As many headlines attest, encounters between autistic people and first responders become fraught far too often, leading to violence and lasting trauma. In this special report, we explore what research tells us about these interactions and training to improve them, as well as the challenges autistic people experience in the criminal justice system.

How clinical genetics is giving families long-sought answers and transforming autism care.

Problems with verbal and nonverbal communication — such as prosody, grammar, facial expressions and eye contact — contribute to the social difficulties individuals on the spectrum experience.