Having an Aunt or Uncle with Autism May Put Children at Higher Risk of ASD
According to new research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a child who has a parent with a sibling on the spectrum is more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to the general population. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, analyzed health records of approximately 850,000 children born in Sweden between 2003-2012. Using the Swedish National Patient Register and the Multi-Generation Register, information on ASD diagnoses in both the child and parental generations was recorded.
Post COVID-19 Pilot Program for Students with Autism
Classrooms across the nation will be facing numerous modifications as students return to school after the coronavirus pandemic. Social distancing, face coverings, reduced classroom size and staggered school schedules are only a handful of proposed changes suggested to mitigate risk of contagion on campuses.
Autism and Eating Disorders Linked
University College London’s new longitudinal study has discovered that autism traits appear first in children followed by eating disorder behaviors later in adolescence. The research team determined the order of these conditions by using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
Autism Triggers Financial Hardship for Countless Families
Sobering new information released from Drexel University highlights the often-distressing fiscal burden a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cause. The report, National Autism Indicators Report: Children on the Autism Spectrum and Family Financial Hardship recorded levels of family financial hardship among households of children with autism. Three aspects of family financial hardship were examined: household poverty, medical expenses and material hardship.
Racial Disparity Seen in ASD Prevalence Among Preschoolers in Swedish Immigrant Population
The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders recently published a study out of Sweden that examines the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in preschool children among the country’s migrant population. The estimated ASD prevalence for this cohort was, at a minimum, 3.5 times more than the non-immigrant Swedish population.
How to Advocate for Special Education Students During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic made the spring semester challenging for all families but especially for families with children with autism and other developmental disorders. Many school districts failed to implement a program comparable to what students were receiving prior to the COVID closures. To address these legal concerns and to assist parents to navigate their child’s special education program during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, SafeMinds reached out to Timothy A. Adams, a special education attorney from Southern California with 19 years of experience. Mr. Adams generously granted us a telephone interview.
