To read our Unlocking The Key To Autism disclaimer for the reading pages or see the table of contents. 

Articles

Here on the Articles page, you will see Articles concerning Autism, from a variety of sources, from Communication, to art, to advocacy to research, and more.

Article: Ilana Gerschlowitz: Supporting a child who has autism through COVID-19 

"Managing the daily lives of typically developing children during the national stay at home is challenging for any parent or caregiver.

However, for parents of a child who has autism, the stay-at-home period and all measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 can be particularly challenging."

Article: Drinking diet sodas and aspartame-sweetened beverages daily during pregnancy linked to autism in male offspring

"A new published study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has found an association between autism diagnosis in boys and daily consumption of either diet soda or a comparable amount of aspartame by their mothers during pregnancy or breastfeeding."

Article -- The Sacred Plant, relief without the high

Here you will see an article by the Sacred plant which says, between the different ways of using cannabis, there are ways to avoid getting high, Says that different disabilities have different usage rates 

Article -- the Art of Autism Endangered Orangutan

Here you will see an article by poet Matthew Valente, endangered orangutan, a film and poem about the loss of environmental habitat and the destruction of the orangutan by man. Matthew is an experienced poet and he describes in the following way:  

"My name is Matthew Elijah Valente. I am a graduate of Lower Merion High School in suburban Philadelphia, PA. I am currently studying Liberal Arts at Erie County Community College, Buffalo, NY, with the support of Accessible Academics. I was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder at the age of three. Animals have been my life-long passion. I have visited over 50 zoos and aquaria in the U.S. and Canada. My numerous poems and film reviews advocate for animal rights. Several of my poems have been animated and can be found on my Youtube Channel."  

Article --   #StopTheShock: The Judge Rotenberg Center, Torture, and How We can Stop It by the Autistic Self Advocacy Network

This Article from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, discusses aversives, what they are, and why shock therapy by the JRC needs to be ended. 

Article -- Fighting My Internalization of the Hierarchy of Disability by Crippled Scholar 

Here you will see an article by the blogger Crippled Scholar about their reflection on Autism, how the realization came about,  and how the author lives in our society, affected by things non-disabled people may not think about.

The article goes into how, the author originally didn't want to be considered disabled, to how society treats someone differently in society based on their degree of disability and how the uthor is still working on a better way of thinking, learning to accept themselves, despite it possibly being difficult at times.

A Review of Journey to Community Housing with Supports: A Road Map for Individuals and Their Families in New Jersey by the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) 

In this month's Consumer Corner, we turn our focus toward the daunting task of finding appropriate housing for our loved ones with Autism.

To that end, ASAT Extern, Sarah Cummins reviewed a comprehensive report authored by the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey.  Although their roadmap does speak to the New Jersey experience, there are many lessons to learn for those of us who do not live in the Garden State.

What is particularly useful about this guide is that it describes a variety of different housing options and the way families attempt to gain access to these options.

Due to the sheer number of individuals on the autism spectrum, housing is going to become a major issue for families and governments alike.

This report is a good starting point to use to plan for your loved one's future housing needs.  -Dr. Sabrina Freeman, Consumer Corner Coordinator

A Non-Exhaustive list of apps from the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)

This list of apps should be viewed as a set of tools which can be utilized by parents and teachers; however, no single tool here is absolutely essential to a students’ learning and some parents may prefer to use a less technological approach.

Further, this list contains apps from many different domains and many different developers, all of whom may have varying perspectives on educating students on the autism spectrum.

Inclusion in this list does not necessarily indicate that evidence exists on its use.

We at ASAT recommend that to maintain a commitment to science-based treatment, these (and any) apps can be incorporated into existing treatment plans to supplement activities, and data should always be collected throughout the use of each app.

With the guidance of their team of providers, parents should collect data on target skill acquisition, degree of carry over, nature of specific errors, as well as operationally defined challenging behaviors for reduction.

It would also be important to decide if the app is being used to target acquisition versus retention or generalization of skills.  

Topical Resources for Educators by the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)

ASAT wants to acknowledge the challenges educators face when working with students with autism.

