We’re ringing in the first day of the month with a brand new roundup of everything happening in the world of Autism, thoughtfully curated by the team at Human Health.

In this edition, we’ve highlighted an Israeli study which has come to new conclusions relating to premature birth and Autism risk, and an analysis of Medicaid data showing increasing numbers of Autistic youth in the US foster care system. Other stories include a notable sports star raising awareness for ASD at a charity event, and an AI model deciphering differences in the way Autistic and neurotypical people Tweet.

Our featured article this edition focuses on an organization championing the joys and sharing the struggles of neurodiverse and disabled people, through interviews that reach millions of people each year. Such important and inspiring work 💜

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Latest Research and News

Recent publications

👶 Israeli Study Finds No Link Between Premature Birth and Autism: The analysis explored the relationship between Autism diagnosis and pre-term birth in over 100,000 children. The initial analysis found a significant association, but when the results were adjusted for other factors including maternal age, infant gender, and ethnicity, there was no significant association identified. Link to press release.

🧠 Factors Associated With the Job Satisfaction of Autistic adults: This study analysed survey results from 121 Autistic adults who work for at least 10 hours a week. It was revealed that social support in the workplace significantly impacted job satisfaction. Individuals who were well-matched to their current working position based on their skills, attitudes and values also had higher job satisfaction. Link to article.

💬 Using #ActuallyAutistic on Twitter for Precision Diagnosis of Autism: Researchers used AI to analyse over 6 million Tweets from two groups – people who self-identified as Autistic using #ActuallyAutistic, and people who did not use the hashtag. The study found that Autistic people’s tweets had a higher character count, and more frequent use of emotional language. Identifying these characteristics from someone’s online activity may help support clinicians to make an accurate diagnosis. Link to article.

New in News

✅ FDA Clearance for Trials of SHANK3 Gene Therapy: Jaguar Gene Therapy’s experimental treatment, JAG201, has been approved to begin early-phase clinical trials in adults with genetic forms of Autism or Phelan-McDermid syndrome. The treatment works by increasing the expression of a gene called SHANK3, which is important for cognitive, social and motor functions. Link to article.

🏠 Number of Youth with Autism in U.S. Foster System is Growing: New analyses of Medicaid data have identified that almost 9% of youth in foster care have an intellectual disability (ID) or Autism. Prevalence of ID and Autism is 2–5% higher in the foster system compared to the general US population.
The groups with the highest risk of foster care involvement were Black and female youths. Link to article.

🫄 Exploring Experiences With Maternity Care in Autistic People: Autistic academic Dr Aimee Grant is spearheading research relating to the maternity journeys of Autistic people, driven by her own experiences. The aim of her ongoing research project is to identify changes that could make healthcare more accessible, inclusive, and ethical for Autistic people. Learn more.

Featured

Special Books by Special Kids

Also known as SBSK, Special Books by Special Kids is an organisation founded by former special education teacher Chris Ulmer, who has become a renowned disability-rights activist through his work.

SBSK interviews neurodiverse and disabled people, particularly children, and provides a platform where they can share their experiences. The organization promotes empathy and understanding for all. With over 2 billion views from more than 130 countries, SBSK is on a mission to lead a global acceptance movement.

A recent video introduces us to Autistic teens and siblings Melinda and Deimos, both also diagnosed with a number of other mental health conditions. They explain how their conditions impact their lives and relationships, and the hardships they faced during childhood. Melinda exclaims that SBSK helped them realise that “there are other people out there that are kind of like me, which consoles my soul.” Watch their interview here.

Last month, SBSK filmed an interview with Rachel and Griffin, who are both Autistic and recently married after dating for 9 years. Although some might consider their marriage unconventional as they don’t live together or have sleepovers, the two clearly have a close bond and strong commitment to each other. In the interview, they talk about the activities they do together, how they help each other, as well as how being neurodiverse affects them individually. Watch their interview here.

SBSK’s videos are a vulnerable insight into the real lives of neurodiverse and disabled people and their families. Chris takes every measure to ensure interviewees are comfortable, and are sharing their story in their own words in a way that is meaningful to them. His work facilitates the creation and sharing of emotional memoirs that highlight the joys, needs and struggles of neurodiverse and disabled people.

Learn more about SBSK on their YouTube channel here.

Community Corner

🎶 Personal Perspective – Autism and the Loss of Skills: Susan Senator writes about her Autistic son, Nat, and recounts how fluctuations in his singing skills throughout his youth and young adulthood have influenced the spectrum of her emotions. Read more.

⚾️ NFL Star Runs Race for Autism Charity: Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, recently thrust into the spotlight as a result of his brother Travis Kelce’s relationship to singer Taylor Swift, participated in Mike’s Seafood Run/Walk for Autism to raise awareness and funding for the cause. Jason Tweeted that he “had a blast” at the event, where fans cheered him on to the finish line.
Read more.

📱Mobile Communication App for Autism Available Now: Founder of the Verbal AUTISM app Amir Arami recognized a gap in the market for affordable communication tools for Autistic people. So, he took it upon himself to build one, available for download on Google Play and the App Store. The app allows users to build customizable communication boards, use voice output and more. Read full article.

Resources and Tools

🗣️ Echolalia and Autism: A blog post written by the Human Health team, summarising what echolalia is and what it might look like for Autistic people. Read the post 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