Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Teenager creates eye-opening videos that shatter stereotypes surrounding autism and girls “I get that a lot, that because I’m good-looking, nothing can be wrong with me — so I want to show that mental illness is diverse.” The most recent data shows that about one in 68 children in the U.S. are affected by autism…

By Sharon Aron Baron In a move towards inclusivity, the City of Tamarac has launched a campaign to become an Autism Friendly City. This initiative, announced by the city on November 14, is a collaborative effort with Neuro Consulting Solutions (NCS) and Helping Adults with Autism Perform & Excel (HAAPE). This announcement comes on the…

Let’s face it, downtime in the classroom is not your friend, but strategies for student engagement are! I’ve talked about the magic of engagement in this episode of the podcast. Essentially, engagement is magical because when students are actively engaged in activities, you see fewer challenging behaviors and students learn more. But engagement is also…

Your child has been showing signs of autism, but there’s a part of you that thinks it’s too early to intervene. You’ve read about various management strategies, but how important is early intervention in autism? Early intervention services for autistic children have been shown to have a lasting impact on their development. Although there can…

By Brianna Fitchett, MA, BCBA of Playdates are an important part of childhood. They’re an opportunity to have fun, build friendships, and try new activities. For kids with autism and other developmental disabilities, playdates can be both a challenge and an opportunity to develop their social skills. Planning Playdates for Children with Autism Relationships that…

In this enlightening episode, we explore the unique challenges and experiences of puberty in autistic children. Dr. Whitney Casares and I discuss how to explain physical and emotional changes to neurodivergent teens, address sensitive issues like menstruation and self-exploration, and provide strategies for managing social challenges and inappropriate behaviors. Additionally, we delve into the potential…

Source: Alex Aviles / Getty As society continues to evolve, celebrating the unique talents and perspectives of people with autism enriches our collective narrative and fosters a more inclusive world. About 3% of Black, Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander children have an autism diagnosis, compared with about 2% of white kids. In the Black…

AbstractObjectiveTo summarize the breadth and quality of evidence supporting commonly recommended early childhood autism interventions and their estimated effects on developmental outcomes.DesignUpdated systematic review and meta-analysis (autism intervention meta-analysis; Project AIM).Data sourcesA search was conducted in November 2021 (updating a search done in November 2017) of the following databases and registers: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL…

By Guest Blogger Seph Bartholomew, of Key Autism Services The month of November is a time for reflection and thankfulness, where families and communities express gratitude for their blessings. In the Triad region of North Carolina, this year brings an additional reason for the autism community to be thankful – the establishment of the Key…

by Barbara Fischkin Children in Gaza who have autism enjoyed a day at the beach in July. Photo: Mahmoud Ajjour, The Palestine Chronicle Our elder, adult son, Dan Mulvaney, has non-speaking autism. For the most part, Dan has a good life. He lives near us—his mother and father—in a lovely group home on Long Island…