Community Autism Network (CAN) @ FGCU

This review highlights the current state of the science in the pursuit of early brain and behavioral markers of autism during infancy and examines the potential implications of these findings for treatment of this condition.

The focus of this review is on the early identification, assessment, and treatment of young children (0–5 years of age) with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We first review the early signs and symptoms of ASD, then describe some of the measures that can be employed for screening and diagnosis, discuss the family context with respect to both adaptation to diagnosis and treatment, and conclude with a brief review of interventions for young children with ASD.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental condition that can affect how a person behaves, interacts, and communicates. Some early indicators of autism in babies and young children may include avoidance of eye contact, delays in language development, and limited facial expressions. This article lists the possible early signs of ASD and explains what steps to take following a diagnosis.

A new study found that around 30 percent of young children with autism have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3, with some children losing their autism diagnoses entirely. It also found that girls tend to show greater reduction and less rise in their autism symptom severity than boys with autism. Children with higher IQs were more likely to show a reduction in their symptoms.

Research presented at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo highlighted a need for future studies of the impact of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, within the family unit over time. Potential interventions include family-centered approaches to address mealtime behavior and programs that focus on managing disruptive behavior, researchers reported.

Special needs is an umbrella term for a wide array of diagnoses, from those that resolve quickly to those that will be a challenge for life and those that are relatively mild to those that are profound. No matter the reason, the special needs designation is useful. It can help you obtain needed services, set appropriate goals, and gain an understanding of your child and the stresses your family may face.

June: It’s the time of year for caps and gowns, diplomas, summer internships and job hunting. Graduation season can be bittersweet, signifying the transition from childhood to adulthood; Parents may feel that their children’s futures are full of promise. But for students with disabilities and their parents, graduation may inspire more fear and uncertainty than hope and excitement. Disabilities experts say that the best way to minimize those emotions is by planning for your child’s future.

We report three infants with an initial diagnosis of developmental delays, recovery of normal development following intervention in a multidisciplinary center, and subsequent regression into classic autism following their discharge from the program. An extensive medical workup was noncontributory. This unusual presentation, to our knowledge not reported previously, should be recognized by professionals involved in child development and psychiatry.

Simons Powering Autism Research article by Marina Sarris explores the impact of ASD on parents entering the developmental stage of the "tween" that growing into a "teen."

Although mental and physical health problems are far more common among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, a recent study showed that they’re about half as likely as their peers without autism to be given guidance on transitioning from pediatric to adult health care.

During puberty, teens experience changes in their bodies, become more focused on who is and isn’t “cool,” and start to experience sexual and romantic urges. These changes can be tough for anyone. But for kids on the autism spectrum and their families, this time can be particularly challenging. As specialists in autism and mental health care who work with teens every day at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, we’re here to help families figure out what to expect when children on the spectrum reach puberty and how to help their adolescents through this period of change.

A blog post by Arik Staley, contributor at "The Mighty." He states, "every now and then I’ll get asked if I can describe some of the ways autism affects me...Since its something I was born with, the way I experience, comprehend and interact with the world is quite different than for someone without autism. This means I can only guess how a person without autism experiences, comprehends and interacts with the world. How a person with autism experiences the world will vary quite a bit from person to person. Just because this is how I experience life with autism, it does not mean everyone else with autism will experience life in the same way."

Children with autism need more attention and a certain schedule that allows them to function. Getting enough sleep is crucial, but many kids with autism experience sleep difficulties that persist in their adolescent years. However, teens with autism need more sleep. In this post, you’re going to find out why and how to help a teen with autism sleep better.

A Hechinger Report article by Charlotte West exploring the current trend of Colleges and Universities that add services to attract students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

There is a growing call for empirically based programming to support the success of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as they transition to college. The purpose of this study was to identify the needs and challenges faced by adolescents and young adults with ASD in postsecondary education.

This is the third in a series of articles, which first appeared in iancommunity.org, examining the research and reality of the transition to adulthood, with advice from experts who have studied the process and young adults who have lived it.

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 families reporting a degree-seeking college experience for their young adult with ASD. Four themes surrounding success and failure at college emerged. Implications for future practice are discussed.

This articles explores the transition from childhood to adulthood. We are only now, however, beginning to recognize that children with autism will eventually become adults with autism. What are the unique social, ethical, and legal, challenges that this transition poses? In this essay we will examine this set of challenges.

Style, not substance, drives negative impressions of the social life of people on the autism spectrum.

An article written by Haley Moss (Neurodiversity Expert)..."While I have opinions on what resources to showcase, I do my best to provide resources I’ve found helpful, accessible, or break down information in ways that make sense no matter your relationship to autism or level of understanding. I also find it important to share a collection of voices — parents, professionals, autistic people, and content creators, or those who exist at the intersection of multiple identities."