August 02, 2021
- A new article by an adult on the spectrum explores the topic of savant syndrome in autism. The author accurately points out that only 10% of individuals on the spectrum possess savant skills. Unfortunately, this percentage is not proportionately portrayed in the media, where most television and movie characters are shown to have “disability superpowers” or be “autistic geniuses”.
- ADNP Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that is often accompanied by autism. Due to a recent successful trial of the drug ketamine to treat the disorder in children, there is now a push to screen newborns for this condition so that it can be treated at the earliest opportunity. The children involved in the ketamine study showed improvements in social behavior, attention, and sensory sensitivities and experienced no significant side effects.
- The Administration for Community Living, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, just announced that $11 million in Lifespan Respite Care State Enhancement Grant awards will go to 10 states over five years. This funding will be used to expand and enhance respite services, improve coordination and dissemination, bolster the quality and provide easier access to its programs.
- A San Diego high school robotics team gained recognition for designing an app to help children with autism become more engaged both physically and mentally. The new app provides personalized and customizable games for kids on the spectrum. Users must earn playing time by completing physical exercise goals tracked by the devices’ accelerometer to access more games on the app.
