A Parent's Journey with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Early Signs of ASD, Finding Help and Support and Getting Answers
Casandra Oldham, Director, Autism Programs, Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI), shares her experiences as a mother of two children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Gareth currently age 20 and Korlan currently age 18.
This is the first Blog in a new series of monthly Q&As where Casandra relates her real-world perspectives and the highs and the lows of her autism parenting journey. She also shares stories of overcoming barriers to accessing healthcare services and advocating for her autistic children.
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Breakthroughs at the Inaugural Autism Knowledge Gateway Evening to Advance Autism Care
On November 8, we hosted 50 attendees for the Autism Knowledge Gateway’s (AKG) first formal event, An Evening to Advance Autism Care. The evening was in many ways historic and felt much larger than the intimate group of 50 people who gathered to address gaps in quality healthcare for autistic patients.
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Why Addressing Comorbidities Should Be the First Step in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Care
No human being can reach their potential without basic health and wellness.
After an autism diagnosis, most families are encouraged to pursue therapy. While there are a range of therapies that can be highly effective, it is important to acknowledge, early on, that autistic people often experience a range of underlying comorbid health conditions. Many of these conditions are not only treatable, but also necessary to address for therapy to have its intended impact and to enhance overall quality of life.
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Introducing the Autism Knowledge Gateway: Access to Peer-Reviewed Medical Research for Better Autism Care
"If you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism."
– Dr. Stephen Shore, autistic professor of special education, Adelphi University
The wisdom of this quote has become a popular way to describe the unique and varied characteristics of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This principle also underscores the complex and highly individualized medical profiles of autistic individuals—95% of whom experience at least one comorbid medical condition. Inspired by this understanding, the Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) created the Autism Knowledge Gateway (AKG), an AI-powered platform designed to connect families, clinicians and researchers with vital insights to advance autism care.
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