Spectrum: Autism Research News

Research roundup

• Self-injury is associated with suicidal behavior in autistic people who do not have intellectual disability. Molecular Autism
• Specialized recruiting practices and committed supervisors are key for making workplaces more inclusive for people with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilition
• A 10-step process can help neuroscientists model the biological processes they study. eNeuro
• The use of jargon, even when it is defined, can lower a reader’s comprehension of scientific information. Journal of Language and Social Psychology
• Mutations of a gene called CDC42BPB may be associated with autism and intellectual disability. American Journal of Medical Genetics
• The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline for sleep problems in children and teenagers with autism. Neurology
• Autistic people with savant abilities tend to have stronger social skills than others on the spectrum. Scientific Reports
• Older adults who have a close relative with autism experience more mental health challenges than those with no family ties to the condition. Autism Research
• Parents of young adults with autism talk to their children about sexuality, but not about how the condition might affect sexual relationships. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Autistic and typical people modify their behavior to fit in socially, but those with autism do so more often. Molecular Autism
• After 24 weeks of pivotal response treatment, a form of applied behavior analysis, autistic children vocally responded to their parents more often. Autism

Science and society

• The Trump administration’s 2021 budget proposal includes cuts to nearly a dozen federal science and technology agencies. Science
• A California-based company called Cognoa is distributing an app to screen for autism traits; diagnostic and therapeutic apps by the same company are awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Fierce Biotech
• Fear and suspicion greet people who have epilepsy, writes an academic with the condition. Wellcome Collection
• Colleges and universities seeking to increase diversity and inclusion should address ‘impostor syndrome’ by acknowledging it and providing support for students and new faculty. Science
• Getting an autism diagnosis gave author Sarah Kurchak a new outlook and perspective on life. Vox
• Emergency responders in in Saginaw, Michigan, have equipped their ambulances with autism sensory kits that include noise-cancelling ear muffs and fidget devices. MLive

Autism and the arts

• Two autistic artists presented their work at a literary festival in Kochi, India. The Hindu

Publishing

• A Virginia-based nonprofit technology organization called the Center for Open Science has created a measure for evaluating scientific research articles based on transparency and reproducibility. Center for Open Science