTown is an interactive web game built to help people to learn about sign language and Deaf culture. It uses machine learning to detect the user's ability to perform signs learned from the game. More New numbers Autism rates are increasing yet again, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which finds for the first time that more than 2% of American children have the developmental disability. More Giving voice Sean Porter made an app for non-verbal children and those with autism like his brother to help them communicate. More It shouldn’t happen to a vet Mental health researchers at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science are calling for participants for a study on how workplace stressors affect staff who live with autism. More Capturing the spectrum Hoping to challenge misconceptions among the neurotypical, photographer Mary Berridge has spent more than five years capturing photographs of young people with autism. More Right to write Nick McAllister found his words after a tough time looking for employment as an autistic writer. More From science to support Working as a speech-language pathologist back in the early 2000s, Andrew Whitehouse saw one family after another struggling to get good care for their autistic children, some of them pursuing pricey, unproven therapies. More
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Try this There have been plenty of newcomers welcomed to the sport of rugby at the Palace Grounds in Armagh over the past five weeks. This comes after local autism support group, More Than Words, teamed up with Rugby Cubz NI, who provide modified rugby activities for children with autism and additional needs. More
Gut news A collaborative Australian study has challenged the increasingly popular theory that gut health drives autism and rejected the use of fad diets and so-called therapies such as faecal transplants. More Seeking acceptance People on the autism spectrum often face discrimination and other challenges in everyday life. In Bulgaria, activists are working to raise awareness and reduce stigma. More Pandemic problems For adults and children on the autism spectrum, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is easier said than done. More Autistic images When photographer Mary Berridge’s son was diagnosed with Asperger’s, she began to see his world in a new light. She set out to capture a series of everyday – and exceptional – stories, one image at a time. More That’s our business In this podcast Toni Boucher (author and autistic self-advocate) describes her “AUntrepreneur” programme which helps young adults launch their own businesses. More Sensory search Since sensory differences became part of the diagnostic criteria for autism in 2013, an increasing number of autism researchers have been drawn to the thalamus. What is it and what does it have to do with autism? More Meeting Melanie “There’s a sense of relief about it and a sense of mourning. Not because I don’t want to be who I am, it’s that I wish I’d known sooner so I could have understood exactly why things were rolling the way they were rolling". More Access to work An autistic woman said her experience of work was traumatising and more consideration was needed for neurodiverse employees. More A Jump in understanding David Mitchell on how translating The Reason I Jump for his non-verbal autistic son was a lifesaver and his excitement at seeing the new Matrix film he co-wrote. More
Grappling with autism Shane and Isham, two autistic wrestlers thrive on the mat. “The most important thing is it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle for me. Wrestling is hard. It’s not easy but I love it.” More Research gap Autism research funding has risen but still falls short of goals set by the US Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s (IACC). More Recognising strengths Autism should be defined as much by the unusual pattern of abilities and strengths as the difficulties that go with the condition. More Travel training Not all adults with autism will have the ability to travel independently. Those who can travel independently may not have the ability to drive on their own. But for those who are capable of walking, using public transportation, or driving, travel training can lead to greater self-confidence, flexibility, and independence. More Home free A mum who has been fighting to have her son with autism released from hospital after 15 years has revealed he should move into his own home later this year. More Sounds, smiles and siblings Babies with autistic older siblings pay close attention to adults’ mouths during speech, but they don’t reap the language-learning benefits associated with it, according to new unpublished research. By contrast, the more that children without autistic siblings watch speakers’ mouths as babies, the better they tend to understand spoken language as toddlers. More More work needed Robert Ward explains how he struggled through seven years of mainstream education and a lack of understanding in the workplace before finally finding a role where his unique skills were appreciated and valued. More Autism friendly housing A new Lewisham housing scheme is helping young adults with autism live independently, minimising stress and creating a calm environment through design. More At a difficult age Researchers are just beginning to learn what happens in the brains of autistic children during adolescence to explain their unique social, cognitive and emotional challenges More
