Autism Coverage

Mom wants answers after 6th grader leaves school, found more than a mile away

An 11-year-old student with autism walked out a front door at STEM Early High School undetected and was eventually found by strangers wandering around a parking lot two miles away.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

NC woman accused of abusing adult with autism

A woman is behind bars because deputies say she abused an adult with autism multiple times, WITN reports.

WITN

UNC autism center lands 5-year $12 million federal grant

The National Institutes of Health has awarded $100 million over the next five years to support nine Autism Centers of Excellence, which lead multi-institutional research projects to understand and develop interventions for autism spectrum disorder. UNC landed one of the grants.

Duke autism center lands $12M grant to develop artificial intelligence tools

The Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development has been awarded a $12 million federal grant to develop artificial intelligence tools for detecting autism during infancy and identifying brain-based biomarkers of autism.

'Work with my heart': Raleigh mom, entrepreneur helps students thrive at school

Stacey Kohn founded Triangle Parent Navigator in 2008 when she realized there was a need for a middle person between therapists, parents and educators working to help struggling students thrive.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Can virtual reality help autistic children navigate the real world?

Vijay Ravindran has always been fascinated with technology. At Amazon, he oversaw the team that built and started Amazon Prime. Later, he joined The Washington Post as chief digital officer, where he advised Donald E. Graham on the sale of the newspaper to his former boss, Jeff Bezos, in 2013.

Gautham Nagesh, New York Times

Special education teacher from Raleigh on TIME list of innovative educators

TIME magazine recently released their list of most innovative teachers and it includes a special education teacher in Raleigh.

Virtual conference focuses on dads of children on the autism spectrum

Fathers with children on the autism spectrum are invited to attend a virtual conference on Saturday from the UNC Autism Research Center.

Kathy Hanrahan, WRAL lifestyle editor

Wilson man welcomed home after hospitalized for months with COVID

A Wilson man with nonverbal autism returned home on Friday after battling COVID-19 in the hospital for more than six months.

Community welcomes home Wilson man who battled COVID in the hospital for 6 months

A Wilson man with nonverbal autism returned home on Friday after battling COVID-19 in the hospital for more than six months.

Bryan Mims, WRAL reporter

Autism progress? UNC-CH scientists report progress in unraveling genetics of the disorder

Scientists at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and colleagues have demonstrated that rare variants in a gene, consistently found in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), can alter architecture and organization of neurons, potentially contributing to autism and neurodevelopmental comorbidities.

Real-Life Works thrift store in Raleigh hopes to offer more job opportunities for those with autism and other intellectual disabilities

Executive Director Chrystal Austin said, "The mission is to employ adults with autism and intellectual disabilities. We wanted to have more jobs for this population, because it's needed."

Rick Armstrong, WRAL photojournalist

Only on WRAL: Wake mother endures scary morning after 5-year-old son with autism dropped off at wrong school

A 5-year-old boy with autism was dropped off at the wrong school on Tuesday morning, leading the mother to experience every parent's nightmare of not knowing where their child is.

Chris Lovingood, WRAL reporter

Food truck, community partners create opportunity for workers to build job skills

Miller's Crew is a Fayetteville-based food truck that employs young adults with developmental disabilities to help them build life and job skills to better equip them for independent living.

Dryden Quigley, WRAL contributor

NCSU study: Gene associated with autism linked to itch response

A pilot study from North Carolina State University has found that a gene associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and pain hypersensitivity may actually decrease itch response. Atopic dermatitis and pain hypersensitivity are both conditions associated with some types of ASD.

NC State Fair announces sensory-friendly day with less light, sound

"Accessibility Day presented by Bandwidth" will be held on Sunday, Oct. 17, between 9 a.m. and noon.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

New sensory play space will cater to neurodiverse community

As the neurodiverse community grows, Tynisha Doe is working to build a home away from home for them.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Tearful, joyful parents welcome law change to make behavioral analysis therapy more widely available for those with autism

Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law Monday a move to help more people with autism get access to potentially life-changing behavioral analysis therapy.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

New law provides easier access to therapy for autism

Parents called behavioral analysis therapy life-changing, tremendous.

Guns for elected officials, policing reforms, rape kit bills beat legislative deadline

Here's what your state lawmakers are up to today as a legislative deadline approaches.

Durham mom builds app to help kids on autism spectrum thrive

As her older son who is on the autism spectrum made the transition into preschool, Tracey Hawkins knew she'd need something more to help him adapt. That something more turned into an app that is designed to help children on the spectrum minimize triggers and identify and be more aware of their emotions.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Detecting autism symptoms in children via an app? Yes, says new study from Duke

A digital app successfully detected one of the telltale characteristics of autism in young children, suggesting the technology could one day become an inexpensive and scalable early screening tool, researchers at Duke University report.

Amanda Lamb: Atypical

While many of us plan the futures of our children based on the traditional paradigms of our culture--graduating from high school, attending college, getting a job--we should remember these paths are not available to everyone. And not every parent has the luxury of these expectations.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Wake Forest firefighters raise awareness for autism with colorful shirts

Department members were seen wearing shirts with the word 'fire' filled with a colorful puzzle piece. The firefighters are using the shirts to raise awareness about autism.

Wake Forest firefighters raise awareness for autism with colorful shirts

Wake Forest fire crews are raising awareness for autism during Autism Acceptance Month.