In the past, most autism research was focused on children with autism and their parents. Now there is more research focusing on autistic adults. Also, more autistic adults are involved in setting the research agenda and participating in research that is important to them. The selections below highlight this research and the journeys of autistic adults who are participating in SPARK.
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LaVell Juricich spent almost six decades trying to fit in and wondering why she didn't. When she was 58, she got the answer: she has autism. Now she hopes that research will help others on the spectrum to be who they are.
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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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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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In this webinar, Roma Vasa and Elizabeth Wise share information about research on anxiety and depression in autism. They also provide information about various treatments for anxiety and depression.
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In this webinar, Stephen Shore, M.Ed. discusses the autism acceptance movement and how to reframe the term disability. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
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Carrie is one of the first SPARK participants to get a genetic result. Her mother, Lynn, says everything has changed and nothing has changed.
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In December 2017, we asked our Facebook followers to finish this sentence: “As an adult with autism, I would like people to know…” The comments were varied, like the people who answered them, but we spotted some themes.
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In this webinar, Leigh Ann Davis and Samantha Crane discuss individual strategies and system reforms that could increase the safety of individuals with autism when interacting with police and the criminal justice system. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
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In this Facebook Live discussion, Dr. Catherine Lord, a licensed clinical psychologist, discusses how autism evaluations and supports change as individuals with autism get older. She also discusses the value of an autism diagnosis. This discussion is 30 minutes long.
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In this webinar, Ernst VanBergeijk, a professor at Lesley University, discusses employment and job trends for people with autism, skills that help individuals with autism gain and retain jobs and how employers and co-workers can create an autism-friendly workplace. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
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In this recorded webinar, autism expert Catherine Lord, Ph.D. discusses interventions and the types of questions parents or adults with ASD should ask doctors and specialists.
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