News
A Whole New World
By Mathilde Rispoli
I remember the first time I walked into SARRC, I was in the waiting room, waiting with my leg bouncing up and down. I was nervously thinking about what my first volunteer session as a Peer Mentor in the CommunityWorks program would be like. My only experience with autism was through stories my mom had told me about her time as a teacher in a self-contained classroom.
A Day in the Life Of: Marisa Carroll
Marisa Carroll is a Senior Behavior Therapist at Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC). She has been with SARRC for three years working within the Community School, an inclusive preschool program that provides high-quality early childhood education and ABA-based programming for children with autism and their typically developing peers.
A Message from SARRC’s President & CEO on COVID-19
Recently, a SARRC clinical supervisor posted this picture to her Instagram. Of all the videos, images, and memes I’ve seen since we were first hit with COVID-19, this one is by far my favorite.
Many people with autism struggle immensely with even the smallest disruptions in their routines. Parents often learn the hard way to take the very same route to school each day, or that their child will eat only one brand of chicken nuggets, or that the 43 stuffed animals on their child’s bed must be put in the exact same place every day.
Data Security Incident
June 19, 2020 Notice: Unauthorized Access to Database at CodeMetro Containing Personal Information
Discussion on High & Low Functioning Labels
By Christopher J. Smith, Ph.D., SARRC vice president & research director
Background: In 2019, autism researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia called for the term “high-functioning autism” to be
abandoned because of the misleading and potentially harmful expectations it creates around the abilities of children on the autism spectrum.
What is “functioning,” anyway?
Future of Cyber Safety and Autism
The omnipresent accessibility of the internet is easier now, more than ever, to find what you need with the click of a button. And while the availability of information and resources is extremely valuable, SARRC recognizes there are significant safety risks for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as they navigate a sprawling online community.
“We have learned more and more of the risks associated with online activity and individuals with ASD, who may be especially vulnerable to those risks,” says Paige Raetz, Ph.D., BCBA-D, director of Teen and Adult Services at SARRC.
Expediting the Diagnostic Process
There’s no blood test or MRI or CT scan. No single telltale biomarker. No biopsy. The process of diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more complex than that, requiring observation, interviews and testing to round out an assessment. These procedures can take a great deal of time for families once in the diagnostic center.
Shifting our Perspectives: Girls & Autism
Michele Thorne dove in headfirst to understand the nuances of autism after her son, Jackson, was diagnosed just after his third birthday. The signs were obvious — regression in speech, repetitive behavior, and extreme difficulty in interacting with others.
Here for You: Watch How SARRC Continues to Navigate Through Unique Times
SARRC's Annual Community Breakfast was given a makeover for 2020 allowing nearly 1,200 guests to attend the 22nd annual event virtually.
The event, which was themed “Here for You,” recognized the ongoing efforts SARRC has been making to ensure that the necessary support continues for clients and families through the coronavirus pandemic. The 25-minute virtual event, which debuted on Thursday, May 21, featured personal stories from families, clients, and community leaders who shared their experiences from home.
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