Autism is more commonly diagnosed in males than females. One explanation is the 'female protective effect': there is something inherent in being female which reduces the likelihood of developing autism. However, evidence suggests that the condition is underdiagnosed in females, perhaps because females express their autism in ways which do not meet…

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience impairments in social communication, which may affect their ability to develop social skills necessary for successful employment. It is unclear which types of interventions have been used to teach specific work-related social skills to people with ASD and what the overall effectiveness of those…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an embedded naturalistic intervention for teaching augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) application responses to three preschool-aged males with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents were taught to embed opportunities for their child to communicate with a grid-based AAC application during…

Background: Autistic people are known to experience more mental health issues than non-autistic people, and the same is true among university students. These difficulties can have long-term consequences, such as dropping out of university and unemployment. Understanding the challenges autistic students face can help institutions to better support…

Background & aims: Individuals with non- or minimally verbal autism (nvASD) are primarily characterized by a severe speech production deficit, with speech limited to no or only a few words by school age. Significant unclarity remains over variability in language profiles across the lifespan, the nature of the language impairment seen, and…

The motor and social skill difficulties experienced by many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can create challenges when participating in age appropriate physical activity contexts. Although behavioral interventions can increase the general social communicative skills of children with ASD, often the skills targeted are not relevant to…

Ohio's public schools provide special education services to children with disabilities as early as preschool. Every year, the Ohio Department of Education reports the number of preschool children who received state-funded special education services during the previous year. The 2019-2020 school year had an overall increase of 906 (4.03 percent)…

A brief intervention is described and evaluated that aimed to build and strengthen relationships for families of children diagnosed with ASD aged 12 and under. A particular focus was on socially disadvantaged parents. Parents were offered around five home visits which took place on weekdays during working hours; each lasting around 90 min. They…

Sleep problems of varying kind and severity, including both insomnias and parasomnias, are a commonly reported clinical problem among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and, it is estimated that approximately 50-80% of children with ASD and their families are affected by such problems. Without effective treatment, these…

Despite the early onset of challenging behaviors, there is a lack of research investigating the function of challenging behavior in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities (DDs). The current study evaluated group differences in the frequency and severity of five functions of challenging behavior (i.e.,…

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using an autism-specific screening tool for all young children at primary care well visits. Screening can detect risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children whose parents and pediatrician may not otherwise have developmental concerns. The identification of children with or at-risk for ASD…

We report on the adaptation and delivery of a peer-led, 14-session manualized program, Parents Taking Action, among parents raising Black children with autism in low-income neighborhoods. We engaged a community advisory group made up of parents and grandparents of Black children with autism, a Black self-advocate, clinicians, and other…

Purpose: The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to explore how involvement in theatre arts programs helps to improve social functioning skills (SFS) in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, from a drama teacher's perspective, in middle schools in the central coast region of California. Methodology: A qualitative…

Prior research has indicated that assistive technology (AT) devices and services can improve the functional capability of students with autism, which includes multiple areas of student needs, such as communication, accessibility, organization, sound, sight, academic skills, mobility, and memory. Nevertheless, concerns persist as to how AT devices…

The prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorders among students with visual impairments is significantly higher than that of their sighted peers. Even with such a notable rate, there continues to be minimal research on the classroom strategy needs to support these students. While research may focus on each disability separately, it is necessary to…