Financial fight "You're literally having to fight people to get what you know your child is actually legally entitled to," Anna Geldard spent £20,000 fighting for the Education, Health and Social Care Plan (EHCP) her child is entitled to. More Super supporters Volunteers and medics have been praised for the way they helped a woman with learning difficulties get her first vaccination jab. Lucie Willis has autism and epilepsy and her parents Helen and Mark were apprehensive about how she would cope with going to York's vaccination centre More More autism Autism is more common in children in England than previously thought – a study at University of Cambridge also found that prevalence numbers varied by ethnicity and levels of deprivation More Video sharing Bristol group Autism Independence has launched a series of multi-language short films to dispel myths about autism in the Somali community, "We hope that our films, particularly the version in the Somali language, can reach many more families and reassure parents." More Sensory shopping "As an autistic, I always need to take my disability into account when I make consumer choices. Something a neurotypical person may not even notice—a beep, a buzz, a scratchy tag—can overwhelm my senses". More Sounds good Many children with autism struggle to find the words to express how they feel. But when it comes to music, it’s an entirely different situation. How can teachers incorporate music in everyday lessons? More Positive pathways What do we know about encouraging employment and thereby fostering independence among autistic young adults? A team in Cambridge, MA think they have a few answers More Help in mind 2020 hasn’t been an easy year for teens. Covid-19, exam cancellations and school closures have made it the most disrupted school year in 75 years. The folks at myTutor have some ideas about how parents can equip their teens with tactics and tips to cope with whatever life throws at them. More Ideas please Parenting any child is challenging, but the joys and feelings that come with parenting a child with special needs are unique. Wondermoms is a great source of advice and ideas. More Autistic and invisible Girls with autism are not being diagnosed because they are adept at camouflaging their behaviour in an effort to try to fit in, according to a new study. More
Reclaiming research for autism "I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 18 years old. At 18 years old, I began to understand myself. Finally, I understood why I am this way" More Don't generalise Autistic people vary widely in their quality of life, a new study shows. Some report shortcomings in their physical health and school achievement, among other areas, but many do not. More Care to spare Autistic people care too much, research suggests. A journal article in The Journal of Neuroscience was released last week regarding morality and individual gain, comparing groups of autistic people and non-autistic people More Low-down on lockdown "The new [national] lockdown measures are causing a lot of anxiety for people like me. It’s difficult to wake up one morning and be told you can’t leave your house or go to school." More Welcome to the house "I honestly never thought that I would run for office, because I didn't see people in elected office who were like me," Jessica Benham More Spotting signs Sam Bailey says she felt guilty that she hadn't spotted the signs sooner. "Looking back, he has an issue with loud music and loud noises. A hand dryer in the toilet, he’d be like: 'Agh!'," More Why the wait? Families are living a 'nightmare' waiting two years for children to get access to autism referrals More A.I. help for jobs Researchers are collaborating to develop artificial intelligence based software to help people on the autism spectrum find and hold meaningful employment. “We believe that people with disabilities add a needed element to the richness of the American and global workforce,” More Research needs you University of York researchers need your help with a project looking at experiences of bullying in childhood in autistic adults. More
... why not explore the topic of the role of the autistic voice in research a little further? More Safe schooling Are schools able to offer safe and suitable provision for autistic children on an individual basis during 'lockdown'? More Virtual understanding US law enforcement professionals are utilising virtual reality to gain insight into autistic experience. More Distraction reaction Autistic people may have trouble tuning out distractions. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh believe this may account for some of the problems with sensory sensitivity and sensory processing experienced by individuals on the spectrum. More Wired for success Auticon, an IT company, sees the benefits of having a majority-autistic workforce. "Our hybrid onsite and offsite teams utilise the cognitive benefits of autism to provide the sustained concentration and analytical mindset that makes us wired for success". More Autism advocate In 2017, Daisy Shearer, then a 21-year-old physics major at the University of Surrey in the UK, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In retrospect, the diagnosis made sense. It explained the sensory overload and panic attacks during exams, for example, and the trouble she had maintaining friendships. More Lockdown life Robyn Steward and Jamie Knight, presenters of the podcast '1800 Seconds on Autism', reveal what’s been going on in their lives during lockdown. From the pasta dish Jamie has eaten every day for five years no longer being available at the supermarket, through to Robyn’s solo trip to hospital, a notoriously noisy and discombobulating place. More Eating and autism Is there a relationship between