Untold stories of adults with autism
Featured articles
Sex and other foreign words
People with autism fall in love. They marry. They even (gasp) have sex. Yet these deeply human needs have mostly gone ignored by scientists.
Sex and other foreign words
People with autism fall in love. They marry. They even (gasp) have sex. Yet these deeply human needs have mostly gone ignored by scientists.
Virtual reality yields clues to social difficulties in autism
Assessing social ability in adults with autism requires controlled tests involving real-time social interactions. Virtual reality makes this possible.
Virtual reality yields clues to social difficulties in autism
Assessing social ability in adults with autism requires controlled tests involving real-time social interactions. Virtual reality makes this possible.
Eye contact is aversive for some adults with autism
The reasons some people with autism don’t make eye contact may differ between childhood and adulthood.
Eye contact is aversive for some adults with autism
The reasons some people with autism don’t make eye contact may differ between childhood and adulthood.
Do the eyes have it? Some adults with autism say ‘no’
Artist Leironica Hawkins feels comfortable making eye contact with only some people.
Do the eyes have it? Some adults with autism say ‘no’
Artist Leironica Hawkins feels comfortable making eye contact with only some people.
The unexpected plus of parenting with autism
Having autism as a parent might seem impossibly challenging. But a generation of parents with the condition is showing that it can be an advantage — even when their child does not share the diagnosis.
The unexpected plus of parenting with autism
Having autism as a parent might seem impossibly challenging. But a generation of parents with the condition is showing that it can be an advantage — even when their child does not share the diagnosis.
Specialty clinics offer complete care for adults with autism
Many adults with autism receive fragmented healthcare. Specialized clinics and personalized ‘tool kits’ are filling in the gaps.
Specialty clinics offer complete care for adults with autism
Many adults with autism receive fragmented healthcare. Specialized clinics and personalized ‘tool kits’ are filling in the gaps.
With support, community doctors could detect adults with autism
Community mental health clinics, which serve millions of Americans, can help identify adults with undiagnosed autism — and change their lives for the better.
With support, community doctors could detect adults with autism
Community mental health clinics, which serve millions of Americans, can help identify adults with undiagnosed autism — and change their lives for the better.
My secret to happiness: Lessons from an adult with autism
When I was young, I didn’t know I was different from other people. I’ve since learned who I am, about my autism and how I can overcome the challenges of my condition.
My secret to happiness: Lessons from an adult with autism
When I was young, I didn’t know I was different from other people. I’ve since learned who I am, about my autism and how I can overcome the challenges of my condition.
For people with autism, path to friendship may start in high school
Not all individuals with autism show signs of falling off a social cliff after high school; those who participated in organized sports and clubs fare the best.
For people with autism, path to friendship may start in high school
Not all individuals with autism show signs of falling off a social cliff after high school; those who participated in organized sports and clubs fare the best.
Friendships pose unique challenges for women on the spectrum
Women with autism value friendships as much as their neurotypical peers do, but they often have difficulty forming and maintaining them.
Friendships pose unique challenges for women on the spectrum
Women with autism value friendships as much as their neurotypical peers do, but they often have difficulty forming and maintaining them.
Artist with autism captures personalities on paper
Nicole Appel, a young woman with autism, draws — from memory — detailed portraits of people she knows.
Artist with autism captures personalities on paper
Nicole Appel, a young woman with autism, draws — from memory — detailed portraits of people she knows.
Adults with disabilities deserve right to choose where to live
The idea that one residential model is appropriate for the entire spectrum of intellectual and developmental disability is patently absurd.
Adults with disabilities deserve right to choose where to live
The idea that one residential model is appropriate for the entire spectrum of intellectual and developmental disability is patently absurd.
From the archives
The twenty-something free fall
Young adults with autism face many new expectations and challenges — with none of the support that is available during high school.
The twenty-something free fall
Young adults with autism face many new expectations and challenges — with none of the support that is available during high school.
The missing generation
Left to languish in psychiatric institutions or drugged for disorders they never had, many older adults with autism were neglected or forgotten for decades. Efforts to help them are finally underway.
The missing generation
Left to languish in psychiatric institutions or drugged for disorders they never had, many older adults with autism were neglected or forgotten for decades. Efforts to help them are finally underway.
Work in progress: An inside look at autism’s job boom
Splashy corporate initiatives aim to hire people with autism, but finding and keeping work is still a struggle for those on the spectrum. Can virtual avatars and for-profit startups help?
Work in progress: An inside look at autism’s job boom
Splashy corporate initiatives aim to hire people with autism, but finding and keeping work is still a struggle for those on the spectrum. Can virtual avatars and for-profit startups help?
Measures of success for adults with autism need to mature
As children with autism grow into adults, the challenge is in measuring the skills that matter most in their daily lives.
Measures of success for adults with autism need to mature
As children with autism grow into adults, the challenge is in measuring the skills that matter most in their daily lives.
Young adults with autism flounder in face of service gaps
A dearth of job-training programs and other services means that many young adults with autism struggle to lead productive, independent lives, suggests a national report.
Young adults with autism flounder in face of service gaps
A dearth of job-training programs and other services means that many young adults with autism struggle to lead productive, independent lives, suggests a national report.
New method aims to quantify ‘camouflaging’ in autism
A combination of multiple diagnostic tests may gauge the extent to which adults with autism attempt to blend in.
New method aims to quantify ‘camouflaging’ in autism
A combination of multiple diagnostic tests may gauge the extent to which adults with autism attempt to blend in.
Never mind statistics: Adults with autism may be happy
Men with autism who have above-average intelligence may not achieve typical financial and personal milestones — but many are content.
Never mind statistics: Adults with autism may be happy
Men with autism who have above-average intelligence may not achieve typical financial and personal milestones — but many are content.
Adults with autism are at risk for host of health problems
Adults with autism are at an increased risk for diabetes, depression and a number of other health problems, suggests a large survey of electronic health records.
Adults with autism are at risk for host of health problems
Adults with autism are at an increased risk for diabetes, depression and a number of other health problems, suggests a large survey of electronic health records.
For adults with autism, few good choices for treatments
Only one type of intervention for adults with autism has held up in rigorous scientific studies, according to the largest review of these treatments to date.
For adults with autism, few good choices for treatments
Only one type of intervention for adults with autism has held up in rigorous scientific studies, according to the largest review of these treatments to date.
Adults with autism face old age without much support
Some small studies are seeking a better understanding of aging in autism.
Adults with autism face old age without much support
Some small studies are seeking a better understanding of aging in autism.
Explore more from The Transmitter
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
New connectomes fly beyond the brain
Researchers are mapping the neurons in Drosophila’s ventral nerve cord, where the central nervous system meets the rest of the body.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Building an autism research registry: Q&A with Tony Charman
A purpose-built database of participants who have shared genomic and behavioral data could give clinical trials a boost, Charman says.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.
Cerebellar circuit may convert expected pain relief into real thing
The newly identified circuit taps into the brain’s opioid system to provide a top-down form of pain relief.