Autism resources

Curated articles, guides, and tools for autism families, educators, and providers.

The Connection Between Autism and Water: Sensory Benefits & Safety — Water and Autism, the sensory connection.
Budget-Friendly Sports Options for Children with Autism in Dubai — A practical guide to budget-friendly and inclusive sports options for children with autism in Dubai, including swimming…
Budget-Friendly Sports Options for Children with Autism in Abu Dhabi — Budget-Friendly Sports Options for Children with Autism in Abu Dhabi
ZHO: Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination – Abu Dhabi — ZHO: Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination – Abu Dhabi
Working with Your Child's School in Alberta: IPPs, Coding, and How to Get Real Support — How Alberta identifies and supports students with special education needs, what an IPP is and isn't, and the escalation…
Therapeutic riding for children on Autism spectrum — A parent-friendly guide to therapeutic riding and equine-assisted programs for children with autism in Ontario. Learn t…
Working with Your Child's School in BC: IEPs, Designations, and How to Get Support — How British Columbia's inclusive education system works: designations, the IEP, adapted and modified programming, and t…
Working with the School (Ontario) : IEP, IPRC, and How to Get Real Support — How Ontario's school identification process actually works, the difference between contained and mainstream classrooms,…
Preparing for Kindergarten 101 - Real-life tips from a mom who’s been there — Starting school can feel overwhelming, especially when your child has autism. Sharing some of the things we did to make…
L1-79 and Autism: What Families Should Know About the Research — A plain-language review of what L1-79 is, what early Phase 2 findings do and do not show, and why this experimental dru…
Sensory Tools for Real Life: Earplugs and Earmuffs for Noisy Places — A practical family guide to choosing and using earplugs, earmuffs, and noise-reducing headphones while preserving comfo…
What Actually Happens in a Psych-Ed Assessment — A step-by-step look at what really happens in a psych-ed assessment — from intake through report and feedback — plus ho…
AAC, Communication Devices, and the Modeling Approach That Actually Builds Speech — What AAC actually is, why it doesn't replace speech (it builds it), how to choose between picture exchange, communicati…
New to Canada with an Autism Diagnosis: A Practical First-Year Guide — What to expect when you've immigrated to Canada and your child has an autism diagnosis — what's accepted from overseas,…
Picky Eating, ARFID, and the Feeding Battles That Aren't Really About Food — What to do when your child eats five things and refuses everything else — distinguishing typical picky eating from ARFI…
Bullying and Cyberbullying — Bullying is when a person or group repeatedly harms someone on purpose. Cyberbullying is bullying that happens through…
KTEA-3 in North America: How It Helps Identify Learning Strengths and Challenges — Learn what the KTEA-3 assessment measures, how it helps identify learning difficulties, and how families can use result…
Autism services Nova Scotia Guide — A plain-language guide to autism services in Nova Scotia — assessment, preschool programs, school supports, funding, an…
Communication Classes & Other Specialized Classes in Ontario Schools: A Board-by-Board Guide — Families hear a lot of different names — "communication class," "ASD class," "community class," "intensive support prog…
PPM8: Ontario Ministry of Education policy - What Every Ontario Parent of an Autistic Child Needs to Know — Navigating Ontario's special education system can feel overwhelming for parents of autistic children. This guide explai…
School Admission Process for Children on the Autism Spectrum in Canada (Province-Wise Guide) — This guide explains how school admissions work for children on the autism spectrum across Canada and what parents shoul…
The Autism Acronym Glossary: A Plain-English Decoder — Every acronym you'll encounter in the autism world — therapies, professional roles, government programs, school terms,…
Adult Day Programs and the Transition Out of School — What happens when school ends — adult day programs, life skills, employment supports, housing options, and the funding…
Potty Training a Non-Verbal or Limited-Verbal Child: Methods That Actually Work — Real strategies from parents who got there — including the bare-bottom approach, what to do when your child holds their…
