Would an Organ Transplant be Denied for My Daughter?

My daughter was born with a small hole in her heart. Such abnormalities are common in babies with Down syndrome, and we were lucky that her heart quickly repaired itself as she grew. Now as a third-grader, she rides her bike in our neighborhood on Saturday mornings, and she plays tag with her friends at recess. During those early days of her life as we faced an unexpected future, I could not have imagined what […]

Social-cognitive neuroscience offers insights into the early course of brain development and its connections to autism spectrum disorder

Since the modern era of research on autism began in the 1980s, questions about social cognition and social brain development have been of central interest to researchers. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), and it is evident in this year’s meeting that the growth of social-cognitive neuroscience over the past two decades has significantly enriched autism science. For those unfamiliar with the […]

How Autistic People Communicate Virtually

Prior to COVID-19, communication via the internet was already a regular feature of everyday interactions for most people, including those on the autism spectrum. Various studies have shown how autistic people use information and communication technology (ICT) since the early 2000s, some finding that autistic people may prefer to communicate using the internet instead of in-person. However, no systematic review has been conducted to summarize these findings. To understand what has been discovered so far, […]

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Person with a Disability

Employing people with disabilities is more than just about doing good; it’s about doing what’s doing good for your business. Here’s why: They’re Capable & Qualified People with disabilities are just like anyone else. They have strengths, weaknesses, talents and skills. They may have qualities and skills that you value in an employee. Dependability Commonly, people with disabilities are proud to have a job. They thrive on having a purpose and a daily routine; making […]

How first responders command the emergency: When someone with special needs goes missing

The call comes into the police department for a missing person. Sometimes it’s regarding an adult who didn’t show up for work. It might be a teenager who has run away from home. It might be a child who got separated from their parents while on an outing. Police train for these kinds of missing person cases. But what happens when the missing person has special needs and may be unable to communicate with authorities? […]