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How Legoland Florida became more inclusive for guests with autism… past year, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort in Winter Haven, Fla., has worked closely with the North and Central Florida chapter of Autism Speaks to make the popular vacation destination a more welcoming place for guests with autism spectrum disorders. For many of our employees (called “Model Citizens”), it’s a uniquely personal effort. “Offering …
When people say "I love someone with autism to the moon and back"… This guest post is by Kerry Magro , an international motivational speaker on the autism spectrum. This blog by Kerry Magro originally appeared here . Have you ever used this quote before? A few years ago I saw the quote, “I Love Someone With Autism to the Moon and Back” for the first time. This quote has resonated with me because of the countless families members …
Research reveals racial differences in perceptions of autism prior to diagnosis… A study published recently in Autism reveals racial differences in the way parents think about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prior to their child’s diagnosis. Researchers studied 489 children between ages 1 and 15 at …
Autism Speaks awards nearly $600,000 in Research Planning Grants… Autism Speaks is announcing grant funding to two research teams working to develop a model of care for autistic people … of developing a program that can be replicated by clinicians and service providers in broader communities. Many people with autism struggle with unhealthy or disruptive behaviors that can put themselves or others at risk and create barriers to full …
Moving stories of families with autism rescued from Hurricane Harvey… Media reports continue to come in of individuals with autism and their families being rescued from the ravages of Hurricane Harvey. As professional and volunteer rescue workers … such as these have been going viral. While natural disasters bring fear, anxiety and confusion to all victims, people with autism and other disabilities are particularly vulnerable to such devastating upheaval from their daily lives. Thankfully, … to face hardship, each of the stories below have happy endings. Get natural disaster resources for families affected by autism . Shannon Stillwell posted to her Facebook wall a video of her family being rescued by a civilian boat from their …
Research yields tips for easing anxiety in nonverbal kids with autism… “Got Questions” response is by psychologist Jeffrey Wood, of the University of California, Los Angeles (above left), and Autism Speaks Weatherstone Fellow John Danial. An Autism Speaks research grant helped support Dr. Wood’s pioneering work on developing behavioral treatments for school …
Parent Worries: Adult Son with Autism Still Obsessed with Barney… “My son is 24 and is on the autism spectrum, diagnosed with PDD-NOS as a child. He works part-time at Home Depot and attends a social-support group … with a qualified healthcare professional and/or behavioral therapist. Today’s “Got Questions?” answer is from renowned autism educator Peter Gerhardt. Dr. Gerhardt, who serves on Autism Speaks’ Family Services Committee, has more than 30 years …
Teen with Autism Gets Help with Hygiene & Appropriate Behavior: Part 2… Newsom, PsyD, director of psychology education at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Nashville; Stormi Pulver White, PsyD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Dallas; and Cora Taylor, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. …
Could Earlier Treatment Have Prevented My Child’s Autism?… psychologist Sally J. Rogers, Ph.D., whose research at the University of California-Davis focuses on early intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) I have a question as a mother grappling with guilt. I read about an Autism Speaks study on the development of early interventions for babies who don’t yet have the full syndrome. Does this …
Autism Speaks opposes ruling allowing electric shock therapy… aggressive or harming behaviors, typically in children and adults severely affected by developmental disorders including autism, has been in place since March 2020. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned the ban on July 6, saying the FDA did not have the authority to regulate medical practice. Autism Speaks continues to support the ban on the use of ESDs and aversion therapy and affirms its 2016 statement when the …