ASAN Joins Allies in Urging the Administration to Protect the Department of Education — A dated coalition advocacy letter urging continued federal education-department functions that support disabled student…
Learning Disabilities — Learning disabilities affect how people understand, remember and respond to information. Learn more on how to identify…
Ontario ACSD Payments Increased in July 2026: What Families Need to Know — Ontario increased the ACSD maximum monthly payment by 1.9% on July 1, 2026. Eligible families may now receive $25 to $6…
Petition e-7703: A Canada-Wide Call for Vulnerable Missing Persons Alert Standards — What Canadians should know about House of Commons petition e-7703, its call for national standards, and why it matters…
Ontario Children’s Treatment Centres and SmartStart Hubs: A Regional Guide for Families — Find your regional Ontario Children’s Treatment Centre or SmartStart Hub, understand rehabilitation supports, and disti…
How to Choose (and Vet) a Therapy Provider — A Caregiver's Checklist — Real questions to ask before signing with a therapy centre or in-home provider — credentials, safety, costs, red flags,…
Check Your Therapy Provider — Regulators by Country — Regulators, public registers and complaints routes for autism therapy providers in 15 countries — plus how to check any…
Early identification of autism: signs, screening and diagnosis — Current guidance on early autism identification, using a 2015 review as historical context. Signs can prompt assessment…
ANK2, SCN2A and SHANK genes in autism: a research explainer — A plain-language explanation of a 2026 review proposing how ANK2, SCN2A and SHANK proteins may affect dendritic signall…
Memantine and amantadine for autistic children: what the evidence shows — A parent-friendly summary of a 2026 systematic review: evidence for memantine and amantadine in autistic children remai…
What does “medically frail” mean? Why does it matter for people who get health care through Medicaid? — Under the CMS Medicaid work requirements rule, people who are "medically frail" are exempt — but the rule's definition…
Who does not have to follow Medicaid work requirements? — Not everyone on Medicaid expansion has to meet the new work requirements. This plain-language guide from the Autistic S…
Do people who get SSI or SSDI have to follow work requirements? — Getting SSI or SSDI does not automatically exempt you from Medicaid work requirements. People waiting out the two-year…
Medicaid Work Requirements: Learn More and Take Action! — The CMS Medicaid work requirements rule takes effect 1 January 2027 and will require most people on Medicaid expansion…
Beyond the Outburst: Charting a New Frontier for Understanding and Treating Irritability in Autistic Adults. — Irritability is common in autistic people and often badly misunderstood — especially in adults, whose treatment options…
The impact of pregestational stress on neurodevelopment: Implications for autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. — A 2026 narrative review in The Journal of Physiology asks whether stress experienced before conception could influence…
The Views of Autistic Adults on Early Autism Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Literature Review. — Autistic adults were asked what early autism support should actually aim for. Across 19 studies they consistently ranke…
Kids Activities - Shape and Color Sorting — ## Kids’ Activity: Categorize, Sort, and Count Objects Dear friends, These wonderful learning resources were created an…
The Access 2 Card: Free Admission for a Support Person at Venues Across Canada — A practical guide to the Easter Seals Access 2 Card, including who it is for, how first-time applications and renewals…
The Disability Travel Card: Help Bringing a Support Person When You Travel — A Canada-focused guide to the Easter Seals Disability Travel Card, explaining who may apply, what a support person does…
How UAE Employment Support Works for People of Determination — A plain-language guide to UAE employment rights and government-backed pathways for people of determination, with an imp…
AutINSAR 2026: Highlighting Autistic Priorities in Autism Research — A clearly labelled community-discussion roundup of priorities raised by AutINSAR 2026 participants, with context on who…
Employment Supports for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum in Ontario — A practical map of Ontario employment rights and disability-related job supports for autistic people, covering Employme…
Review and Developmental Model: Early Childhood Emotion Regulation and Co-Regulation in Autism. — A narrative review and proposed model of emotion regulation and co-regulation in autistic children under six.
