Shannon Des Roches Rosa is senior editor at Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, parent to three ever-taller children, and a fan of her spouse’s work in public media science documentaries. She lives near San Francisco, California.
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
Managing editor
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
From this contributor
Clinicians must put more effort into autism-specific medical care
Without it, autistic adults with high support needs like my son are missing out on treatments that could reduce their suffering and improve their quality of life.
Clinicians must put more effort into autism-specific medical care
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
14 March 2022 | 6 min read
How to help autistic children cope with pandemic lockdowns
Sheltering in place is especially hard for autistic children who dread changes in routine and who may have learned to repress their ways of managing stress. Here are tips to help them cope.
How to help autistic children cope with pandemic lockdowns
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
28 April 2020 | 4 min read
Autism meeting evolves to address needs of people on the spectrum
The annual meeting of International Society for Autism Research has aligned its offerings with the priorities of people with autism and their families.
Autism meeting evolves to address needs of people on the spectrum
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
1 May 2018 | 5 min read
A call to scientists to develop communication tools for autism
People with autism who speak few or no words need tools that can help them communicate. Scientists could make this happen.
A call to scientists to develop communication tools for autism
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
20 December 2016 | 6 min read
Before talking about autism, listen to families
Scientists should phrase their findings to be sensitive to the dignity and needs of people with autism.
Before talking about autism, listen to families
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
26 January 2016 | 6 min read
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Daniel Nicholson discusses how Schrödinger’s book ‘What is Life?’ shaped years of biology, research
Combing through historical archives, Nicholson discovered what drove Erwin Schrödinger to pen “What Is Life,” his famous "little book": Schrödinger feared that new discoveries in quantum physics would influence how we think about free will.
Daniel Nicholson discusses how Schrödinger’s book ‘What is Life?’ shaped years of biology, research
Combing through historical archives, Nicholson discovered what drove Erwin Schrödinger to pen “What Is Life,” his famous "little book": Schrödinger feared that new discoveries in quantum physics would influence how we think about free will.
By
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5 November 2025 | 1 min read
Our searchable repository of useful research can restore trust in federally funded basic science
Called U.S. Public Research Benefits, the database showcases the value of basic science in an easy and accessible format.
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Called U.S. Public Research Benefits, the database showcases the value of basic science in an easy and accessible format.
By
Adam Charles
5 November 2025 | 6 min listen