Understanding Autism, Understanding the Brain
Many scientists say the key to understanding autism lies within the brain. How and why does the brain work differently in people with autism? Learn more about brain research.
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Get the latest autism updates from SPARK, including information about genes and ASD research, webinars, and personal stories from our community.
Our ‘genes’ page provides short, easy-to-understand descriptions of genes linked to autism. Under ‘research’, you’ll find the latest updates from SPARK and other autism studies. In our ‘stories’ section, families, scientists and others share their journeys. In our monthly webinars, speakers from the autism community provide useful information for families and people with autism. All are welcome–invitation links are issued in our monthly newsletter. If you have suggestions for webinar topics, please email us at webinars@sparkforautism.org.
Webinar: Why is Studying the Brain Important for Understanding Autism?
In this webinar video, David Amaral and Cynthia Schumann discuss how studying the human brain contributes to our understanding of autism.
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Spotlight on Ashleigh Warren: Teen ‘Teams Up’ with SPARK
Ashleigh Warren had questions about autism spectrum disorder. Why do relatively few girls and women have autism? Why are many people on the spectrum sensitive to sound or touch?
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Webinar: The Overlap Between Autism, ADHD, and Executive Functioning
In this webinar, Ericka Wodka discusses the challenges children with autism often have focusing, maintaining attention, and planning and organizing their environment.
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Cracking the Autism Services Code: Spotlight on the Stepanians
Finding information about, and services for, autism seemed like a mystery to Cara Stepanian. Her family took steps to shed more light on ASD.
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Spotlight: Trudi Sullivan Raises Awareness of an ‘Invisible’ Generation
When Trudi Sullivan was being evaluated for an autism spectrum disorder, she was ushered into a room that included a child-sized chair. That chair was a reminder that she was getting her diagnosis later than most people — decades later.
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SPARK’s Pilot Study Finds Genetic Results for 10 Percent of Families
Genetic analysis from the first 457 families to enroll in SPARK provides new support for several genes linked to autism.
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Spotlight: Denise Lombardi Advocates for Autism and Epilepsy Research
The Lombardis joined SPARK to help scientists learn more about autism and epilepsy, which both affect son RJ. They want better treatments to reduce the risks of seizures. “This is a matter of life or death,” RJ’s mother says.
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Community Spotlight: Advocate Adam Farris Imagines the Possibilities
As a young man, Adam Farris found himself in a tough place. With poor social skills, he could not keep a job or friends. Then he received an autism diagnosis – and help with social and life skills. With that, he transformed his life.
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Webinar on Involving Siblings of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder
In this webinar, Carolyn Shivers discusses research on the experiences of typically-developing siblings of people who have autism.
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