Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

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.…

On this week’s episode I had a great conversation with Jillian Benfield. Jillian is the author of The Gift of The Unexpected. Her son Anderson was born with Down Syndrome and she’s here to talk about her journey. While our paths may be different, there is so much we can learn from each other. Jillian…

Care concerns: The transition to adulthood is marked by an increase in co-occurring conditions as well as difficulties accessing care. South_agency / Getty Images The health conditions that tend to accompany autism in adolescence grow even more prevalent by early adulthood, according to a new longitudinal study. The findings underscore the importance of continually screening…

We are pleased to announce that Courtney Chavis is the new director of Support Groups (formerly known as Chapters). Chavis has worked at the Autism Society of North Carolina since 2017, most recently as the Lead Triage and Connections Specialist. In that role, she facilitated connections between Autism Resource Specialists and individuals, families, and organizations.…

Autism Society of Mahoning Valley Launches Family Trust Project YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Inspired by the local story of a single father – with a special needs child – who faced a life-threatening health crisis, the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley is launching a three-part family trust project. Sophia’s Gift, an ASMV-directed fund, will offer families…