Autism Speaks

Dear employer, This is why hiring autistic employees can benefit your business. Learn how to create a welcoming workplace inclusive of people with autism through Autism Speaks Workplace Inclusion Now. Get more information by signing up here: https://lnkd.in/gpHT2-Si Thank you for your consideration.

We’re so proud to partner with Chuck E. Cheese this #WorldAutismMonth as they continue to show what true inclusion looks like. ?? From sensory-friendly events and employee training to impactful storytelling and community fundraisers, their commitment to the autism community is inspiring. This collaboration supports our mission to increase understanding, acceptance, and support for autistic individuals and their families, through research, advocacy, and meaningful resources.

In this episode of Just Another Autism Podcast, Eileen Lamb is joined by award-winning chef, author, and television personality Chef Maneet Chauan. Best known as a judge on Chopped and the first-ever two-time champion of Tournament of Champions, Maneet is also a mother to a 10-year-old autistic son. She shares how autism has shaped her perspective both in the kitchen and at home, discussing sensory sensitivities with food, inclusive dining experiences, and tips for parents navigating picky eating. Maneet also gives a preview of the upcoming Autism Speaks Chef Gala, where she’ll be using her talents to support the autism community. https://okt.to/mek8cx

Malerie McDowell, a researcher at the University of Alabama, is hoping to understand why studies on social attention in autistic toddlers show different results depending on the setting. Past research using screens suggests that autistic toddlers look at faces less often than neurotypical toddlers. However, a study using wearable eye-trackers in real-world settings found that both groups looked at faces equally—less than 1% of the time. “This paper pointed out that during real-world play, autistic and neurotypical children’s attention is strikingly similar,” Malerie explains. “This surprised me because, using screen-based eye-tracking, researchers consistently find robust differences between autistic and neurotypical attention patterns, and these differences even aid in early diagnosis.” Determined to make sense of this discrepancy, Malerie spent hours watching videos of toddlers interacting with their caregivers. “As I watched how kids crouched on the floor and played with their head down facing the toys, it became clear to me that the motor domain was important to understanding what was happening in the attention domain,” she explains. Malerie’s current study examines whether body position and the physical effort required to look at faces affects attention in autistic children. She will observe autistic and neurotypical toddlers in different scenarios while wearing eye-trackers. In some cases, their caregiver will be seated directly in front of them, making eye contact effortless. In others, the caregiver will sit beside or behind them, requiring the toddler to turn their head or body to look at their face. By studying how movement impacts social gaze, Malerie hopes to uncover new insights into how autistic toddlers engage with their surroundings. Beyond research, she sees her work as having a direct impact on families.

Autism Speaks will always advocate for policies that fully fund special education, address shortfalls in educator training and resources, protect the rights of students, and improve access to supports that allow autistic students to reach their full potential. We will continue to monitor additional Executive Branch and legislative actions following today's Executive Order. We strongly urge policymakers to safeguard the critical tools, supports and laws that help ensure autistic students can be successful in the classroom. Join our advocacy efforts by letting your Members of Congress know why this is so important for the autism community - https://lnkd.in/e78yFg77

Too often, so-called "inclusive" campaigns miss the mark—well-intentioned but ultimately disconnected from real experiences. Eileen Lamb, head of social at Autism Speaks, explores this in her latest op-ed for The Drum, highlighting Dear Employer, a PSA created by CLICKON Media for Autism Speaks. By handing the mic to those who live it every day, the campaign delivered a powerful, unfiltered message that the industry needs to hear: https://lnkd.in/gsXtcaqg

Spring is here—and so is Bunny! We’re proud to partner with Cherry Hill Programs to make the Bunny Magic experience accessible to families of all abilities through our Bunny Cares events. Enjoy a sensory-friendly environment designed to support every child’s comfort, while also helping raise awareness for Autism Speaks. Bunny Cares is happening on April 6, 2025. Free reservations are required to maintain a calm and crowd-free experience. Find a participating location and book your visit today! Click on the link below to book your visit: https://okt.to/eyrP7I #bunnyphotos #bunnymagic #bunnycares #sensorybunny

Mishel Alexandrovsky, a researcher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, is working to change the way researchers study autistic cognition, or how autistic people think and process information. In the past, many studies framed cognitive differences in autism as deficits rather than differences. Because the research methods for these studies were largely designed without input from autistic people, they may not fully capture both the strengths and challenges of autistic cognition. “Traditional research has largely approached autism through a medicalized, deficit-oriented framework, and has often excluded autistic people from shaping the research process,” says Mishel. “This has limited the accuracy of findings, validity of methods and applicability of research to the lives of autistic people. In particular, biased interpretations have contributed to persistent and inaccurate stereotypes of autistic people as uncaring, immature, incapable or unaware.” Mishel’s work is part of a growing movement toward participatory autism research. Her work aims to combat negative stereotypes by identifying common research methods used in autism cognition studies and evaluating them with the help of autistic self-advocates. Working together, they will assess whether these research methods are fair, accurate and reflective of real autistic experiences. Based on the findings, Mishel will develop improved research methods that better account for how autistic people think and process the world around them. She will then test these new approaches to see if they provide a clearer and more accurate picture of autistic cognition and share her findings with the broader research community. “I hope that by asking autistic people about their experiences and conducting research through a participatory lens, we are able to gain a more accurate, valid and rigorous understanding of autistic people and their cognition,” she adds. “This, in turn, can lead to better supports, accommodations and broader societal understanding of autism.”

Something exciting is coming… can you unscramble the message? ?? #AutismSpeaks20

As the leading advocacy organization for people on the autism spectrum, Autism Speaks is carefully watching developments involving the Department of Education (DOE) and?are deeply concerned about the potential implications for the autism community.?For 45 years, the DOE has played a critical role in protecting the rights of students with special education needs, ensuring their ability to receive Individualized Education Programs and preventing discrimination. For millions of autistic students, the protections secured by the DOE are essential in ensuring their ability to succeed in school. Significant changes to it could also further exacerbate the challenges many autism families face in accessing needed services in schools.?Autism Speaks is actively calling upon?policymakers to maintain the DOE and safeguard the critical tools, supports and laws. At Autism Speaks, we will continue advocating for policies that fully fund special education, address shortfalls in educator training and resources, protect the rights of students, and improve access to supports that allow autistic students to reach their full potential. Donate today and ensure Autism Speaks has the resources to continue to advocate for policies that fund special education: https://lnkd.in/gVZAj2Bx