A new edition of The Autism Digest is hot off the press! The team at Human Health has searched far and wide to bring you the best news, stories and research to help you stay up to date with the Autism community 💜

Highlights in this edition include new research findings about how mutations in our genetic code can affect the risk of developing Autism, the opening of an inclusive new space in a New York library, and a heartfelt reflection on an Autistic person’s lived experience navigating empathy.

We’ve also featured the launch of some powerful, first-in-class software made by Autistic people, for Autistic people, to make communicating online more accessible. Exciting stuff!

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Latest Research and News

Recent publications

🧬 New information about how mutations impact Autism risk: Researchers analyzed DNA from over 5000 families, focusing on parts of their genetic code known as topologically associating domains (TADs). If a change was present in a specific section of the TAD, Autism-related genes were activated, even though the altered section is not designed to control activation of these genes. This highlights that Autism risk may be influenced by genetic factors separate to known Autism-related genes.
Link to article.

🏫 School absenteeism in autistic children and adolescents: A review of existing research found that Autistic students were more at risk of being absent from school than non-Autistic students. Absences for Autistic students were linked to mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties, as well as bullying and peers with minimal understanding about Autism. Link to article.

💼 Employment profiles of Autistic people – An 8-year study: This study evaluated survey responses from Autistic adults over time. It was revealed that younger males with higher education, diagnosed later in life, with fewer Autistic traits and no co-occurring conditions were most likely to gain stable employment. This highlights the need for supports to improve stable employment for Autistic adults who do not fit this criteria. Link to article.

New in News

📖 NYU Libraries opens low-sensory room: Located at The Bobst Library, the new space is fitted with a sensory pod, adjustable lighting and noise-cancelling panelling to accomodate sensory sensitivities. Beanbags and yoga mats are also available for soft seating. The space is set to be a haven for neurodiverse students or those who struggle with mental health, and will hopefully be one of many opened in the future. Link to article.

💰 Arizona research institute awarded grant: The Autism and Aging Brain Laboratory at ASU recently received new funding of $3.3M from the National Institute of Health (NIH). The funds will go towards expanding Autism research in underrepresented communities, and continuing to investigate how the condition affects thinking and behavior. Link to article.

💼 Free training program surpasses 500,000 learners: The course was launched online in 2020 by the Autism Partnership Foundation (APF), to mitigate the cost barrier for training that people working with and caring for Autistic individuals face. The course also serves as a useful resource for parents, teachers, and school staff globally. it covers topics including parent support, developing social skills, and ethical considerations. Link to article.

Featured

YouTuber launches AI tools for Autistic people

Autistic Youtube creator Daniel Jones, known to most as @TheAspieWorld, has just launched a suite of artificial intelligence tools to help Autistic people navigate online communication. The toolkit has been launched as Autentik AI.

One of the currently available products is ‘AI Explain & Reply’, which decodes the less obvious meaning behind messages the user inputs into the software, and suggests potential reply messages to fit the scenario.

Explain & Reply is available as a Google Chrome extension and web version. The reply feature is also available as an integration for Telegram, a widely-used messaging app.

Another product, ‘Unmasking: Test and Checklist’, allows the user to take a short survey to assess the extent of their social camouflaging behaviors. A personalized report is then generated, which includes recommendations the user can consider adopting to improve their wellbeing.

More products are set to be launched in the future, and you can join their waitlist to find out more.

You can try out Autentik AI by visiting their website here.

Community Corner

💜 Sharing a lived experience: Autistic advocate Sam Farmer, diagnosed later in life, shares his experience navigating the complexities of friendship, communication and empathy, as well as his journey to diagnosis.
Read full article.

🚑 Nonprofit teaches first responders about Autism: Preston’s Pursuit for Acceptance was co-founded by parents to an Autistic son. Drawing on extensive career experience in law enforcement, the Timmions family have designed an interactive training program to encourage more positive interactions with and acceptance of the Autistic community. Read full article.

🏆 Young Autistic entrepreneur wins awards: 22-year old Aaliyah Alicia Thompson was recently awarded $10,000 at Afro Tech in Texas, and was also named a 2023 McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Change Leader. Aaliyah is a trailblazer for inclusivity and success, and trains and employs Autistic people at her beauty bar. Learn more about Aaliyah.

Resources and Tools

❤️ Extraordinary ventures: Looking for a Valentine’s gift? What about laundry, pet care, or cleaning services? Do you need to host an event or optimize your office? This nonprofit gives neurodiverse individuals employment opportunities and helps them build life skills. Visit their website here.

📖 Autism Hub webpage: A knowledge base for current information about Autism, including live feeds of the latest clinical trials and publications, news articles, community stories, and more. Visit the Autism Hub.

📱 Health tracking: Human Health is a free mobile app that helps you track Autism symptoms and treatments. Download the app here.

💬 Support groups: You can find a list of Autism support groups and organizations on the US Autism Association website. Link to list.

Inspiration and Motivation