National Foundation for Autism Research

Thank you New York Life Insurance Company for your continued support of the autism community! Throughout the pandemic, despite limited resources, NFAR has continued to offer many of its programs and services redesigned for the virtual environment to help those with autism stay productive and keep learning. That’s why we are so excited to announce that New York Life is supporting these efforts and awarding NFAR with a $25,000 Community Impact Grant (https://nfar.org/NYLPres...sRelease) New York Life will also be offering free financial and special needs trust planning seminars over the next several months. While this pandemic has impacted everyone, New York Life recognizes that many nonprofits need additional financial assistance to keep their critical programs and services operating, said Managing Partner Tony Montalvo of New York Life’s San Diego General Office. Now more than ever, autistic individuals need vocational training programs like NFAR’s with proven success at creating meaningful employment engagements.

"Eye-gaze patterns when people look at a face relate more to alexithymia, a condition marked by difficulties recognizing one’s own emotions, than to autism, according to a new study. The findings suggest that some emotion-processing differences considered core to autism are actually due to alexithymia, the researchers say. Although autistic people are often presumed to have trouble recognizing and responding to facial expressions and emotions, the research has been inconsistent. But increasing evidence suggests that these difficulties are actually due to a high rate of alexithymia among autistic people, says senior investigator Geoff Bird, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. About 50 percent of autistic people have alexithymia, compared with 5 percent of non-autistic people."

Casting call for Love on the Spectrum in the US. Please see details below: Northern Pictures is making a TV documentary series in the US about dating and relationships featuring people on the autism spectrum. We are looking for SINGLE people, living in the United States, who are on the autism spectrum and are interested in dating. You may have no history of dating, or you might be an experienced dater, feel free to get in touch and say hello. We are also looking for COUPLES,... or people who have just started seeing each other, even if you’re not yet official! Either one or both of you might be autistic. There are many misconceptions out there about autism, one of them being that people aren’t interested in finding love. We want to show that this isn’t true, and to help people understand more about neurodiversity. We aim to make an honest, sensitive and insightful documentary series. If you are interested, please send an email with a brief description of yourself, where you live and a photo to: [email protected] www.northernpictures.com.au See more

Shopping for Father's Day, Graduation, Birthdays or Prime Day deals? We would appreciate you signing up for AmazonSmile and SELECT National Foundation for Autism Research as your preferred charity at smile.amazon.com/ch/20-0538863. Remember to shop for deals at smile.amazon.com, or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon app, and AmazonSmile will donate to us at no cost to you. Many thanks for your support!

"We’re excited to announce the comeback of Summer Movies in the Park, with virtual, drive-in and traditional events! We’re kicking off the series at the end of May with virtual movies, so stay tuned for directions to reserve your special code. We’re in the process of updating https://www.summermoviesinthepark.com/; please bookmark the page and check back later for the entire lineup. We look forward to seeing you soon!"

The San Diego International Film Festival has organized Shortfest to showcase 100s of short films from May 14 to May 16. One of them is about Jeremy Sicile-Kira! THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS OF JEREMY SICILE-KIRA World Premiere is this Saturday, May 15 at 2:15 PST Synopsis: Jeremy Sicile-Kira uses painting to communicate his dreams to others but must overcome his disability to do so. Learn more here: https://sdfilmfest.com/shortsfest https://bit.ly/3uEeWa8

Good news for Atypical fans - their fourth and final season drops July 9th. Here's a sneak peek.

MISSING Last seen in Chula Vista Anyone with information about Pang Vue was asked to contact the CVPD at 619-691-5151.

"When the Brood X cicadas emerge later this month, they’ll be big and they’ll be loud." "Windmill said the sounds the cicadas make can get up to about 100 decibels. For comparison, he said the average voice is 50 to 60 decibels and a shout is about 70 to 75."

Today we remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect our country. Their courage will always be remembered.

"Inspired by stories from autistic children and their parents, the LEGO Foundation and Play Included are hoping to uplift children and young people who may benefit from social communication support to boost emotional well-being. In speaking with them, it's evident that they also want to help fight the stigma of an autism diagnosis is to celebrate these differences and showcase their strengths. While no two kids are the same, they all like to play. Inclusivity is vital and should support every child."

