Sep 09 Advocacy group says police shooting of autistic teen reveals shortfalls in mental health crisis response By Lindsay Whitehurst, Sophia Eppolito, Associated Press An advocacy group says a police shooting that wounded a 13-year-old autistic boy in Salt Lake City reveals shortfalls in the way officers respond to a mental health crisis. Continue reading
Mar 26 Autism diagnosis more common after improved screening, closing racial gap By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press While the diagnosis gap is narrowing, it's not clear that minority kids are getting the same access to services and treatment, said Michael Yudell, a Drexel University public health professor. Continue reading
Oct 10 Watch 9:21 How ‘Sesame Street’ is still supporting families, 50 years after its debut By Hari Sreenivasan November marks the 50th anniversary of public television’s “Sesame Street," a cultural landmark widely praised for its approach to children’s programming. But beyond the songs and fun, "Sesame Street" does some serious work for those in need, providing special support… Continue watching
Mar 13 Watch 3:13 How donkeys are helping kids with autism process their feelings Humans are accustomed to turning to dogs, cats and even horses for comfort and companionship. But now another type of livestock is becoming more popular for its therapeutic appeal: the donkey. As WGBH’s Cristina Quinn reports, equine therapy has branched… Continue watching
Apr 27 The autism rate is on the rise, CDC says. Here’s what that actually means By Nsikan Akpan, Hannah Grabenstein This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the prevalence of autism is slightly higher than previously thought, but does it mean autism is becoming more common?… Continue reading
Apr 02 Watch 3:32 We need to include children with autism in the real world. Here’s what everyone can do to help By Whitney Ellenby Helping children with autism make small steps toward overcoming hurdles in public life requires shifting some of the burden, says Whitney Ellenby, a mom to a son with autism. That means parents need to educate others by disclosing a child’s… Continue watching
Apr 02 A child with autism can’t engage with the world if kept at home By Whitney Ellenby The burden begins with me, the parent of the autistic child, to disclose his disability. And then the burden shifts to you, the general public. Continue reading
Mar 27 Watch 3:36 For this entrepreneur, big challenges mean more for her to contribute By PBS News Hour Dame Stephanie Shirley was so sick of being patronized that she decided to start her own software business -- then a laughable idea for a woman. But when her child was diagnosed with autism, it drove her toward a new… Continue watching
Jan 18 Watch 3:34 How my son with autism made sense of the world by watching Disney movies By PBS News Hour When Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Suskind and his wife found out their son had autism, they were crushed by the fear that they couldn’t communicate. But they began to realize that he was learning to tell stories through Disney movies. Continue watching
Sep 29 Lakes and pools can be deadly for children with autism. But tailored swim lessons can save lives By Leah Samuel, STAT Drowning is the most common fatal injury among children with autism, so community centers and schools are offering tailored swim lessons. Continue reading