Author: Autism Today News.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) has announced dates for the 2023 GTCO Autism Con- ference and follow-up consultations. This year’s programme is themed “Empowering Voices for Autism” to promote inclusivity and self-advocacy for persons on the Autism Spectrum. An offshoot of the Orange Ribbon Initiative, the GTCO Autism Conference has grown to become a reference point for autism advocacy and intervention in Africa, providing support and empowerment to thousands of people with neurodevelopmental disorders. Working with specialists and partner organisations within and outside Nigeria, the conference will feature lectures, panel discussions, and performances carefully prepared to showcase the diverse…

As a kid, Alex Newson played “teacher,” lining up her toys as pretend students for lessons. She grew up wanting to teach special education, in part because she has family members who have disabilities.“I’ve always been drawn to help those students because I often saw those were the students that were left out or not included in the ways that they should have been,” Newson said.She also had strong teachers throughout her school career who showed her what it meant to be a good educator.Alex Newson in Play-Doh form, created by an elementary student Newson taught. Newson left teaching in…

A growing number of children in the United States are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Overall, the report found that about 1 in 36, or 2.8%, of 8-year-olds in the U.S. were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2020, compared to 1 in 44, or 2.3%, of 8-year-olds in 2018.The data was collected from 11 communities and may not represent the entire U.S., researchers cautioned..Researchers also cautioned that the growing prevalence of autism spectrum diagnosis from 2018 to 2020 does not necessarily mean autism spectrum disorder…

As a kid, Matthew Lambregts always wanted to be a police officer. Now an adult, a new opportunity uniquely suited to the skills of autistic people — poring through hours of police body camera footage — has rekindled Lambregts’s dream. “This is not what I had in mind when I wanted to work for the police. But I like it,” said Lambregts at a news conference Tuesday announcing the new partnership between the Edmonton Police Service and Technology North, an Edmonton-based IT company that specializes in employing autistic people.”It’s very hard for someone on the spectrum to articulate, explain themselves, or just…

Nemours opens behavioral health, autism centerCheck out Nemours/A.I duPont Pediatric’s new Behavioral Health and Developmental Medicine Swank Autism Center.Delaware News JournalApril is Autism Acceptance Month, so we want to offer you some sensory-friendly events available for you and your family to enjoy. A day at the museum or a visit to an aquarium does not have to be a daunting experience, and many businesses have made sure of that by providing a relaxing, low-stimulatory atmosphere so all visitors can enjoy the fun. Here are some events and places to explore to add to your calendar throughout the year:What is a sensory-friendly experience? Before…

Autism charities have strongly criticised Kemi Badenoch for her “fundamental lack of understanding of autism and disability” over comments made in a pamphlet linked to her leadership campaign.i reported on Sunday that the shadow Housing Secretary, who is currently in the final two of the Conservative Party leadership race, had been criticised after a document she endorsed said that autistic people get “economic advantages and protections” and “better treatment or equipment at school”.The pamphlet, which includes contributions from 24 of her supporters claimed that “the socialisation of mental health so everyone has to treat you differently has failed to improve…

Despite the ever-growing presence of pop culture in our daily routines, some young people say they have yet to see themselves in the media they consume.In the close-knit community of Mount Barker in Western Australia’s Great Southern, Macklyn Woollard has no shortage of people who care about him.The 15-year-old animal lover and talented artist also lives with autism, which is a condition that can affect how a person thinks, feels, experiences their environment and interacts and communicates with people. Macklyn enjoys drawing animals in his free time.  (ABC News: Jamie Thannoo)The Australian Bureau of Statistics found there were more than 200,000…

Rosenberg, Khan-Allen, Castro and Barone. Image courtesy of HPxDInspired by High Point becoming a Certified Autism Destination last year, High Point by Design will debut the Design Forward summit this November, a two-day event that will address how to accommodate individuals on the autism spectrum. Scheduled for Nov. 12-13, Design Forward will focus on designing with neurodiversity in mind in tracks targeting three groups: interior designers and home furnishings professionals; Realtors; and the greater community of parents, teachers, small business owners and others interested in learning more. Jane Dagmi. Image courtesy of Dagmi. “The first thing that went through my…

In the world of neuroscience research, the mouse reigns supreme: in the US alone, tens of millions of mice are studied as a proxy for the human brain in labs. They’re small, they breed quickly, and they’re relatively easy to genetically manipulate, making mice ubiquitous in biomedical science. When studying something fundamental to biology, like how individual cells work, the leap from mouse to human doesn’t feel egregious. But when mice are used to study distinctly human conditions like autism, the parallels start to break down.Fifteen years ago, researchers introduced the first two mouse models of autism, each carrying a…

Families with autism cases are being offered an opportunity by Guaranty Trust Bank for a free consultation with specialists on management, nature and different aspects of autism spectrum disorder. This social intervention programme is aimed at creating awareness and ensuring proper integration of persons with autism spectrum. The bank has lined up a number of specialists in communication, behaviour and various areas of the medical field to attend to families and individuals immediately after this year’s Autism conference. While the conference with the theme ‘Empowering Voices for Autism’ is scheduled for July 24 and 25 at Muson Centre, Lagos, the…