Plan to change autism definition has some worried

Autism advocates are worrying that proposed changes to the way that autism is defined could affect the way that children and adults with the condition access treatment and services.

No Link Between Mom’s Smoking and Autism

Smoking during pregnancy is not directly linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children, according to a large population-based study in Sweden. Exposure to various chemicals in the environment during pregnancy and infancy has been considered by researchers as a possible contributing factor toward the development of autism spectrum disorders. Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke [...]

Kaleb Kula, Autistic 6th Grader, Bullied On Videotaped Beating At Maryland School Bus Stop

Troubling footage has surfaced of a student with autism being brutally beaten to the ground at his Maryland school bus stop while his peers stood by to watch -- and catch the act on camera.

VT. Governor Offers $5.1B Budget for FY'13

Gov. Peter Shumlin is proposing a slight rise in spending for the coming year, in an address to a joint session of the Legislature in Montpelier.

In Autistic Kids, ‘Thinking in Words’ Improves Mental Flexibility

When children with autism ‘mentally talk things through,’ they have an easier time unraveling complex everyday tasks, which may lead to more flexible thinking and a more independent life later on, according to research from Durham University, the University of Bristol and City University London. The study reveals that the mechanism for using ‘inner speech’ [...]