Sensory Processing and Brain Development

Free Opportunity for Families of Children with Disabilities! Expressive Movement Initiative (EMI) is a program that has been founded at UCLA to teach dance to children with disabilities! As partners of the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART), the program offers a one-on-one mentorship aspect to each student by pairing them up with a teacher that will personally guide them through the class. It is a great way for children to make new friends and stay active each week! RECRUITMENT IS NOW OPEN for the Fall Session that will begin in early October and last 10 weeks. All dance activities will be coordinated through ZOOM to maintain social distancing and adhere to CDC guidelines. Please visit emiucla.org to register!

Recent work in the lab of our close collaborator, Dr. Mirella Dapretto, has found that females with autism may process social reward differently than males with autism, which provides insight into the different symptom profiles that we see in the disorder and suggests avenues for treatment. Check out this Spectrum News article that covers the recent study by Dr. Kathy Lawrence! https://www.spectrumnews.org//brain-responses-to-social-s/

For the first time, the CDC has reported that the rate of autism diagnosis was similar in black and white children, although black individuals are still often diagnosed at a later age than their white peers. Hispanic youth are also more likely to not receive an autism diagnosis, or to receive it when they are older. While this statistic marks an important step in reducing diagnosis disparities, it also serves as a reminder of the work that remains to be done in ensuring that every child receives the treatment and resources that they deserve. https://www.usatoday.com//white-and-black-chil/2920414001/

Check out this list of COVID-19 resources for families of those with autism, compiled by UCLA CART! https://www.semel.ucla.edu/autism/covid-19-information

With the spread of COVID-19, this is an unusual time for all. The National Autism Association has compiled some articles that describe ways to talk to a child with autism about a global health crisis or ways to attempt to maintain their normal routine. Check it out! https://nationalautismassociation.org/covid-19-resources-f/