A Mother’s Search for Genetic Answers Leads to SPARK
Erin is a mom on a mission. She wants to find out if her son has a genetic change, so she can better manage his health.
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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.
Unlocking Skills in Autism: Spotlight on the Lurvey Family
Kaylee Lurvey may go years without saying a word, and then speak a complete sentence. Her family hopes researchers will discover ways to unlock speech and other skills in people like Kaylee.
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A Passion for Science: Spotlight on the Diamond-Robey Family
Dylan Robey loves insects, all of them, even the dreaded cockroach. Like many people with autism, Dylan has what researchers call a special interest, in his case, in bugs. Others might call it a passion for the unappreciated.
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Special Interests in Autism
Special interests can offer people with autism opportunities to socialize and to highlight their strengths. These interests can sometimes even grow into a career.
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ADHD, Anxiety and Autism?
Some researchers believe that conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and depression are “under-recognized” in youth with autism, which, in turn, “hampers clinical care and treatment.” After all, how can you treat what you don’t diagnose?
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Behaviors that Puzzle: Repetitive Motions and Obsessive Interests in Autism
Some of a child’s early symptoms of autism may be among the most puzzling to parents: hand-flapping, rocking, lining up toys, or finding the whirling blades of a fan more interesting than the world around him.
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