School-Based Mindfulness Program Shows Promise for Children with ASD
Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are faced with an additional challenge called executive dysfunction. A properly working executive function system provides a person with the ability to plan, problem solve, use working memory, monitor impulse control, manage inhibitions, make decisions, manage time, and initiate and scrutinize actions. However, these skills are typically missing in children with autism. Without proper executive functioning skills, classroom learning becomes especially difficult.
Autism Severity Can Change During Childhood
Does the degree of severity of autistic symptoms remain static during preschool and early elementary school years? If a change in severity is experienced, could the degree of variation be influenced by initial severity levels, sex, IQ or level of adaptive functioning? These thought-provoking questions were recently posed by a new study out of the MIND Institute at UC Davis.
COVID-19 Autism Resource Round-Up
The majority of American families have been at home for weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At present time, there is no definitive end date for these orders. Signs point to individual states using a slow roll technique in order to re-open, which means a large number of autism families will continue to be at home for an indeterminate amount of time. In order to support special needs families during this challenging time, SafeMinds has assembled a comprehensive list of resources to make life at home more manageable. These resources have been broken down into different categories. Most categories include several links, giving many options to see what works best for your special needs family member.
Association Between Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Autism
Mitochondria are described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “tiny parts of almost every cell in the body.” The CDC goes on to explain that mitochondria are the powerplants of cells, turning sugar and oxygen stored inside the body into energy, which cells need to function properly.
Individuals with Developmental Disabilities May Suffer More Severe COVID Outcomes
As the global pandemic continues to grow, concerning news originating from SUNY Upstate Medical University shows that COVID-19 appears to pose a greater threat to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The report published in Disability and Health Journal set out to compare COVID-19 outcomes among people with and without IDD through three different age spans.
Having an Aunt or Uncle with Autism May Put Children at Higher Risk of ASD
Risk estimated at 3 to 5 percent vs. 1.5 percent in general population – 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.
