This summer, Code Switch is laser-focused on books that teach us about freedom. Today, we're in conversation with a romance novelist whose own identity helped inform a rich cast of characters.
When schools closed last spring, children with severe mental illnesses were cut off from the services they'd come to rely on. Many have since spiraled into emergency rooms and even police custody.
Feda Almaliti is the mother of a 15-year-old son with severe autism and an advocate. She describes how the challenges of the coronavirus crisis are exponentially more difficult for families like hers.
Brains affected by autism appear to share a problem with cells that make myelin, the insulating coating surrounding nerve fibers that controls the speed at which the fibers convey electrical signals.
The Philadelphia Eagles, the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings have all opened rooms in their stadiums for fans, including those with autism, who need a break from sensory overload.
We're all different and that's good, says the U.S. Supreme Court justice. Her new children's book about embracing diversity portrays kids of all abilities working together to create a gorgeous garden.
Pittsburgh International Airport has opened a 1,500-square-foot "sensory space" to help people on the autism spectrum decompress during travel. Soothing colors and private, soundproof rooms are a hit.
A study of more than 600,000 Danish children finds no evidence of any link between autism and the vaccine that protects against mumps, measles and rubella.
Rhode Island is among a growing number of states allowing children with autism to be treated with medical marijuana. The benefits are unproved and the full extent of the risks are unknown.
Autistic adults talked about their soothing stim toys with WNYC Studios, creator of the Aftereffect podcast. It examines the life of Arnaldo Rios Soto, an autistic man involved in a police shooting.
With 113 locations in the U.S., Brain Balance says its drug-free approach has helped tens of thousands of children. But experts say there's insufficient proof of its effectiveness.
Research suggests that African-American and Latino children with autism are diagnosed later in life because of healthcare provider bias and families' lack of access to care, among other reasons.
Understanding the molecular basis of major disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and bipolar is hopeful, because it could help in developing better treatments for them.
Dealing with a fire or other natural disaster is hard on anyone, from evacuation to aftermath. And people with physical or developmental disabilities have particular needs, say emergency planners.
Young adults with autism are more likely to have anxiety, depression or other diagnoses than people with other disabilities. And that can make transitioning to adulthood more challenging.
Two new TV series feature main characters who have autism. While some are applauding the fresh take on the disorder, others worry that the shows send the wrong messages.
Girls are much less likely to be diagnosed with autism, but that may be because the signs of the disorder are different than in boys. And girls may be missing out on help as a result.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The family of an autistic student will receive $900,000 from the Clark County School District to settle claims the student was improperly restrained by a teacher's aide during the 2011-12 school year.
As a science journalist, I know vaccines are safe. But when it was time to take my son to get his shots, I suddenly found myself overwhelmed by fear. Does science stand a chance against emotion?
State health officials are struggling to contain a measles outbreak that has sickened mostly Somali-American children. The vaccination rate is low in this tight community that's worried about autism.
A measles outbreak in Minnesota's Somali-American community is the latest example of the challenges public health officials face in addressing deeply ingrained concerns about vaccine safety.
Experiments with small clusters of networked brain cells are helping scientists see how real brains develop normally, and what goes awry when cells have trouble making connections.
Julia has bright red hair, big green eyes and she loves to draw. She can be a little shy, but Elmo and Abby Cadabby don't mind. She's voiced by Stacey Gordon, whose son is on the autism spectrum, too.
