The stressors autistic individuals encounter and experience as traumatic may vary from non-autistics. We conducted a qualitative study to identify potential sources of trauma for autistic individuals and evaluate correspondence with a standard measure. We enrolled autistic adults (N = 14) and caregivers (N= 15) with varied adversities, levels of…

A common misperception of people with disabilities is that they are unable and/or disinterested in sex; however, research indicates that they express sexual desires and engage in sexual behaviors. Studies about the sexuality of people on the Autism Spectrum (ASD; on the spectrum), however, suggests they receive limited sex education and are more…

Recent high school graduates enter a period of postsecondary transition where they are expected to obtain employment, enter college, or enroll in a training program. Postsecondary outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are notably lower than their neurotypical peers. Forty-two percent of students with ASD present with normal…

The purpose of this research was to gain a greater understanding of the transition experiences of students on the autism spectrum. Because the transition phenomenon itself was the focus of the study, information was sought not only from the primary perspective of students on the autism spectrum, but also from family members who participated in…

There is an increasing number of culturally diverse individuals, particularly Asians, identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States. Nevertheless, research on culturally diverse caregivers, especially fathers, of children with ASD is scarce. Thus, this phenomenological study explored the essence of shared experiences of…

The present study investigated the association between autism and problematic internet use (PIU) and gaming disorder (GD). A systematic literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 2286 publications were screened, and 21 were deemed eligible for inclusion in the review. The majority of the studies found positive…

This systematic review (Prospero Registration Number: CRD42019142910) aimed to narratively synthesise technology-aided assessments and treatments of anxiety in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for the first time. Sixteen studies were identified: 5 assessment studies and 11 treatment studies. Assessment studies targeted state anxiety…

There are few published procedures for teaching athletic skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study used a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the effects of prompting, demand fading, and differential reinforcement, on the basketball shooting skills of four school-aged boys diagnosed with ASD. During…

Data from the National Survey of Children's Health 2016-2019 was used to examine the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD and the impact on anxiety and depression among adolescents age 12-17. Rates of anxiety and depression were up to ten-fold the prevalence of adolescents not diagnosed with autism or ADHD. Over half of autistic females (57%) and…

It was recently reported that learning one is autistic earlier in life is associated with greater quality of life and well-being in university students. In a pre-registered extension of this work, we addressed several limitations of this study by: (1) recruiting a larger sample of more diverse ages and education levels; (2) distinguishing between…

The number of children educated within maintained Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools, known as special schools, in England has continued to rise since 2006, yet the 'pupil voice' of children and young people with severe learning difficulties and those attending special schools remains limited in current research. Drawing on Gramsci's theory…

Parent involvement in social skills training programs for autistic children has been associated with improvement in child and family functioning. However, limited research has explored parents' treatment experiences, which may elucidate key therapeutic elements mediating long-term maintenance of outcomes. This study examines parent perspectives on…

Background: Narrative discourse, or storytelling, is used in daily conversation and requires higher-level language and social communication skills that are not always captured by standardised assessments of language. Many autistic individuals and individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have difficulties with both social…

This study aimed to determine the experiences of gifted children with autism spectrum disorder, their parents, and teachers with the COVID-19 pandemic and holistically reveal the reflections of the restrictions in this process and the transition to distance education on the lives and especially the education of gifted children with autism spectrum…

Joint attention and imitation are thought to facilitate a developmental cascade of language and social communication skills. Delays in developing these skills may affect the quality of children's social interactions and subsequent language development. We examined how responding to joint attention and object imitation skills predicted rate of…