This weekend is the next broadcast of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! On the Radio, happening this Sunday, December 20 at 12:00 noon! It can be heard on the radio in San Diego on KPBS 89.5 FM, and can be streamed live on the KPBS website, on the KPBS app, and on smart speakers. The final airing will be on Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) at 6:00 p.m. And... for our special audience, you are invited to gather your family, and enjoy a trip to Whoville together anytime during the entire month of December with this link: https://www.theoldglobe.org/grinch-on-the-radio-video-link/

TONIGHT! Join us this Wednesday, Dec. 16th at 6:30pm for the December NFAR Autism Parent Virtual Meeting! All parents are welcome! Topic: AUTISM IS An Anti-bullying Curriculum Join us to learn about the curriculum, AUTISM IS. Research at UCSD demonstrates that this curriculum addresses not only autism and special needs but inclusion, appreciation of differences, social skills, bullying, and gun violence. Curriculum, AUTISM IS, is even more relevant and needed today, and... when connecting with peers is harder than ever before. Guest Speakers: -Dr. Joshua Feder MD -Dr. Grace Fantaroni -Therese Davis, B.A. -Dr. Michael Berlin Ph.D., Psychology & Education -Patrick Scott BA For more information about the speakers, visit https://nfar.org/moms-group-latest-news HOW TO REGISTER: Please RSVP by no later than 4pm on 12/16 using this link to Eventbrite (please select the Dec 16th date) for ZOOM session access. >>> https://bit.ly/3aYIkih <<< On Dec 16th, we will send those that have RSVP'd an email with a link to join the meeting on ZOOM. (Email sent by 10am for early RSVPs and another by 5pm.) Any questions Please feel free to call us at 858-679-8800 See more

"On the face of it, we shouldn’t expect any link between a neurological disability and one of the crowning talents of our species. But new research is revealing a surprising connection between autism and the uniquely human capacity for invention." "It happens that inventors and autistic people both love to repeat their observations of such patterns, over and over again, to uncover timeless laws. At Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre, which I direct, we set out to explore this convergence. Our research found an overlap between the minds of those gifted in invention and the minds of autistic people. Both are more likely to be pattern seekers, or hyper-systemizers, strongly driven to analyze or build systems by identifying and experimenting with if-and-then patterns."

Join us Wednesday, Nov 18th at 6:30pm for the November NFAR Autism Parent Virtual Meeting! All parents are welcome! Topic: Sibling Panel Discussion What is it like to grow up with someone on the spectrum? While we all have unique families, and different circumstances, there are things we can learn from their experiences. Join us as we explore autism from their unique perspective.... Guest Speakers: Addison Lana, Mia Bautista & Grace Asaro HOW TO REGISTER: Please RSVP by no later than 4pm on 11/18 using this link to Eventbrite (please select the Nov 18 date) for ZOOM session access. >>> https://bit.ly/3aYIkih <<< On Nov 18th, we will send those that have RSVP'd an email with a link to join the meeting on ZOOM. (Email sent by 10am for early RSVPs and another by 5pm.) Any questions Please feel free to call us at 858-679-8800

Helping Our Educators during COVID. NFAR Teacher Grants APPLICATION PERIOD IS OPEN! The COVID-19 crisis has challenged the way we learn for both students and educators. To assist educators needing new or supplemental materials, NFAR has opened the Teachers' Grant application period. It will be a quick-turn-around so that the funding happens this school year.... Applications open: December 14, 2020 Applications due: January 15, 2021 Awards Announced: March 1, 2021 For more information: https://www.nfar.org/teacher-application

"A new test can measure the language skills of autistic children of any verbal ability, at almost any age. The assessment could help researchers track changes in a child’s language skills throughout development or in response to interventions, the researchers say. It is also the first test designed to gauge language skills in minimally verbal adolescents. Clinicians generally use standardized tests to track autistic children’s language development as they grow, but these meas...ures often miss changes in those who rarely speak. Recording a child’s speech while she plays freely can offer scientists a more representative snapshot of her natural, everyday language, but this approach may not be appropriate for teenagers. The new assessment, Eliciting Language Samples for Analysis (ELSA), enables researchers to examine language abilities from single words to fluent speech in children aged 20 months to almost 20 years."

Zappos is expanding a first-of-its-kind program designed to make it easier for people with special needs to buy shoes. The program, which debuted in July as a pilot, allows customers to buy just one shoe or purchase a pair of shoes that includes two different sizes. It is part of Zappos Adaptive, a broader effort that launched in 2017 to offer a collection of clothing and footwear to meet the needs of people with various disabilities.

