A Risk from Within: Understanding and Treating Self-Injury in Autism
Why do many people with autism hit, bite, or otherwise hurt themselves? What can be done to help?
Read MoreRead more about: Challenging behaviors
Get the latest autism updates from SPARK, including information about genes and ASD research, webinars, and personal stories from our community.
Our ‘genes’ page provides short, easy-to-understand descriptions of genes linked to autism. Under ‘research’, you’ll find the latest updates from SPARK and other autism studies. In our ‘stories’ section, families, scientists and others share their journeys. In our monthly webinars, speakers from the autism community provide useful information for families and people with autism. All are welcome–invitation links are issued in our monthly newsletter. If you have suggestions for webinar topics, please email us at webinars@sparkforautism.org.
Webinar: The Overlap Between Autism, ADHD, and Executive Functioning
In this webinar, Ericka Wodka discusses the challenges children with autism often have focusing, maintaining attention, and planning and organizing their environment.
Read More
Supporting Parents in Early Autism Treatment
In this webinar, Melanie Pellecchia, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA, discusses advances in early autism treatment and strategies to support parents in the implementation of early intervention techniques. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
Read More
Helping Students with Autism Navigate Back-to-School Time
Returning to school after summer vacation can be hard for any child. For a student with autism, this time of year can be especially stressful. Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have trouble adjusting to change. In fact, “insistence on sameness” and “difficulties with transition” are symptoms of ASD. A new classroom, schedule, teachers, classmates, or new school can trigger distress far beyond the typical back-to-school blues.
Read More
Creating Meaningful Individual Education Plans (IEPs): What Parents Need to Know
In this webinar, Jennifer Krumins, M.Ed., founder/owner of Autism Aspirations and Autism Aspirations Academy, discusses how parents can take an active role in their child’s educational planning. This webinar is 60 minutes long.
Read More
Tips for Preventing Wandering
Wandering is a huge safety concern for families with autism, particularly during the warm summer months.
Read More
Teaching Safety Skills to Children with Autism
In this webinar, Bridget Taylor, Psy.D., BCBA-D, cofounder and executive director of Alpine Learning Group, a school for students with autism, reviews skills and techniques that help to ensure the safety of individuals with autism. This webinar is 45 minutes long.
Read More
Answers for Autism
We asked you what you wanted to know about autism, and you responded with thought-provoking and important questions.
Read More
Practical Strategies to Address Challenging Behavior
Children with autism can present with challenging behavior. Problem behavior can significantly interfere with and limit educational and social opportunities, negatively impact family functioning, and if not addressed can limit overall community integration experiences. This talk will provide an overview of the potential reasons why problem behavior exists and practical strategies that parents and teachers can implement to prevent the development of problem behavior. This webinar is 90 minutes long.
Read More