eating disorders and autism? Children with autistic traits are more likely than their peers to develop an eating disorder, according to a new UCL-led study. More Siblings stick together Why not sign up for a free siblings webinar? Siblings, parents, and other caregivers can participate in this series, which will be the 2nd Tuesday each month. Next one is June 9th. More Tough to talk about? Listen to Amy Gravino, autism advocate, on what parents can say about sex and relationships to autistic youngsters. More B is for bullied A study has found autistic children are more likely to be victims of bullying. Researchers call for more resources to help parents deal with bullying behaviours in home and school. More Rude! "A recent altercation I had with a flight attendant exemplified just how little most people understand about neurological diversity", Laura McKenna (Mum to Ian who has Aspergers). More Touching The inability to tolerate light touch is a telltale feature of autism. What causes it? More Design for life How can autism-friendly architecture change autistic children’s lives? How do we design/change schools for children with autism. More Sad situation Autistic people are four times as likely to experience depression over the course of their lives as their neurotypical peers. Yet researchers know little about why, or how best to help. More A big question Researchers are taking a multi-pronged approach to understanding a great mystery of autism: Why are four times more boys diagnosed with the condition than girls? The lack of information about autism in girls means many are never diagnosed and miss out on support. More Right to work (without discrimination) A Wales Trade Union Congress survey showed only 16% of autistic adults were in full-time paid work. The organisation also said it was dealing with cases where staff were not getting reasonable adaptations in the workplace, required under the Equality Act. More Teachers must train Parents of autistic children have protested at Stormont over the lack of mandatory training on autism for teachers in Northern Ireland. More than 10,000 people have signed a petition calling for improvements to be made in schools. More Autism plays a part Actress and playwright Anna Kyle talks about how realising she had Asperger Syndrome has helped her understand and cope with life More
Art of autism At the age of 15, Niam Jain has achieved a level of respect and recognition in North American art circles typically reserved for much older artists. More Seeking social My brother Michael leaves the best voicemails, is a great traveling companion and does a spot-on impression of our late grandmother. Michael is also on the autism spectrum, and has been my life’s best reference for loving someone who is neuroatypical. More Crisis? this crisis "We had to fight for even a basic assessment. Now we’ve been told the school setting he needs is not available" More Not helping A survey of Scottish autistic people has found that over half have had negative experiences while trying to access mental health services. More 'Getting' autismThree golden rules for supporting autistic pupils - we need to move beyond generalisations and bust some of the myths around autism, says Luke Beardon. More That's part of it Mounting evidence supports the idea that motor and sensory differences are notable features of autism. More I declare If you have autism should you disclose that fact when you're trying for a job? If you've been hired without sharing your spectrum condition with your boss, should you tell him or her about it? More Inside story Disproportionately higher numbers of people with learning disabilities are in prison. Around 7% of people in the criminal justice system have a learning disability, compared with around 2% of the population. More Autism independence 'Autism and Enablement' is a new, practical guide to enablement and shows how to help adults with autism achieve greater independence and become more self-sufficient. More
Growing skills Unique agriculture project 'Lettuce Work' is helping young people with autism develop socially and acquire great work skills. More We know what you mean Harry When Harry Redknapp was visiting Portfield School in Christchurch, Dorset, and learnt how overwhelming a football match can be for a child with the condition, he asked what could be done to make the game more accessible. More Autism is in Africa Many African children with autism are hidden away at home. Efforts to bring the condition into the open are only just beginning. More French revolution France has a long history of being out of step with modern theories of autism. After lagging behind other countries for decades, France is working on a new national plan for autism. More Hearing voices Three- to five-year-old children with autism and delayed language development appear to process voices differently than typically developing children, according to a new study. More Seen Rain Man? "There are no typical autistic people, despite the savant stereotypes. My son is just himself: he’s me, with a coating of autism". More Through Glass Once ridiculed as a failed innovation, Google Glass is emerging as an important tool to help with educational and behavioral needs of children with autism. More Right at the museum Things are getting sensory at the Museum. Many museums are now offering early entry and sensory-friendly activities to those on the spectrum of any age. More Our stories We must never stop listening to real experiences of autism. Here, four men and women speak about how autism touches their lives. More |
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