Author: Autism Today News.

Before he took up painting, Wong Sai-kit was quiet and reclusive. Today, thanks to his brushes – and spoons – his world is a brighter, happier place.Like many on the spectrum, Wong has a heightened sensitivity to light. He also struggles to communicate. Art helps him express himself – and he does it in a bold, colourful way.“I feel happy when I paint,” says Wong, whose works are on show in “Art Beyond Boundaries” at The Park Lane Hong Kong hotel in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island until May 1.An artwork by Wong Sai-kit. Photo: Fu Hong SocietyThe exhibition…

The clinical trial is investigating the accuracy of Gazefinder – developed in Japan by JVCKENWOOD Corporation – as a potential aide to ASD diagnosis.The two-year study involves 200 children aged between two and four. Half have been diagnosed with ASD and half are developing typically.Lead researcher Dr Kristelle Hudry, from the La Trobe University School of Psychology and Public Health said the technology could be a big step forward in diagnosing autism in children.“The kids basically just watch a short animated video. The Gazefinder, which looks and operates like a desktop computer, uses infrared light to track where their eyes…

The International Society for Autism Research conference, or INSAR, is the largest autism research conference in the world. Each year, it attracts thousands of researchers from dozens of different disciplines — neuroscience, genetics, immunology, pediatrics — to share their work with one another. It regularly draws some of the biggest names in the field. But historically, the INSAR conference hasn’t exactly rolled out the red carpet for the people its research is intended to benefit. I’ve attended multiple INSAR meetings, both because I’m a journalist interested in reporting on the latest research and because I’m an autistic person interested in…

Published: Tue 24 Sep 2024, 12:22 PM AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity, has launched its General Election Manifesto “Towards the Same Chance”, outlining what the charity insists the next Government must do to remove systemic barriers faced by the Autistic community. The key pillars of the manifesto are underpinned by the values and provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and strongly emphasises key inequalities in education, access to essential services in health, employment, and social protection. The contents of this document were produced through direct engagement with Ireland’s Autistic community over the past year,…

Every day, Evelyn Froend wakes up in chronic pain.Even after 12 hours of sleep she starts the day tired, with only enough energy to tackle a few daily tasks.”I’m always exhausted,” she said.”I have to choose between having a shower or making some food … I can’t necessarily do both.”Evelyn is living with autism as well as a physical disability: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which causes severe pain and makes her joints overly mobile and prone to dislocation.Evelyn needs to wear braces on most of her joints. (ABC News: Dominic Briggs)This means she users crutches to help her walk through a…

When I tell people that my 12-year-old son, Michael, is autistic, there are usually two types of responses. First, there’s the “sad eyes” — you know, the look people give you like you’ve just announced a national tragedy. And then there’s the inevitable question: “Does he have superpowers?”Ah, yes. Superpowers. Because we’ve all seen “Rain Man,” right? Apparently, we’re still out here acting like Dustin Hoffman’s character was a documentary subject and not, you know, an actor in a scripted film.My brother-in-law, for example, once casually suggested we take Michael to Vegas to “win big.” I should mention Michael was…

1 Introduction The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, as well as restricted areas of interest and repetitive patterns of behavior. Individuals with ASD manifest such symptoms early in life, which may cause significant impairments in daily functioning. This lifelong condition persists into adulthood and can be diagnosed across the lifespan, with symptoms presenting differently in adults and children. The severity of ASD is classified in a range from level 1 to 3, where level 1 means that the individual requires support, and level 3 requires substantial support (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). According…

Mr Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc. (GTCO), says there is need for increased advocacy to promote inclusivity and empowerment for persons with autism. Agbaje said this at the media briefing of the 14th Annual Autism Conference organised by GTCO with the theme : “A Spectrum of Possibilities“, on Thursday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2024 edition of the conference would hold on July 15 and July 16 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, while free online clinic consultations will hold from July 16 to  July 20. Agbaje said…

Watch this mom donate safety locks for families with autistic childrenSheletta Brundidge held a giveaway in Houston, Texas for families with children who have autism, donating specialized door locks to keep kids safe.Downtown Augusta has a new business, and this one addresses a very important cause in the community.ABLE Kids cut the ribbon on its new downtown Augusta clinic Thursday morning, offering fun and educational activities for children ages 2-6 who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.Inside, each room is a little bit different. Some of the highlights include an indoor playground, a space-themed sensory room, a calming corner…

Diagnoses in young children of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have increased worldwide over the last decade – and at first, reported rates in Israel were lower than those reported in the US and Western Europe. However, a new collaborative study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beersheba, Clalit Healthcare Services, ALUT (Israel Association for Autistic Children), and the Health Ministry in Jerusalem shows we have caught up. It disclosed a “dramatic increase” here in the prevalence of ASD between 2017 and 2021, with a four-fold increase in young two- to three-year-old children and a doubling in older ages.Their findings…