Month: August 2023

By VITTORIA D’ALESSIO Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that has been intensely investigated since the mid-20th century. It’s estimated that ASD affects around 1 in 100 children and mainly boys. Studies suggest that ASD is closely linked to genetics. The basic challenge is untangling the relationships between the many genes involved…

“I do not consider Autism/Asperger’s to be a disability but rather a brain that functions differently from the neurotypical brain,” says Beau Shenkenberg, who was diagnosed at two with the then-termed Asperger’s syndrome. In 2013, Asperger’s syndrome was absorbed into the encompassing diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Specifically, those with a diagnosis of Asperger’s would…

Pastor Octavia “Taye” Roberts has social media divided on how she prayed over a young Black boy on the autism spectrum. Roberts, a co-pastor of Open Wings Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia, posted the now-viral clip on her TikTok account Aug. 4. The Christian ministry head and mother of seven passionately prayed over the innocent child’s…

For 20 years, a young woman was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, rather than the chronic inflammation in her body and brain caused by a very treatable form of atypical lupus. The correct diagnosis led to appropriate treatment and a significant turnaround in her quality of life. For those 20 years she had been institutionalized and loaded…

Must wanting to avoid loud noise always be an autism thing? Can’t an autistic person ALSO want to protect their ears from noise induced hearing loss? Hearing loss stinks. When it reaches a point that you can no longer get by without hearing aids, this isn’t as easy as popping in your hearing aids every…

Even after accounting for sociodemographic factors, intellectual disabilities, and psychiatric diagnoses, autism is associated with an 83% increased risk of self-harm among females and a 47% increased risk among males. METHODOLOGY: Evidence shows those with autism have over threefold greater odds than their counterparts without the disorder of self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or…

As a parent, your primary goal is to keep your child healthy, happy, and safe. However, when you are parenting a child with autism, you face unique challenges that require a different approach to parenting. From navigating therapy appointments to managing a child’s special dietary needs, parenting a child with autism requires exceptional patience, understanding,…

Wawa has announced that it will transform a former store into a production facility for Popcorn for the People, a non-profit that creates career opportunities for autistic individuals. Wawa announced its commitment during the Philadelphia Eagles’ opening practice alongside the team’s owner, Jeffrey Lurie, and the Eagles Autism Foundation. For more than 40 years, Wawa…

Your browser does not support the video tag. Pause Brain bonanza: Researchers can search within the connectome data for specific neurons, brain areas, neurotransmitters and more. Courtesy of CATMAID A team of researchers and citizen scientists has mapped all of the circuits in the entire brain of an adult fruit fly. The connectome, described in…

A viral video of a pastor praying over a small boy who reportedly has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has drawn outrage online. Pastor Octavia Roberts of Open Wings Ministries in Riverdale, Georgia, shared the video on her TikTok account on Aug. 5. Pastor Octavia Roberts prays for boy with ADHD and autism.…