B.C. Autism Funding and the 2027 Disability Benefit: What Families Need to Know — A practical guide for families in British Columbia on the current Autism Funding Program, the 2027 transition, and the…
Enhanced Respite for Medically Fragile and/or Technology-Dependent Children — Enhanced Respite for Medically Fragile and/or Technology-Dependent Children. If your child is medically fragile or depe…
Childhood Vaccines — Childhood vaccines, or immunizations, protect your children from many serious or even deadly diseases. Learn why and wh…
Mowaamah Programme: Saudi Arabia’s Workplace Inclusion Certification for People with Disabilities — A parent-friendly guide to Saudi Arabia’s Mowaamah programme, explaining how the national workplace accessibility certi…
Housing & Supported Living for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum in Ontario — A practical Ontario guide for families planning housing and supported living for adults on the autism spectrum, includi…
Therapeutic Riding & Equine Therapy for Children with Autism in the UAE — A parent-friendly guide to therapeutic riding and equine-assisted therapy programs for children with autism in the UAE.…
A review of evidence-based early intervention for behavioural problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: the core components of effective programs, child-focused interventions and comprehensive treatment models. — A 2014 review of behavioral-support programs for autistic children; it is dated and does not establish one best model f…
Prevalence, Expression, Assessment, Mechanisms, and Management of Pain in Autistic Children: A Scoping Review. — A systematic review of pain research in autistic children, finding major gaps in assessment and treatment evidence.
Priorities and Perspectives Regarding Goals and Outcomes of Support for Autistic Children Under 12 Years: A Systematic Review. — Autistic individuals, family members, and professionals often hold differing perspectives on the goals and outcomes of…
How Autism Funding Works in Alberta: FSCD, PUF, and Adult Supports — A plain-language guide for Alberta families on FSCD, PUF, and PDD — what support exists, who qualifies, and how to appl…
Communication Strategies to Support Self-Advocacy in Transgender Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review. — A literature review on communication and self-advocacy supports for transgender autistic youth, with individualized, af…
Bloomberg: What Adults Get Wrong About Girls and Autism — A media/opinion-linked Child Mind Institute resource on autism in girls and why some presentations may be overlooked.
Autism Doesn't End at 18: Navigating the Transition into Adulthood — Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders with a prevalence of approximately 0.7%. People with A…
Understanding health services and puberty for autistic adolescents and those with disability: A scoping review to inform occupational therapy practice. — A scoping review of puberty-related health services and support for autistic adolescents and other disabled young peopl…
Autism, dementia, and post-diagnostic support: A consensus report from the Second International Summit on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia. — Post-diagnostic support is a critical yet underdeveloped aspect of dementia care, especially for autistic adults who pr…
What Autistic Adults Say Early Intervention Should Look Like: A Research Review for Parents — What autistic adults themselves say early intervention should be for. This plain-language review of a 2026 study finds…
Speech and Language Problems in Children — It can be hard to know if your child's speech or language delay is a problem. Read about the types of problems and how…
Dogs and Autism: A Family Guide to Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Pets in Canada — Across Canada, families are increasingly exploring how dogs can support autistic children, from highly trained autism s…
Ins and Outs of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Intervention in Promoting Social Communicative Abilities and Theory of Mind in Children and Adolescents with ASD: A Systematic Review. — A meta-analysis of ABA-based and naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for communication, adaptive, and c…
Current options for the treatment of anxiety in adults with autism spectrum disorder. — An expert clinical review of anxiety care in autistic adults, emphasizing autism-adapted assessment and individualized…
Hearing Problems in Children — Hearing problems can be temporary or permanent. About 2 or 3 out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. are born deaf or h…
Educational Options for Children on the Autism Spectrum in the UAE — A parent-friendly guide to mainstream inclusion, specialist pathways, special needs centres, autism-focused settings, a…
Respite Care - Ontario — Caring for a child or adult on the autism spectrum is rewarding, but it is also constant. Respite care exists so that y…
Culturally Responsive Practice in Applied Behavior Analysis: A Professional Profile — A professional profile recognizing Dr. Elizabeth Hughes Fong’s contributions to culturally sensitive applied behavior a…
Autism Brain-Connectivity Research: Early Work on Biological Patterns — A brief 2026 research update on cross-species brain-connectivity analyses and possible biological patterns in autism.
Ableism and the History of ABA Services: A Reflective Article — A 2026 article examining ableism and historical context in applied behavior analysis services for autistic people.
