Improving physical activity (PA) levels in autistic adults is an important population health goal. Limiting efforts to achieve this goal is an incomplete understanding of the barriers to PA in this high-risk group. This study utilized cross-sectional data collected via an electronic survey from 253 autistic adults aged 18-50 years to examine their…

Understanding how different environmental arrangements can affect academic performance and engagement is critical for developing effective and efficient instructional strategies. The current study examined the influence of five environmental arrangements (no-interaction, distractor, escape, attention, and tangible conditions) on the rate of…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. It is estimated that 1 in 54 children has been diagnosed with ASD (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2020). One area of concern for some parents is food selectivity which can be a common problem…

Parenting an autistic child can reduce the time parents have to participate in their own interests, but the impact this has on caregiver quality of life is not well understood. The aim in undertaking this scoping review was to examine and describe current research about occupational participation and quality of life among parents of autistic…

Background: Diagnosing and managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults with intellectual disabilities is currently largely based on findings from assessment and treatment in children or adults without intellectual disabilities. Current evidence suggests that individuals with intellectual disabilities are more likely to have…

The aim of this study was to compare physical fitness-related parameters in Turkish children with mild to moderate autism and their typically developing (TD) peers to determine maternal anxiety level and quality of life. Children with autism had significantly worse scores for all Munich Fitness Test (MFT) parameters except step test heart rate and…

In this qualitative constructivist study, 36 Israeli preschool teachers who work with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were asked how they perceive the role of parents of children with ASD in their work. Data gathered in semi-structured in-depth interviews are analyzed via grounded theory. The findings show that preschool teachers…

The aim of this study was to compare bibliometric indicators of scientific productivity in physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome (DS) in the PubMed database. A bibliometric study was conducted for the last 5 years (2017 to 2021). The data collected for each article were: year of…

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of WhatsApp-delivered physical activities on the physical activity level of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method: This study used the mixed-method sequential exploratory design that consisted of the quantitative stage and the qualitative stage. The 42 family (parent and…

Objectives: To examine and analyse the intervention effects of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Objectives: Methods: This meta-analysis evaluated the effect sizes in four major domains of measurement (autism symptoms, language, cognition, and social communication). A total of 624 participants…

Arizona Autism Charter School (AZACS), a public charter school for K-12 students, opened in 2014 to provide individualized education for students with autism and other disabilities alongside typically developing peers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders moved quickly to adapt instruction to online and hybrid models, coordinate comprehensive…

Laboratory research on sex differences in response to maternal immune activation: We investigated sex differences in molecular and behavioral responses to maternal immune activation during pregnancy. Epidemiological evidence indicates that immune activation during pregnancy impacts brain development, leading to increased incidence of…

Grounded in the biopsychosocial models of expressive language in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS), this dissertation included two novel studies that examined the role of biological (i.e., physiology), psychological (i.e., autistic traits, anxiety symptoms, and child affect) and social (i.e., communication partner…

This project critically evaluates the existing research conducted on the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions designed to promote the social and emotional development in preschool children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study is to identify evidence-based interventions for children ages three to six…

Young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are likely to sit on lengthy waitlists for applied behavior analytic (ABA) services, especially when living in rural areas. Early intervention is critical for desired outcomes for young children with ASD. Telehealth caregiver training in ABA skills is one avenue to begin intervention while…