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Challenges of COVID-19 disruptions: Guidance for autism service providers… lockdowns have been in place for a month or more. We hope this guidance will help you to continue your important work supporting people with autism and their families. Prepare before lockdown/during minimally restricted movement : Set up a … and prioritize the immediate needs for each family, including basic needs (food, medication, shelter) as well as caregiving support. If your health system has a patient portal or other way to communicate through the electronic health record, now is … tools, digital downloads, videos and other specific needs that families may request. Try to set up a caregiver support group via an online platform, such as Facebook groups or other technology such as WeChat, where parents and caregivers can …
Autism Speaks endorses sleep guidelines for children with autism … it is important to find a strategy that works for your child to help them get the sleep they need.” Although published by a group of specialists, these sleep guidelines are targeted to support primary care providers treating children with autism in their practices. The guidelines echo the best practices in …
Researchers report findings on getting autism treatments into diverse communities … communities. A series of presentations by panelists looked at access to services for different minority and ethnic groups as well as in international communities. “Getting autism care and knowledge into communities means better access for … creative ways that researchers and providers are trying to distribute knowledge so that communities are better equipped to support people with autism where they live.” In Washington, D.C., where 80 percent of the children enrolled in Medicaid are … program for early childhood educators. Following a four-part training series, the educators felt better equipped to support children with autism in their care, but still reported that timely access to full evaluations and treatments …
Spotlight on the Gut Bacteria-Brain Connection in Autism… field was reflected by presentations at Neuroscience 2013 this week. The idea of a gut-brain connection isn’t new. It’s supported by a large body of research showing continuous communication between the bacteria that inhabit the digestive tract … brain development. Gut bacteria, propionic acid and autism For more than a decade, Derrick MacFabe and his autism research group at Western Ontario University have been investigating how certain antibiotic-resistant gut bacteria may interfere with … autism-like changes in brain development, as well as evidence of intestinal inflammation. Though preliminary, the findings support Dr. MacFabe’s theory that the production of propionic acid and related fatty acids by antibiotic-resistant gut …
Research meeting highlights access and intersectional challenges in U.S. and international communities … designed to reduce some of that resource burden.” Early data presented by Wagner from the clinical trial of the TAP tool supported its effectiveness as a diagnostic tool for children who were referred for autism evaluation, but further research was needed to see if the tool would be effective at other sites with more mixed groups of children. After testing the tool with 200 providers from across specialties, from pediatricians to school … are lifted. In a related session, researchers at Children’s Mercy Kansas City presented findings about using telehealth to support caregivers during the pandemic. Located in an area with a range of patients from rural, suburban and urban …
Autism Speaks announces pilot sites for groundbreaking project linking discovery science and clinical research… $6.15M including a leading gift of $3.5M from the Wise Family Foundation of Toronto, Canada. These generous commitments support the $12 million expansion of PATH, the next phase of MSSNG, to include not only whole genome sequence data but also … of the data and findings. These larger datasets increase the ability for researchers to find patterns and connections in groups of very different people. Due to the broad and variable ways each person is affected by autism, when testing … people.” About Autism Care Network A first of its kind learning health system for autism, the Autism Care Network, with support from Autism Speaks is built on more than a decade of work in improving autism care and a family-centered approach to …
COVID-19 survey reveals widespread challenges for autism community and wider disparities for minority communities … community are struggling even more, particularly with basic needs.” Minority respondents, who made up about half of the group surveyed, reported more struggles with a variety of needs related to the pandemic, basic needs, daily routines and education. The largest disparities were in the areas of food insecurity and receiving distance learning supports, with nonwhite respondents experiencing twice the food insecurity of white respondents and twice as likely to not receive any distance learning supports. Food insecurity was measured as food for the household having run out and families not having enough money to buy …
Autism Speaks Names 2017 Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellows… career scientists pursuing autism research. Lady Weatherstone and daughter Cheryl Weatherstone-Vance continue to actively support this fellowship program on a personal level. The 2017 class brings the number of Autism Speaks Weatherstone … and daily living among adolescents affected by autism. Her goal is to guide the development of more-effective programs for supporting a successful transition to adulthood. Read more about Maya Reiter's research project here . Evan Geller Under the … understanding and treatment of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems that commonly occur in this vulnerable group. Read more about Jessica Greenlee's research project here . Elyza Kelly Under the mentorship of Peter Tsai at …
Supplements for kids with autism may lead to nutrient imbalances… and vitamin D. The study appears this week in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics . The research was supported through the ATN’s role as the federally funded Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). … and were taking supplements were still not getting enough calcium. Around a third were not getting enough vitamin D. As a group, the children on a gluten-free/casein-free diet got more magnesium and vitamin E than the other children did. This may … of bone fractures seen in children with autism. “Many children and families affected by autism can greatly benefit from the support of nutritionists and feeding specialists to ensure both immediate and long-term health,” Dr. Wang concludes. The 14 …
Small study finds B12 injections ease autism symptoms in some children… in some children who have the disorder. The researchers found that the behavior improvement occurred primarily in a subgroup of children who showed particular blood chemistry changes after the methyl B12 injections . In these children, the … time. Some earlier research has suggested that the process is impaired in some people with autism . The new study, supported by a grant from Autism Speaks , appears online in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology . It is … metabolic abnormality – impaired methylation capacity – holds the potential to improve [autism] symptoms.” They call for support of a larger controlled trial to check and clarify their results. For related news and blog posts, also see: Grandma …