Neuroaffirming Health Care for Autistic People: Practical Principles — A 2026 clinical article on making health care more accessible, respectful, and neuroaffirming from childhood through ad…
Sleep and Sensory Differences in Autistic Young People: A 2026 Review — A 2026 systematic review finding links between sleep difficulties and sensory differences in autistic children and adol…
When Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety Overlap: A Clinician-Facing Article — A 2026 clinician-facing article on individualized assessment and monitoring when autism, ADHD, and anxiety overlap in c…
Emotion-Regulation Groups for Autistic Children: A Research Review — A 2026 review of group-based emotion-regulation programs for autistic children and teens, including what the evidence c…
Strengths-Based, Anti-Ableist Goal Writing in ABA: An Article — A 2026 article proposing a strengths-based, anti-ableist approach to goal writing and direct service in applied behavio…
Reasons You Didn’t Realize You’re Autistic — A first-person commentary on reasons some people recognize autistic traits later in life, including masking and social…
Photobiomodulation (Light-Based Therapy) for Autism: What Families Should Know — A balanced guide to the early research, safety questions, and limits of photobiomodulation for individuals on the autis…
INSAR 2026: The State of Autism Research, Prague Version — An attendee commentary on the 2026 International Society for Autism Research meeting in Prague, centered on research cu…
Maternal and paternal antidepressant use before and during pregnancy and offspring risk of neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — A 2026 review of observational studies finds uncertain, confounded associations between parental antidepressant use and…
AuDHD Isn’t Just Autism Plus ADHD: The Tie Dye Model — An autistic psychologist’s 2026 commentary uses a “tie-dye” metaphor to discuss overlapping autistic and ADHD experienc…
CPSD Co-Chairs’ Letter Opposing Loosened Limits on 14(c) — A May 2026 disability-advocacy letter opposing a U.S. bill that would alter federal safeguards around subminimum wages.
Neurodiversity Needs Neuroinclusive Leadership — My colleagues and I recently did something scary. For the past few years, we built the Neurodiversity Pathways program…
ASAN May 2026 Update: Advocacy, Grants, and Community Resources — A dated May 2026 update from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network covering advocacy, mini-grants, workplace accommodation…
The Scope of Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis in State Licensure Laws. — A U.S. regulatory review of how state licensure laws define ABA scope of practice; requirements vary by jurisdiction an…
Affirming Neurodiversity within Applied Behavior Analysis. — A professional discussion of how ABA practice can engage with neurodiversity-affirming principles, without treating tho…
A Discussion of Positive Behavior Support and Applied Behavior Analysis in the Context of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the UK and Ireland. — A UK-and-Ireland discussion of positive behavior support and ABA in autism, emphasizing ethics, individualized goals, a…
The Evolution of the Conceptually Systematic Dimension and Its Current Functions in Applied Behavior Analysis. — A research-methods article on the “conceptually systematic” dimension of ABA; it is not evidence that a particular trea…
Research Review: Conceptualizing and measuring 'problem behavior' in early intervention autism research - a project AIM secondary systematic review. — A systematic review examining how early-intervention autism research defines and measures “problem behavior,” emphasizi…
Annual Research Review: Early intervention viewed through the lens of developmental neuroscience. — An annual research review of early intervention through developmental neuroscience, offering a research framework rathe…
Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: What the Pediatricians Should Know. — A pediatric-focused review of early autism diagnosis, explaining why developmental concerns merit individualized profes…
Research Review: Conflicts of Interest (COIs) in autism early intervention research - a meta-analysis of COI influences on intervention effects. — A meta-analysis examining whether reported conflicts of interest were associated with effects reported in autism early-…
Early Intervention and AAC: What a Difference 30 Years Makes. — A dated review of early intervention and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), emphasizing individualized c…
Autism spectrum disorders in infancy and toddlerhood: a review of the evidence on early signs, early identification tools, and early diagnosis. — A 2009 evidence review of early autism signs and identification tools in infancy and toddlerhood; it is dated and not d…
How to De-Escalate an Autistic Meltdown — A practical Child Mind Institute explainer on supporting an autistic person during escalating distress, with safety and…
Speech and language therapy assessment based on applied behavior analysis: a scoping review. — A scoping review of ABA-based language-assessment tools in speech-language therapy, finding limited evidence and reinfo…
A systematic review of social-validity assessments in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis: 2010-2020. — A systematic review of how social validity was assessed in ABA research, highlighting the need to assess goals, procedu…