Video Game Recreates the World of Autism
Vancouver-based video game designer Taylan Kadayifcioglu, who goes more accessibly by Taylan Kay, has created "Auti-Sim," a video game that demonstrates what it is like living with hypersensitivity common to autism. The essence of the game…
Follow Up to Shackled Child Story: Help is On the Way
In my recent article reporting the tragic story of a eight year old child with autism being arrested and shackled for throwing a tantrum at school, I cried out for a way to intervene in these situations and educate police departments and…
Eight Year Old Girl Arrested, Shackled for Tantrum at School
In yet another horror story of schools and police criminalizing autism, an eight year old girl at Lovejoy Elementary School in Alton, Ill., was jailed for over two hours by Alton police because of tantrum behavior. The youngster, who…
Coping with the Confusion of Autism Treatment and Care
As an older sister to a young man with autism, it’s important for me to connect with the autism community. I maintain friendships, read and write posts, give talks, and try to keep up with research findings too. And so, while reading a…
Animals Enhance Social Interaction for Children with Autism
Scientists at the University of Queensland, Australia, have found that "the presence of an animal can significantly increase positive social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)". Their recent study compared how 5-13…
Autism and Law Enforcement
All autism parents feel anxious about their children in the community, knowing they could be perpetrators, victims of crime, or wanderers. Far too often, criminal actions on the part of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) individuals are…
Teen with Autism Sent to Jail for Selling Sugar Packs at School
In another episode of "World Gone Mad," a sixteen-year-old Ohio boy has been jailed for allegedly trying to sell sugar packets at school. Conceptualized as a practical joke, the teen took sugar packets from the cafeteria and…
Scientific Community Shuns Sensory Integration Therapy for Autism
Researchers at the University of Texas, led by Professor Mark O'Reilly, have declared that Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) is scientifically ungrounded and should cease to be used by a majority of occupational therapists in the treatment…
Outgrowing Autism and the Hype of a New Study
The latest big autism story is a new study by University of Connecticut psychology professor Deborah Fein that claims some children with autism can not only lose their diagnosis as they get older, but become indistinguishable from typical…
Theater of Possibility for Autism
Seattle theater artist and playwright, Lauren Marshall, has developed an amazing class for both neurotypical and special needs children. Entitled "Theater of Possibility," Lauren synthesizes what she has learned as a mother of two…