Challenges that exist because of the vulnerabilities in teacher education programs, the misinformation spread around autism therapies, and the unavoidable stresses that come with their jobs.

It is our hope that this “go-to page” serves to provide a comprehensive list of resources offered to teachers of students with autism.

The links presented here focus on solutions to a variety of challenges including increasing independence, developing skills, augmenting inclusion opportunities, increasing community integration, preparing for adulthood, as well as other topics of interest to family members and service providers who work with this population. Whether you are an administrator, special education teacher, general education teacher, related service provider or paraprofessional, we invite you to learn more about science-based methods to teach students with autism spectrum disorders and to visit this dedicated page often.  -Kaitlyn Evoy, Johns Hopkins University Graduate Student and ASAT Extern  

How ASAT Supports Special Education and General Education Teachers by the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)

The Association for Science in Autism Treatment strives to promote evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in all aspects of their lives, including in the classroom.

The reality is, of all the professionals and specialists in the field of education, teachers have the largest amount of time with children with ASD over the course of their formative years.

In this installment of an ongoing series showing how ASAT supports various stakeholder groups and in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Kaitlyn Evoy, Sarah Cummins, Kate McKenna and I focus on general and special education teachers.

We hope you find this article useful. -Dr. David Celiberti, Co-Editor 

Managing a Home-Based ABA Program by the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) 

Here you will see an article by Beverly Sharpe of ASAT, who states

"We have a home-based intervention ABA program for our son. What are some helpful suggestions for managing the steady stream of professionals in our home?

Answered by Beverley Sharpe, parent of a 22- year-old daughter with autism.  Managing a Home-Based ABA ProgramOpening your home to therapists, behavioral consultants, and other providers is part of effective treatment for your child.

However, it can sometimes be difficult to supervise a home that doubles as a work environment and the many opportunities and challenges that come with that arrangement.

I am humbled by the high level of energy and dedication my therapy teams, past and present, have demonstrated within my own child’s program.

Teamwork and collaboration are crucial elements to make home therapy effective.

The following are some helpful tips I’ve learned over the years to help make home team coordination more manageable. "

How ASAT Supports Special Education and General Education Teachers  

The Association for Science in Autism Treatment strives to promote evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in all aspects of their lives, including in the classroom.

The reality is, of all the professionals and specialists in the field of education, teachers have the largest amount of time with children with ASD over the course of their formative years.

In this installment of an ongoing series showing how ASAT supports various stakeholder groups and in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Kaitlyn Evoy, Sarah Cummins, Kate McKenna and I focus on general and special education teachers.

We hope you find this article useful. -Dr. David Celiberti, Co-Editor

Article -- Study finds higher rates of gender diversity among autistic individuals 

Here you will an article about a study that finds higher rates of gender diversity among Autistic individuals, the sample size, and the need for more information, research and evidence from Autistic individuals.

The article goes on to mention that correlation does not mean causation, and more is needed for conclusions. 

Evidence-based practice in the time of COVID-19 by Different Roads To Learning and several authors 

Here you will see an article by Different Roads to Learning and several PhDs.

The article gives tips on how to best administer ABA using telehealth and what pitfalls there may be along with how to involve clients in an effective way, along with their parents or guardians. 

Article -- Play,  it's Exhausting by Different Roads to Learning and Christina Connor 

Here you will see an article by Christina Connor of Different Roads to Learning about autism, play and the ability to use it in order to help your child open up on their terms.

It goes through why people like play, why it's an effective tool for teaching, and most of all why it can be difficult for an adult to do, but ultimately, it's important for any child to have play. 

Article -- Social and Job Skills for Independence: Smile & Succeed for Teens Online Course by Different Roads to Learning 

Here you will see an Article by Different Roads to Learning which discusses the "Smile and Succeed for Teens" course which outlines how teens with Autism and other disablities can get advice on work, social skills,  and tips on how to handle stress.  

Article -- Spark for Autism Becoming Amy: Getting a Genetic Diagnosis in Adulthood by Marina Sarris 

Here you will see an Article by Marina Sarris writing about Amy Gravino, an autistic coach and founder of ASCOT.

