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Can brain scans help personalize autism therapies and supports? … Institute at George Washington University. An Autism Speaks Meixner Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Research supported the research Dr. Yang describes here. Autism brain scans I’m glad to tell you about the promising findings of the … he or she would benefit from a given behavioral therapy or social training program. We did this with two very different groups of people affected by autism: young children and young adults. And each group completed a very different intervention … – at least at the current time. In theory, this might suggest that the person would do better with a treatment that supports and enhances key brain responses to social information. Already, various research teams are exploring ways to do …
Clinician Guide: Program Development and Best Practices for Treating Severe Behaviors in Autism … of life for autistic people and their families. To improve systems of care for this population, Autism Speaks convened a group of multi-disciplinary experts to develop the Clinician Guide: Program Development and Best Practices for Treating … The goal of this guide is to help providers: Expand their understanding of intense challenging behaviors in autism Support individuals experiencing significant behavior challenges who may harm themselves or those around them Develop …
Meet Malachi… is now preparing to graduate high school this spring and take on the next phase of his life. With the help of a rock-solid support team of therapists and teachers, and his mom Nonnie, helping to navigate his autism journey, Malachi is thriving. … potential – even if it meant battling discrimination and racism. “At first, Malachi did not have access to the services and support he needed. The biggest hurdle in the early years was insurance paying for occupational, physical and speech … was getting through to the public school district. To them, my son was just another child of color who would end up in a group home. “We eventually left that school district as soon as possible and ended up in a different area of the city, and …
Meet Lindsey W. … helped you since being diagnosed? Some of the resources that helped me include speech therapy, occupational therapy, play group therapy, behavioral therapy and friendship group. When facing new challenges and life changes, how do you cope with the anxieties that can come along with that? … include listening to music to help me relax, doing what I enjoy such as video editing, utilizing my fidgets, relying on my support system, and staying focused on positive thoughts. What is your connection to Autism Speaks and how has the …
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 …
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 …
Meet Rebekah F.… looking for new ways to bring the best out of her students. She tailors lesson plans to highlight their strengths and support their weaknesses and pulls from personal experiences that have provided her with the type of insight many teachers … advice from books and informational packets from the pediatrician, Rebekah’s parents would eventually help her obtain the support she needed to get on track to reaching her full potential, but it was a long, winding journey filled with many ups … me realize at 20 years old that I could do better too. I watched Star Trek every night and later came to join a Star Trek group where I found people that I was able to talk to and get better at my social skills. Because it took me so long to be …
Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (DS-ASD)… lead to a better understanding of your child’s behavior and give you access to critical autism resources, interventions and support that have been shown to improve outcomes. A formal diagnosis could: A formal diagnosis can legitimize a family’s concerns about their loved one’s development and open the door to greater community and support. Help parents and family members better understand, support and guide their loved one Explain why your loved one is … 2nd Edition, 2024 (Froehlke and Sattel) Professionals Recommendations to Providers Handout Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group USA (DSMIG-USA) Association of University Centers on Disabilities AAP Guidelines National List of Down Syndrome …
Autism and ‘optimal outcomes’… to rethink what we mean by “optimal outcomes” For years, we’ve been using this term to describe a relatively small group of people with autism who, with therapy and support, experience such a marked decrease in autism symptoms that they no longer meet the criteria we use to diagnose the … re-defining “optimal outcome” as the best possible outcome based on each child’s personal characteristics and available supports . We find this as a much more suitable concept for developing autism services and setting goals for each child, …
Looking back at my son's diagnosis 12 years later… son or daughter needs you to be upright and breathing. Look for parents who have been there, done that. Whether it’s a support group or a friend of a friend, look for support. Better yet, look to an individual with autism. Who better to educate you about autism? Find your person. You will …