children – Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre

PODCAST: Seeing into the future of autism detection

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating an autism prevalence of 1 in 36 children in the United States, early and accurate diagnosis is important for children, their families and carers. A 2023 study in Nature describes a new method to facilitate early detection of autism using a smartphone app.

OTARC’s Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro and Duke University’s Professor Geraldine Dawson speak to Andrew Saintsing, PhD, Intern, and Stephanie DeMarco, PhD, Managing Editor of the Drug Discovery News Dialogues podcast about early identification of autism.

Supports and practices for daily living

Sensory-friendly learning: Strategies for inclusive classrooms

Inclusive education: The Australian context

Inclusion involves the right to participate in school culture and curriculum for all students. Inclusive education ensures that every student, including those with disabilities, can access, participate, and feel supported in their educational goals. Inclusive schools foster professional learning communities that empower teachers to implement best practices and utilise current, evidence-based strategies, facilitating optimal learning outcomes for students.

Inclusion for students with sensory sensitivities is very important for participation in education. This importance is increasingly being recognised in government policy discussions.

Identification and diagnosis

How to talk to your child about their autism…

With better awareness and acceptance, approximately one out of every 50 children is receiving an autism diagnosis. More and more families are deciding when to share this information with their child. Some parents worry that doing so will “label” their child, or make others treat them differently.

News

Early Signs of Autism

Interview with Dr Josephine Barbaro on ABC Radio National’s Life Matters program.

Dr Barbaro discusses the parent perspective on early Autism diagnosis

Study summary

Parental stress and Autism

OTARC 2014 Phd graduate Rebecca McStay discusses family stress and Autism

Educational and vocational engagement

Meltdowns after school

I am a mum of six. My three youngest all have ASD and have terrible trouble with meltdowns after school. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of the ‘delay effect’ for children on the spectrum. That being that they hold themselves together and show no behaviour of concern at school but ‘meltdown’ when they return home. My question: is there any research evidence that this exists and what can be done to help?

Supports and practices for daily living

Seven Essential Tips for Parents Evaluating Autism Interventions

ASDetect identifies the early signs of Autism, to help reduce the age at which Autistic children are identified. The younger a child is accurately identified the sooner intervention can begin allowing children’s full learning potential to be realised.

Ask an Autism Researcher

Echolalia and Autism

Does echolalia always indicate Autism, even when functional and age appropriate speech is present?

Supports and practices for daily living

Teaching Autistic adults to speak

Is it possible to teach adults with autism to speak?

Answer:

Unfortunately, the simple answer is that we don’t know because there is no research evidence that tells us one way or the other. There are reports of individuals which indicate that it may be possible (see for example, Helping to unlock the secrets of autism), but what works for one individual may not work for another. Because of that we cannot make any predictions about particular individuals. However, it is important not to assume anything. Experiences through work, reading of the research literature, and listening to the personal stories of Autistic people and their families lead us to think that we can’t predict what individual Autistic people can or cannot learn, and we shouldn’t give up trying to help them to learn skills. We shouldn’t be surprised by surprises.

Autism supports

New Autism research demonstrates positive impact of early suports

A new research study at the Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre (ASELCC) based at La Trobe University’s Children’s Centre, in collaboration with the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC), has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Answer:

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