The Article goes into Gravino's childhood, the realization that she was autistic as a teenager, how she came to help other autistic people in ASCOT as an adult, and the closure that the new Autism diagnosis brings to Gravino, personally.

Article -- Disability Apartments: Looks and Features You Might Find by Bekah Steenbock on Apartmentguide 

Here you will see an Article by Bekah Steenbock, on Apartmentguide, about the many features of disability apartments one may find, and what makes them the most accessible. 

Article -- Rent.com  How to Find an Accessible Apartment 

Here you will see an article by Rent.com that details eight important steps someone who's disabled must consider when renting or buying an apartment. Highlights include: Preparing a must-have accessible features list, considering doing a virtual tour of the apartment, considering, in a physical tour is needed, when a tenant must know their rights,  and more!

Article -- Bigrentz  Sensory Friendly Home Modifications for Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder 

Here is an article by Bigrentz about how to best prepare your apartment or home for someone with sensory processing disorder.

 This article goes in-depth about how different senses are affected and what a family or individual can do to make the house as hospitable as possible.

The article goes very in-depth with regard to each of the 5 senses, and details building issues that may not be immediately obvious. 

Article -- Just Great Lawyers Special Needs Trusts: 3 Types Explained 

"A special needs trust (sometimes called a supplemental needs trust) is designed to allow individuals with special needs to access additional funds without risking the loss of their government benefits.

Many people with special needs face numerous expenses. At the same time, these individuals also often rely on government benefits such as Medicaid benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

A special needs trust is one way to allow someone with special needs to maintain a higher quality of life.

It gives them access to funds that can be used to pay for various common disability expenses. And, they won’t need to sacrifice their eligibility to receive public benefits. "

Article -- Just Great Lawyers Attorney Search Directory 

Here you will see the directory to compare and connect with local lawyers, lawyers who specialize in disabilities, and any lawyers included on Just Great Lawyers! 

Article -- Top five reasons SSI's asset limits are due for an upgrade by the Century Foundation

Here you will see an article by the century foundation which discusses SSI asset limits, why they need an upgrade and what the SSI asset elimination act is  

Article -- The MTHFR link to Autism, ADHD, Depression and Anxiety

Here you will see an article from Brain Harmony on the MTHFR gene mutation, what it is, and how to test to see if you have it. 

 "The MTHFR gene (which stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is responsible for producing the MTHFR protein.

This protein is an enzyme that helps your body process the B vitamin folate, which plays an essential role in methylation.

“Methylation protects your body by repairing damaged cells and optimizing DNA cell function.

It also processes toxins and hormones, metabolizes B vitamins, and regulates neurotransmitters.

The neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine control mood, behavior, sleep, and your overall mental health[*]. "  "...the MTHFR gene variant is quite common.

It is estimated that 50% of the population of all people carry a mutation of the MTHFR gene.

Research also tells us that 98% of friends on the Autism spectrum have MTHFR mutations. " The article leaves it up to the reader to determine if treatment is needed.

Article -- DLPA vs DPA for pain, food cravings, depression, grief, lack of joy; and impacts of DLPA on sleep, and feeling more stressed/anxious by Trudy Scott

Here you will see a blog post by Trudy Scott, which discusses DLPA, DPA, a the differences between them and how the author. discovered them and how a reader can apply their uses to everyday life for stress, anxiety and sleep. along with. questions of their effectiveness For treating stress anxiety or sleep. 

Article -- Speech, Language, and Communication: What each of them means to a child with Autism by Avaz 

Here you will see an Article by Avaz, about 3 different factors of communication, along with a breakdown of what each of these mean to an other disabled person ot Autistic person 

Article -- Byte.com A Guide to Dental Care for Children with Autism

Children with autism are likely to suffer many more oral health problems, including tooth decay, gum disease and dental injury, than children without autism. Many autistic kids have sensory sensitivities that make it difficult to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine.

These issues may also make visits to the dentist challenging.  Parents and caregivers can do several things to make oral hygiene and dental visits easier for their autistic kids. Implementing behavioral techniques, using autism-friendly dental products, and seeking out dental professionals with specialized knowledge can all help your child with autism maintain good oral health.