Spectrum: Autism Research News

Research roundup

• Young children with autism are just as physically active as their typical peers, unlike older children and teenagers with the condition. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Caregiver training programs may help families support autistic children in Ethiopia and other low-resource countries. Autism
• One of the earliest behavioral signs of autism may be a delayed ability to support the body while sitting or learning to stand. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
• Standard instruments to assess emotional and behavioral problems may not accurately measure the challenges of minimally verbal autistic children. Autism Research
• Scientists question the claims made by companies that market wearable brain devices to consumers. Neuron

Science and society

• Decades-long studies looking at the effects of environmental exposures on children’s health may shut down without renewed funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nature
• Thousands of Brazilian scientists, educators and students are protesting President Bolsonaro’s plans to cut funding for education and scientific research. Science
• New research on the genetics of depression is debunking decades of scientific literature that emphasizes the importance of the SLC6A4 gene. The Atlantic
• Monkeys that survived Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico may help scientists understand how traumatic events shape the brain and behavior. The New York Times Magazine
• A Dallas-based company’s humanoid robots teach autistic children about sharing, perspective-taking and making eye contact. The Wall Street Journal
• Parents of students with disabilities rarely win legal battles against Maryland schools when fighting for resources their children are guaranteed under federal law. The Baltimore Sun
• Two mothers are infiltrating Facebook groups for parents of autistic children to stop the spread of misinformation about the condition and the use of dubious ‘cures,’ such as feeding autistic children bleach. NBC
• Anti-vaccine activists are “promoting individual and parental rights” in U.S. communities hit by measles. The Washington Post
• Many children with autism and learning disabilities live in U.K. hospitals for months to years because their families can’t meet their needs at home. The Guardian

Autism and the arts

• A docuseries called “The Employables” highlights individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions as they search for jobs. Decider
• The television network Freeform is set to host a new comedy featuring a teenager with autism, played by actress Kayla Cromer, who is on the spectrum herself. Disability Scoop