Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ASD symptoms are overrepresented among gender-diverse youth across studies. Gender-diverse and ASD youth are at risk for anxiety, but anxiety is unclear among gender-diverse youth with ASD. The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a commonly used ASD screener, including in multidisciplinary…

There has been a heightened awareness of an increased risk of suicidality among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to high rates of suicidal ideation (SI) in this population (11-66%). The current study investigated the rate of parent-endorsed SI and associated clinical features in 48 youths with ASD (Age; M: 12.97 years, SD:…

Emerging research shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may improve mental health for caregivers. Parents of autistic children, adolescents, and adults (N = 54) were randomly assigned to either complete a brief group-based ACT intervention or remain on the waitlist. Participants completed surveys immediately prior to randomization,…

Medicaid is a major insurer of autistic people. However, during the transition to adulthood, autistic individuals are more likely than people with intellectual disability to lose their Medicaid benefits. Individuals with intellectual disability may have greater success maintaining Medicaid coverage during this time because most states provide…

Independent living skills (ILS) are crucial for the post-school success of students with disabilities. In this systematic literature review, we examined ILS interventions for secondary and postsecondary education students with intellectual disability or autism ranging from ages 13-24 years. Forty-two articles met the inclusion criteria and were…

Little is known about differences in dosage or feedback that make teacher coaching effective in relation to teacher and student outcomes. This study builds upon previous research on the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS) to understand the impact of different types (face-to-face coaching vs. emailed feedback) and…

Taking an inclusive and equitable approach to emergency management planning means considering the needs of all populations, and neurodivergent individuals are entitled to the same emergency services as neurotypical individuals. Core planning teams should team up with disability specialists, parents and guardians, and Individualized Education…

Bullying and victimization in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a problem of particular importance, as this category of students is at high risk of victimization by other students, which negatively affects their psychosocial and emotional development. The purpose of this study is to investigate the rate of victimization of children…

Self-determination is a complex process with several components, such as making choices and independence. However, limited research on self-determination has focused on individuals with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder. This study aimed to support independent leisure engagement and choice-making of leisure activities for this population…

Later autism diagnosis is associated with increased mental health risks. Understanding disparities in diagnostic timing is important to reduce psychiatric burden for autistic people. One characteristic associated with later autism diagnosis is female sex assigned at birth. However, literature to date does not characterize, differentiate, or…

Learning to drive represents a rite of passage for many adolescents and young adults, which increases their access to vocational, education, and social opportunities (Almberg et al., 2015; Cox et al., 2012; Lindsay, 2016). When examining licensure rates for individuals with developmental disabilities and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder, research…

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors. However, little research delineates the temporal and mechanistic associations between potential risk factors and suicidality in autistic individuals. We assessed 129 autistic and 121 age-matched and sex-assigned-at-birth-matched…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has a profound impact on millions of families in the United States. While Hispanic families represent the most rapidly growing demographic group within this population, little research explores their unique experiences in coping with the family impacts of ASD. This comparative study explored the lived experiences of…

Autistic adults are at increased risk of both mental and physical health difficulties, and yet can face barriers to accessing healthcare. A meta-ethnographic approach was used to conduct a review of the existing literature regarding autistic adults' experiences of accessing healthcare. Four databases were systematically searched for qualitative…

Play is critical in the development of cognitive and language skills in young children with autism; however, few studies have examined the impact of the intervention on the development of play skills. The current study aims to address the change in developmental skills, including play after participation in the JASPER intervention, and to examine…