Moral reasoning and theory of mind (ToM) are two distinct but related aspects of social cognition. While past research has clearly documented serious delays in ToM development for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) both cross-sectionally (e.g. Happe, 1995) and longitudinally (Peterson & Wellman, 2020) much less is known about the…

Individuals on the autism spectrum often require additional support in the area of social communication. Peer mediated interventions target these areas by incorporating peers into the intervention. To date, most studies have focused on selecting one or two peers as models or peer interventionists with only a few studies implementing a class-wide…

Given that autistic children are hospitalized at higher rates than neurotypical peers, it is important to understand the autism-specific preparedness of healthcare providers. Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) play a crucial role in pediatric hospitalizations by providing socioemotional support and coping strategies. The present study…

In this exploratory study, we designed and validated game-based performance tasks to assess the development of representational flexibility in autistic adolescents through virtual reality (VR)-based training. Representational flexibility, a critical cognitive ability, involves attention switching, generating representations, and recognizing…

Mothers of children with disabilities can experience compromised health. Targeted interventions require investigation to determine effectiveness. Healthy Mothers Healthy Families (HMHF) is a health, wellbeing and empowerment program that addresses mothers need to protect, and or, recover their own health due to caregiving impacts. This study…

Purpose: We used data from the National Survey of Children's Health to (1) examine differences in economic hardship and safety net program use after the implementation of federal relief efforts, and (2) assess whether the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated autism-based disparities in hardship and program use. Methods: We examined five dimensions of…

Autism diagnoses in adulthood have risen substantially over recent years. While providing potential benefits, many autistic adults struggle to navigate their new diagnosis. Our review aimed to synthesise the evidence for post-diagnostic support for autistic adults without intellectual disability diagnosed in adulthood in the UK: investigating…

Available research suggests autistic mothers experience greater dissatisfaction with maternity care compared to non-autistic mothers. Limited research exists exploring autistic mothers' experiences of maternity care, and no research to date has considered maternity care professionals' experiences of delivering care to autistic mothers. This…

Recognizing higher rates of co-occurring health conditions in autistic adults and the frequent use of hospital-based health care services, this study compared rates of repeat emergency visits, repeat hospitalizations, and delayed discharges in autistic adults to other adults with and without developmental disabilities matched for age and sex,…

Autism spectrum disorder presents as a multifaceted condition characterized by pronounced impairments in social communication and behavioral patterns. Diagnosis hinges upon the expertise of clinicians, comprehensive developmental history, and observation of specific behavioral markers. However, in low-income countries, access to screening tools…

Oral health care is a significant unmet need among children, including those with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD face notable challenges during dental procedures, resulting in fewer routine dental visits and increased oral disease risks. Furthermore, children with intellectual and developmental…

The National Institute of Mental Health created the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR) to accelerate autism knowledge through data sharing and collaboration. However, our experience using NDAR reveals systematic challenges across several aspects of data submission, selection, management, and analysis that limit utility of this resource.…

Social problem solving (SPS) represents a social cognitive reasoning process that gives way to behavior when individuals are navigating challenging social situations. Autistic individuals have been shown to struggle with specific aspects of SPS, which, in turn, has been related to social difficulties in children. However, no previous work has…

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulties in communication and social-emotional interaction. It is associated with an increase of parental stress and poor family functioning, both of which are harmful for a child's functioning and adaptive behavior. An important source of support to parents are…

The prevalence of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is increasing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and around the world. In school, students with ASD face academic challenges, specifically in reading. Targeted evidence-based practices (EBPs) are needed to support reading development for students with ASD. To date, limited research…