Dr. Sneha Kohli Mathur is an ally. She created a company, Spectrum Success, to provide adolescents and adults on the Autism Spectrum with numerous services to improve their quality of life. They offer consultation services for parents, adults, colleges, and parents. A founding member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion SIG in ABA, Dr. Mathur …
Dr. Lisa Liberatore is not only a supportive Mom and talented doctor. She is one of the strongest advocates for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has really taken the necessary steps to improve the quality of life for her son on the autism spectrum, Michael. With the help of her husband, Dr. Dimitri Kessaris, Dr. …
Continue reading All for LUV – A Conversation with Dr. Lisa Liberatore
If you look up the most influential autism researchers, Dr. Connie Kasari Ph.D., Professor of Human Development and Psychology at UCLA is on that list. A founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA, Dr. Kasari aims to develop new and evidence-based intervention strategies for children with ASD that can be …
Walking out of the elevator, I was greeted with bursts of color along the hallways of the Toby and Leon Cooperman Therapy and Family Resource Center. Feeling like a child once again, I followed the pathways along the tiles across the floor, putting me at ease. A tactile wall with different materials lines the hallway, …
Continue reading Therapies and Resources at the Toby and Leon Cooperman Center
Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a developmental disorder, impairing an individual’s ability to interact with others and behave appropriately. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum. Dr. Rebecca Landa, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University, said in an interview, “If you meet one person with autism, you meet one person with autism.” Each person with …
Continue reading Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Early Theories to Current Insights
Mrs. Jennifer Frist is not only a strong advocate for those on the autism spectrum, but she is also a loving Mom of an adult with the disorder. As her son grew older, her and her husband started to grow worried about whether he would be able to find meaningful work and live on his …
Continue reading Mom & Philanthropist – A Conversation with Mrs. Jennifer Frist
Dr. Kevin Pelphrey is a Harrison-Wood Jefferson Scholars Foundation Professor of Neurology at the University of Virginia. A leader in groundbreaking autism research, Dr. Pelphrey uses neuroscience to develop tools for detection and autism treatment and to continue helping people like his two children, who are both diagnosed with autism. His research aims to understand …
Continue reading A Perspective from a Father and Scientist – A Conversation with Dr. Kevin Pelphrey
I previously mentioned that maternal diabetes during pregnancy has been related to an increased risk of autism. This is an idea that has been shown in my family; my Mom has Type 1 Diabetes and my brother is diagnosed with ASD Level 1. The role of inflammation in diabetes pathophysiology may be the underlying role …
Continue reading Understanding Intrauterine Inflammation and Autism Risk
This past October, Keith Wargo became the president and CEO of Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to aiding individuals on the spectrum and their families. Responsible for the management of Autism Speaks, Wargo works to guarantee that the mission of the organization is being fulfilled. Autism Speaks is working to promote greater understanding and acceptance, …
Continue reading Keith Wargo: Leading Autism Speaks Into a New Era
In 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a paper, claiming that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused symptoms including intestinal inflammation, among other things that led to the consequent development of autism. This paper was scientifically flawed and even fraudulent due to data misrepresentation. Wakefield claimed that autism arose as a result of intestinal inflammation …
Continue reading Vaccine Safety: Fact vs. Fiction in Autism Research