Autism

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, after meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. Kennedy said Trump put him in charge of a commission on "vaccine safety."

Despite The Facts, Trump Once Again Embraces Vaccine Skeptics

8:33pm January 10, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

Theories that a preservative in childhood vaccines could cause autism have been disproved and dismissed. But Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he'll be heading up a Trump-requested commission on the topic.

Colin Ozeki, a high school student with autism, is on track to graduate this year from Millennium Brooklyn High School with an advanced diploma.

Getting Students With Autism Through High School, To College And Beyond

3:07pm December 18, 2016

by Yasmeen Khan

Nationwide, students with autism are enrolling in college in relatively low numbers, even compared to students with other disabilities. One program in New York City is trying to change that.

Flu shots are recommended for all pregnant women.

Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy Not Linked To Autism

7:39pm November 28, 2016

by Nancy Shute

Neither getting the flu nor getting a flu shot appears to increase the risk of autism in children, a study finds. The shots are recommended because the flu poses health risks to mother and fetus.

Anthony Merkerson and Charles Jones, on a visit with StoryCorps in New York City.

From Father To Father, A Few Words Of Wisdom On Raising Kids With Autism

12:08pm July 15, 2016

by NPR Staff

Anthony Merkerson's son was diagnosed with autism. Then, his younger daughter was, too. "It was a heavy load," he says, until he started getting advice from another father farther along the same path.

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Hope Still Races Ahead Of Evidence In Magnet Treatment For Autism

7:00am July 09, 2016

by Robin Marantz Henig

A few people with high-functioning autism say they've been briefly helped by exposure to transcranial magnetic stimulation. But there's a cost, one mother found, to getting ahead of the science.

What An Hour Of Emotion Makes Visible

1:24pm July 08, 2016

by Alix Spiegel

Kim was an accomplished doctor with plenty of friends. But a few pulses from an electromagnet to her brain at age 54 made her reconsider how she sees herself — and the world.

One way to get Egyptians talking about autism? Turn their biggest monument blue — the official color of Autism Awareness Month.

Health & Safety

She Turned The Pyramids Blue — And Got Egyptians To Talk About Autism

2:32pm June 20, 2016

by Malaka Gharib

Some people in Egypt think autism is a curse. But a psychologist named Dahlia Soliman is determined to change attitudes.

Gerald Franklin, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, is now lead developer for a website that matches workers with prospective employers. Job-related videos, he says, can help people with special needs showcase their talent.

Autism Can Be An Asset In The Workplace, Employers And Workers Find

8:47pm May 18, 2016

by Yuki Noguchi

Roughly 40 percent of young adults with autism spectrum disorder aren't finding jobs. But some employers are now recruiting adults on the spectrum as an untapped talent pool of focused workers.

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Early treatment for autism is key to making the most of the intervention, researchers say.

State Insurance Mandates For Autism Treatment Fall Short

1:26pm May 11, 2016

by Shefali Luthra

Most states require insurers to pay for autism treatments. But that hasn't done much to get therapy to children who need it, a study finds. It's important to get treatment as early as possible.

Electric Currents And An 'Emotional Awakening' For One Man With Autism

11:27am April 22, 2016

Switched On author John Elder Robison says the emotional empathy he gained after receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation was intense. "It's like I lost a protective shield," he says.

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