Behavioral correlates to happiness (i.e., indices of happiness) have been used as means of measuring happiness in individuals with developmental disabilities. However, research has not yet evaluated the possibility that indices of happiness/unhappiness (IHUs) may signal the presence of a setting event that could affect other behaviors. The purpose…

This study examined professionals' perspectives regarding the impact of using Social Stories with the creative arts for individuals on the autism spectrum. These perspectives were investigated using a theoretical framework which integrates Bandura's social learning theory and Gardner's multiple intelligences theory. A mixed-methods sequential…

Multiple technological aids have been proposed to support the social interactions of people with autism. The literature is extensive, but in many of the works there is a lack of clear processes focused on improving social skills. In this paper, we analyse a selection of 57 technological supports from the last 10 years, whose main characteristic is…

Purpose: This research aimed to evaluate evidence of Pathways parent-mediated early autism intervention as a culturally and linguistically sensitive intervention (CLSI) for Hispanic families with autistic children. Methods: We used Bernal et al.'s ecologically valid (EV) framework to evaluate current practice and Hispanic parents' perceptions of…

To date, discussion regarding autism in education has been primarily concerned with autistic students, and research usually relates to pedagogical practices that can be implemented by neurotypical teachers to support them. Seldom does the conversation around autism in the classroom consider autistic teachers, which automatically negates lived…

The education of autistic children presents significant challenges, compelling various educational stakeholders to seek solutions that can enhance teaching and learning experiences for these individuals. Among the most promising strategies are gameful approaches, including gamification, card games, and simulators. Despite recent efforts,…

Statistical learning (SL), the ability to detect and extract regularities from inputs, is considered a domain-general building block for typical language development. We compared 55 verbal children with autism (ASD, 6-12 years) and 50 typically-developing children in four SL tasks. The ASD group exhibited reduced learning in the linguistic SL…

Atypical connectivity patterns have been observed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), particularly across the triple-network model. The current study investigated brain-behavior relationships in the context of social skills and executive function profiles for ASD youth. We calculated connectivity measures from diffusion tensor…

Friendships are vital to mental health and well-being. Understanding autistic individuals' lived experiences of friendship is necessary to support friendship development. A scoping review exploring autistic individuals' experiences of friendship was undertaken to understand their perspectives of friendship. Electronic database and manual reference…

Purpose: Disorders on the autism spectrum have characteristics that can manifest as difficulties with communication, executive functioning, daily living, and more. These challenges can be mitigated with early identification. However, diagnostic criteria has changed from DSM-IV to DSM-5, which can make diagnosing a disorder on the autism spectrum…

The reported prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has more than tripled in the past two decades in the United States, due in part to improved screening and diagnostic techniques. Epidemiologic data on ASD, however, are largely limited to population-based surveillance systems. We examined epidemiologic patterns in ASD diagnoses among…

Autism is increasingly viewed as an expression of neurodiversity deserving accommodation, rather than merely as a disorder in need of remediation or even prevention. This reconceptualization has inspired calls to broaden the ethical debate on early autism care beyond matters of efficient screenings and effective interventions. We conducted 14…

The relationships between neurotypical (NT) children and their sibling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be complex and lead to stress and strained relationships. Existing theories help us understand the relationships of children with ASD and their caregivers, but we have limited knowledge about the experiences of NT siblings. To fill this…

Autobiographical memory (ABM) and social cognition are mutually constituted, and both are affected in autism. Meanwhile, very little is known about the heterogeneity of ABM in autism, how ABM differences are present in real-world contexts, and how to best respond to autistic children's ABM differences. The goals of this qualitative study were to…

Some researchers suggest difficulties synchronising with a partner could underpin the social differences associated with Autism Spectrum Condition, potentially acting as a marker for autism. Social Motor Synchrony (SMS) is one aspect of synchrony that could augment observational diagnostic procedures. However, the full breadth of literature…