To improve mental health care for autistic adults, a better understanding of their real-world intervention use is required. The aim of this study is to investigate individual differences in the intervention trajectories of autistic adults, by examining longitudinal patterns of therapy, counseling, and medication use. Self-reported intervention use…

Accurate identification of autism is a pressing challenge for rural, medically underserved communities. Tele-assessment could address some barriers to care by increasing access to expert diagnosticians, but questions remain regarding how best to implement these approaches. To gather community input regarding rural families' perceptions and use of…

Eye gaze is widely recognised as an important element in managing social interactions, receiving information from others and communicating information about ourselves. Atypical eye gaze is one of the characteristic hallmarks of autism. Experimental research has contributed significantly to our knowledge of eye-gaze in autism, however, there is a…

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with poor health outcomes in the general population. However, their impact on autistic youth remains unclear. Objective: The primary objective was to understand how childhood adversity is related to the general health, mental health, and physical health of transition-age…

Purpose: Telehealth delivery increases accessibility of parent-mediated interventions that teach parents skills and support autistic children's social communication. Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), an evidence-based Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) focused on imitation skills, a common difficulty in autism, holds…

Adaptive functioning is central to autistic individuals' independence and well-being. However, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with poor adaptive functioning, even in the absence of cognitive delays or deficits. This study examined how age and executive function associate with adaptive functioning--particularly the gap between…

Following high school exit, many autistic young adults are not enrolled in post-secondary education or employed, and few are engaged in community activities. This disengagement among autistic young adults may be a result of the limited or inadequate supports provided to autistic transition-age youth in schools. Therefore, the purpose of the…

Sensory features, executive and attentional impairments are frequently reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, little is known about their complex relationships. In this study, we aim to examine the executive and attentional difficulties related to distinct sensory profiles. We identified sensory profiles with a…

In this Reflection from the Field, I introduce the term "diagnostic spectrum" to characterize different practices by which school psychologists and independent psychiatrists 'diagnose' autism in special education. In New York City, I argue that departments of education entrench these differences, which challenges disadvantaged families…

An important aspect of current practice in special educational need (SEN) assessment is the review and allocation to a particular focus of support. This study examines how specific such classifications are at least in the German practice by analysing coded text information regarding children's characteristics as well as environmental conditions…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) assessment via telehealth, with growing support in terms of both validity and acceptability, was increasingly used during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued due to its utility and convenience. Shifting from in-person assessments to telehealth for young children required several adaptations, namely around…

Autistic individuals face challenges in expressing their sexuality and understanding social norms, exacerbated by inadequate sex education. To improve the acquisition of sex education programs, this systematic review identified and synthesized the barriers and facilitators to addressing sex education for autistic learners. A comprehensive database…

Tele-assessment of autism in early childhood has increased. However, it is unclear how autism screening tools (M-CHAT-R, DCI) function as part of tele-assessment and relate to a commonly used tele-assessment instrument, the TAP. 361 families from a clinically referred sample of children (mean age: 27.63 months, sd = 4.86 months) completed the…

Autistic adults experience more daily stress compared to non-autistic adults. However, stress recognition is often delayed, potentially leading to chronic stress and significant (mental) health risks. We evaluated the effectiveness of Stress Autism Mate (SAM), a stress-monitoring mobile health application co-created with autistic individuals. We…

Adolescence is a vulnerable developmental period for autistic youth. Autistic adolescents often use camouflaging to combat social challenges, perceived differences, and stigmatization. Although adolescence is an integral period for identity development, integration of these topics remains understudied in current literature. Evidence of elevated…