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  Brain cells, interrupted: How some genes may cause autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia

  Researchers have identified 46 genes that can disrupt a process that is critical to early brain development. The finding could help scientists find new treatments for disorders including autism.
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  A boy on the autism spectrum struggled with a haircut. His barber saved the day

  Getting haircuts was one of Jackson's biggest fears. But one barber's patience and creativity made the ordeal something he now looks forward to.

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  Washington is sending youth in crisis to out-of-state boarding schools; taxpayers pick up the tab

  Some parents with kids in crisis in Washington are making a heart wrenching decision. They’re sending their children to out-of-state therapeutic boarding schools. And taxpayers are picking up the tab. While these are outlier cases, they highlight ongoing gaps in in-state services — gaps that were laid bare during the COVID pandemic.
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  He’s 13-years-old, autistic and stuck in the hospital for the holidays. He’s not the only one

  It's a growing problem in Washington: kids with developmental disabilities and complex behaviors who are stuck in the hospital with no reason for being there. Usually, they end up in the hospital after a crisis or an incident. But once the child is medically cleared to leave, their parents or their group home won't come get them citing inadequate supports to manage the youth's needs. While the state searches for alternative placements, the child waits.
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  ‘The situation is dangerous.’ Parents sound alarm over troubled in-home care provider

  Mysterious bruises. An unreported burn. Two vulnerable clients left alone overnight. These are just some of the complaints that families are leveling against Aacres WA — a troubled residential care provider that gets tens of millions of dollars a year from the state to care for people with developmental disabilities. Now state officials say they’re investigating.
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  'He's Incredibly Confused': Parenting A Child With Autism During The Pandemic

  Feda Almaliti is the mother of a 15-year-old son with severe autism and an advocate. She describes how the challenges of the coronavirus crisis are exponentially more difficult for families like hers.
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  Researchers Link Autism To A System That Insulates Brain Wiring

  Brains affected by autism appear to share a problem with cells that make myelin, the insulating coating surrounding nerve fibers that controls the speed at which the fibers convey electrical signals.

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  How Super Sniffer Dogs Are Helping Detect Disease Around The World

  Our canine buddies can do more than play fetch. Turns out dogs' incredible sense of smell is a secret weapon in medicine.

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  My sister has autism, and school keeps her engaged. But how will we care for her after graduation?

  My sister Saba waits eagerly for her yellow school bus every morning. But Saba is a sophomore in high school. In three short years, she will leave our brick-bound high school, and her yellow school bus won't come by to pick her up any more. My family is grappling with what life will look like for Saba, and for us, after graduation.
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  NFL Season Kicks Off With Refuges For Fans With Sensory Needs To Take A Timeout

  The Philadelphia Eagles, the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings have all opened rooms in their stadiums for fans, including those with autism, who need a break from sensory overload.

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