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Finding community—one step at a time!… Growing up in a Hispanic household where autism wasn't well understood, Kimberly Mariajimenez's path to self-acceptance wasn't easy. When her son Blake, age 22, was diagnosed with autism, Kimberly discovered that she herself was on the autism spectrum. She faced challenges finding acceptance from her …
Expert Q&A: Dr. Vanessa Bal discusses gaps in mental health care for autistic adults… our time, according to U.S. surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy. Recent research shows that approximately 70% of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have at least one, if not multiple, co-occurring mental health conditions . Services to … conditions, and shares potential directions for future research. Dr. Vanessa Bal is the Karmazin & Lillard chair in adult autism and an associate professor at the Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. She is …
One family’s story of navigating their son’s Down syndrome/autism dual diagnosis … Just like anyone else, he has his strengths and weaknesses and learns new things at his own pace. His Down syndrome and autism diagnoses do not define him – they are simply part of who he is. Jake was dually diagnosed with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder (DS-ASD) at the age of 7. I was relieved when we received the news because I finally had an …
Ashley’s adult diagnosis helped her embrace her superpower… off into the school hallways. Teachers often had to find me and keep a close eye on me. So clearly, there were signs of autism present inside me as a kid. But back then, autism was looked at as a white male-only disability, not a Black female disability. Females are much less likely to get an autism diagnosis, especially Black females. That’s why I feel my teachers didn't know to test me for autism. They assumed I …
Helping adults on the spectrum with grief … Alex LaMorie serves on the advisory board for autismandgrief.org , a new website for adults with autism who are grieving, their families, and professionals in supportive roles. The site was underwritten by the NLM Family Foundation and developed by Hospice Foundation of America, self advocates, and autism and grief experts. Alex is 23 years old and is an adult with autism. Learn more about Alex and his autism journey …
2021 Norma and Malcom Baker Recreation Grant Recipients… We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 Autism Speaks Norma and Malcom Baker Recreation Grants . These grants fund programs that provide autistic people of all ages … programs. Grant applications were reviewed by a team of independent evaluators. The reviewers consisted of people with autism, parents, caregivers, clinicians and other supporters of the autism community. Autism Speaks asks reviewers to …
#WhyAutismCARES Campaign… We need your voice! The Autism CARES Act is the primary source of federal funding for autism research, services, training, and monitoring. Unless Congress acts, portions of the law will sunset on September 30, …
Bringing family-centered support to the Latino community… Mexico to Philadelphia 18 years ago, she couldn’t have predicted how deeply her life would intertwine with the world of autism. After her son Xavier was diagnosed with autism, she shifted her career from neuroscience to autism research, dedicating herself to empowering Latino parents with …
How general education teachers can support students with ASD… One in 36 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism. More are enrolled in general education classrooms in school than ever before. The good news: inclusion has … towards diversity and even school attendance rates. The bad news: most general education teachers lack sufficient autism-related instruction. Many teacher-education programs require just one overview class about students with …
Video: Meet the fearless autistic NASCAR driver Armani Williams… Video (Responsive)."]} Throughout World Autism Month , we are spotlighting fearless individuals within the autism community . From the autistic adult stepping out of their comfort zone to the courageous mom advocating for her …