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Meet Martha… When Martha’s son, Josh, was growing up, Martha faced many challenges finding him the services and supports he needed to overcome his speech delay and behavioral challenges. Now, at age 21, Josh has grown into a bright, … graduation, he went off to a neurodiverse college for a year. That was incredibly stressful for him—they didn’t have the supports they purported to have for him. Then the pandemic happened, so he came home and did some online courses. Now, we’re … strengths and to support them to follow their dreams. Try to seek out support wherever you can, whether it’s in a support group, friends or family. Listen to your heart. If you feel like a situation isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change. The …
A guide to resources we offer from screening to adulthood… an autism diagnosis and in accessing related services. To help reduce this disparity, we are committed to providing support to our Hispanic community. Resources At autismspeaks.org you will find a tab,  ¿Que es el autismo?  which provides … their child’s autism diagnosis. Manual de Defensa  helps autistic individuals and their families advocate for services and supports they need. Manual de Planificación Financiera  provides parents tips on accessing financial support and planning … Tony’s experience  adulting on the spectrum. Social Media Voces Latinas de Autism Speaks is our Spanish speaking Facebook group to support parents and autistic individuals. Through this network, we share resources and experiences to build our …
Catching up with Kaitlyn Y.… struggles to problem solve, take in her surroundings, and be fully independent, we have been fortunate enough to build a supportive community around her using the resources available through a variety of agencies. Today, Kaitlyn leads a … to adulthood, working alongside her mom at their do-it-yourself craft studio franchise that offers individual and group classes to create on-trend designs on customizable decor accessories.  Diagnosed with autism at age three, Kaitlyn received services and support that helped her take on more responsibilities as a young adult.  At 21, Kaitlyn shared that she was excited to …
Expert Q&A: Explaining the conditions that accompany autism… In this Q&A, Amanda Bennett Palladino, MD, MPH, shares some of the most common conditions that accompany autism and offers support and resources to those coping with co-occurring conditions. Amanda Bennett Palladino is a developmental and … their care team. I frequently refer families to the Autism Speaks website to access the free Tool Kits that are designed to support families in addressing some of the most common co-occurring conditions. Families can find resources related to … caring for people with autism. Find local experts and/or advocates, participate in a research study or community advocacy group, find an online community if you can’t find a local one. The resources are there, in one form or another, if you just …
Bullying and Mainstreaming in the Schools… these striking results may be that children with ASDs mainstreamed in schools are not being fully integrated into the peer group and remain isolated even in a classroom full of other children.  It would be a mistake to undermine efforts to … setting. Rather, parents and educators need to ensure that children who are placed in inclusive classrooms have sufficient support to thrive and are protected from bullying. A child’s Individualized Education Program is a natural place to set …
Teamwork and time management: Lessons from Autism Speaks intern, Binh… involved data entry and analysis and database management, which I liked. I mostly worked for the Science and Services and Supports group. Much of my work was around the function of the Autism Speaks website. There are a lot of URLS and I could see how the …
Karl Wittig, a retired electronics engineer, reflects on his late diagnosis and career journey… spectrum disorder. His diagnosis gave him a deeper understanding of his differences and allowed him to find a tight-knit support group of other autistic adults. In this Q&A, Karl talks about his journey to an autism diagnosis and his three secrets to … I had finally nailed it. After my diagnosis, I became very engaged in the autistic communities. I started going to support meetings, which I’ve been going to and facilitating ever since. I’m part of an organization now called Aspies for …
Advocacy Perspective: During Black History Month, A Call To Action To Advance Health Equity … adverse health challenges.   Autism Speaks was a frequent flyer in my office on the Hill. I often met with a very diverse group of AS ambassadors. They not only advocated for the autistic community but for health equity generally. I saw as they … services. These data indicate that too many Black autistic children are going undiagnosed - without the services and support they need and deserve.  Our approach to change this is through community-based services that empower those who are … with autism and developmental disabilities or delays how to use their everyday routines and home activities to best support their children’s communication and behavioral health needs. Our Public Health Team’s work – which has impacted lives …
Peter B., an autistic college student, shares strategies that have helped him live independently… figured it out when I moved into the dorm at 19 because I was forced to do it regularly. When I was younger, I needed support to do different tasks, but I've since built up structures in my life that allow me to do them independently. For … on me, but the instruction was largely focused on theoretical content with no actual practice opportunities outside of that group. In retrospect, I think I might have gotten better results in another environment. If you had to share one lesson with … Roadmap to Postsecondary Education Read a clinician’s tips for teaching self-care skills to autistic youth with high support needs … Peter B., an autistic college student, shares strategies that have helped him live independently …
Expert Q&A: Dr. Ryan Adams shares tips and resources to end bullying… in the UC Department of Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a member site of the Autism Speaks-supported Autism Care Network . His research focuses on adolescents, peer victimization, bullying and depressive symptoms.   … some examples of strategies you offer in the guides?  We know the most effective way to stop bullying is giving the larger group of bystanders the tools they need to recognize when it’s happening and get involved. A lot of times, people get away … with bullying by saying they were kidding, so we teach kids that doesn’t matter. Then, we give them different strategies to support the person being bullied. For example, the easiest thing to do if you witness bullying in school is not to laugh. …