Autism in the Air
The ‘Autism in the Air’ video series has been developed by PEAT (Parents Education as Autism Therapists) and Queen’s University Belfast School of Education in partnership with George Best Belfast City Airport to provide parents and young children with autism with a realistic expectation of the airport and air travel.
Why there need to be more autistic characters in children’s books says Michael Morpurgo
The children’s writer Michael Morpurgo has written a new novel inspired by his autistic grandson, which is set to be published later this year. Flamingo Boy is set in the Camargue in the south of France during World War II and features a boy who “sees the world differently”.
Morpurgo explained how it didn’t occur to him to write a book about autism until his grandson was born, which isn’t totally surprising – as autistic characters in books are few and far between.
Fiction plays a significant role in shaping how people understand and respond to autism. And in this way, books are often used by both schools and parents to help children and young people understand more about autism.
But the limited and skewed portrayal of autism means it is often misrepresented rather than represented in fiction. For an autistic child or young person this can be extremely isolating and they are often unable to find a version of “themselves” in a book.
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FDA Grants ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ Status To Potential Autism Drug
A major pharmaceutical company says it has received a designation from the Food and Drug Administration to help expedite what could be the first drug to treat the core symptoms of autism.
Swiss drug maker Roche said this week that the FDA has granted its breakthrough therapy designation for the development of balovaptan, a medication with the potential to improve “core social interaction and communication” in those with autism.
The FDA uses the breakthrough therapy designation to speed the development of promising medications for serious conditions. It offers drugmakers added assistance and priority from the federal agency as they work to get a new treatment to market.
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Living well with autism
10 Truths About Making Friends When You Have Autism
10 Truths About Making Friends When You Have Autism