THANK YOU COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS! We'd like to thank everyone at the County Board of Supervisors for supporting our efforts to create employment opportunities for young adults with autism by awarding NFAR with a Neighborhood Reinvestment grant! These funds will be used to purchase PPP equipment and materials that will allow us to safely reopen our doors in 2021. We greatly appreciate the City of San Diego's continued support of our employment training efforts and for your commitment to building a more neurodiverse workforce in San Diego!

1. What’s wrong with me? 2. I’m tired. 3. I have a headache. 4. I’m sorry. 5. Can’t we stay home?... 6. You do it. 7. Is it time to leave yet? 8. Don’t leave me. 9. I want to go home. 10. Can you turn on the hallway light for me at night? 11. Don’t make me. 12. My body is uncomfortable. 13. I don’t feel well. 14. I don’t want to! See more

"People with autism appear to fall into two groups based on molecular differences in their brains, including alterations in gene expression and chemical tags on DNA, according to a new study. One group shows a molecular signature distinct from that of controls, whereas the other group does not. Understanding how the molecular differences correlate with clinical traits could help researchers to classify the condition into subtypes and find therapeutic targets, experts say."

Although I will never be able to see the world through his eyes, I feel like our home’s ‘migration abnormalities’ give me a glimpse into my boy’s brain. And with that glimpse comes the glimmer of understanding, Paige Martin Reynolds writes.

NFAR's VIRTUAL PROGRAMS During this Covid19 pandemic, NFAR is offering virtual program options designed to help participants build and develop many of the skills needed for employment. If you interested, please contact NFAR for more information by emailing [email protected] ... Space is limited. See more

Did you know that when an adult with autism is conserved, the judge will typically take away their voting rights? Many attorneys will now help families protect their son's or daughter's right to vote during the conservatorship process. These types of situations help us to recognize how important our personal right to vote is, and all the persons that have fought throughout history to make this possible. This election period, make sure that your voice is heard by voting for the persons and issues you care about. Due to the Covid19 pandemic this election, many are voting by mail. Be sure to return your mail-in ballot to a polling place, vote center, or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2020. You can also track your mail in ballot here: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/

>>Check out this FREE webinar hosted by MeBe!<< Join this free webinar for parents and caregivers to learn how to identify signs of a feeding disorder and learn family-friendly strategies to help your child with feeding challenges at home. What are pediatric feeding disorders? A feeding disorder is diagnosed when a child consistently refuses or is unable to eat sufficient quantities or varieties of food, resulting in inadequate caloric or nutritional intake.... Research has shown that feeding disorders occur in as many as 35% of typically developing children and 80% of children diagnosed with developmental disabilities. During this webinar, we will discuss how medical, oral-motor, sensory processing, and behavioral factors could all be contributing to your child’s feeding difficulties. We will also help you to understand when treatment is necessary and will review sensory focused treatment strategies to fit your child’s individual needs. Finally, we will teach you how to get started with the basics to help make mealtimes more successful at home. All families are welcome to join us for this free information session. Get expert tips from our team of Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy experts! This webinar will be presented by Nikki Rosner, MA, CCC-SLP, Hylan Noble, MS, CCC-SLP, Angela Ochoa, OTR/L, and Shana Smith, COTA/L. This webinar is a free resource provided by MeBe and will be recorded and posted on the MeBe website for future access. See more

'What was so unique for me as a dad, his cousin Vicki Page made the masks and when she gave him the opportunity to give them away, one of Liam’s struggles with autism is social skills. He’s generally not real comfortable around other people,' Chris said. So they made it into a challenge to help work through one of Liam’s struggles." 'I’ll never forget, his mom called me. She was in tears, she was crying happy tears because he had made the phone call by himself, on his own, without a script, and he had initiated the entire conversation,' Chris said."

"Genome sequences from one of the first research cohorts of African children with autism and their families have revealed more than 4 million novel genetic variants, some of which occur in genes not previously linked to the condition."

FYI - Free webinar tomorrow (Tues, Oct 27th) on distance learning and special education! This webinar is hosted by Seth Schwartz, Esq. of Brightside Law Group, who will help explore the experience and perspective of educational advocates.... We will discuss a broad range of concerns from distance learning and school reopening, working with an advocate, too navigating the IEP process in a virtual platform. Allan Roth April Villafana Ashley Parton Bertha Traylor Cynthia Norall Jeni Rayle Kristi Kelly

Fun drive through socially distance Halloween event! via Autism Society San Diego For more information, please call (619) 525-8247