For the past several months, yoga has been a great way for me to cope with stressors, whether that be feeling anxious about a test, worrying about girl drama, or simply just going to work on myself emotionally and physically. I take an hour out of my day to unplug and be mindful about myself …
Continue reading The Benefits of Yoga for Stress Relief and Mental Health
The Nature vs. Nurture Debate Nature vs nurture has been a debate for centuries, even going back to the medieval French. As Francis Galton stated in 1874, “[nature vs. nurture] is a convenient jingle of words, for it separates under two distinct heads the innumerable elements of which personality is composed. Nature is all that …
Continue reading Exploring Nature vs Nurture in Autism Research
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 …
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 …
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
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
As a researcher, one thing I have always been fascinated with, is how the autistic brain differs from the neurotypical brain. How specific environmental stimuli in the brain of an autistic child compares to the response occurring in a neurotypically-developing child. Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Dr. Geraldine Dawson, the …
Continue reading Early Interventions in Autism: A Conversation with Dr. Geraldine Dawson