Autism Coverage

New Jersey program helps people with autism

A New Jersey program provides job training and opportunities for people with autism

New Jersey program provides job training, opportunities for people with autism

April is Autism Acceptance Month, and a South Jersey hospital does that every day by providing people with autism with new opportunities.

Stephanie Stahl, Brad Nau, KYW and CNN Newsource

Wayne County basketball manager suits up and scores in memorable moment for team, school

Chris Boykin is the student manager for the Norwayne Middle Basketball team. For the past three years, he's served the team from the sidelines.

Wayne County basketball manager suits up and scores as dream comes true

Chris Boykin loves basketball but hadn't seen the floor during his time as the Norwayne Middle team manager. That all changed recently.

Nation's first autism history museum opening in Frankenmuth

A new center in mid-Michigan is promoting opportunities for people living with autism. A ribbon cutting in Frankenmuth celebrated the Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation Museum, the nation's first autism history museum.

CNN Newsource

PolitiFact's 2023 Lie of the Year: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign of conspiracy theories

Bolstered by his famous name and family's legacy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign of conspiracy theories has gained an electoral and financial foothold.

Madison Czopek and Katie Sanders, PolitiFact reporters

Duke app could be groundbreaking for detecting autism in children

The app uses artificial intelligence to show movies to kids and record their responses. Certain behaviors and movements can be predictive of autism.

Shelle Jackson, WRAL reporter

Duke researchers create app to help detect autism in children

Researchers at Duke University have created an app to screen for autism, parents just need a smartphone or a tablet.

NC teen writes book on living with autism, overcoming challenges with kindness

A teen author from Farmville in Pitt County has written a book with a special message to others on the Autism spectrum.

Autism screening advance: Duke researchers couple AI with app that runs on a tablet

Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated an app driven by AI that can run on a tablet to accurately screen for autism in children by measuring and weighing a variety of distinct behavioral indicators.

College professor creates program to help Black teens with Autism improve mental health

Professor Ed-Dee Williams grew up with an older brother on the spectrum and dedicated his educational career to studying race, the disorder, and mental health. He said when he first started, there wasn't a lot of research.

Family suspects teen's death was due to complications from spicy chip challenge

The teen's mother said hours before he died, he told her he ate an extremely spicy tortilla chip. She said the family believes this was because of a viral chip challenge.

Teen believed to have died from complications stemming from spicy chip challenge

The teen's mother said hours before he died, he told her he ate an extremely spicy tortilla chip. She said the family believes this was because of a viral chip challenge.

Child psychologist talks ADHD, autism: Is my child neurodivergent?

With a new school year around the corner, many parents have questions about whether their child is neurodivergent.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

New gym specializes in activities for children on the spectrum

We Rock the Spectrum Cary is a children's gym that specializes in activities for children who are on the autism spectrum.

Police searching for 'Chris,' non-verbal teen with autism in La Grange area

Law enforcement in Lenior County are searching for 19-year-old Shawn Christopher Arndt-Spikes, who goes by Chris.

Navigating the Fourth of July for those with sensory sensitivities can be challenging

For some families, Fourth of July festivities are hard to handle as the bright lights and loud explosions can be harsh for those with sensory sensitivities.

How fireworks can affect people with sensory sensitivities

People often look forward to the 'pop', 'crackle' and 'boom' that comes with the Fourth of July holiday.

Destinee Patterson, WRAL multimedia journalist

Theater holds private screening of Super Mario Bros. movie for 9-year-old Wayne County superfan with autism

A theater in eastern North Carolina held a private screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie for a nine-year-old boy with autism and his family.

Keenan Willard, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter

Local movie theater gives child with special needs an experience of a lifetime

Premier theaters in Goldsboro allowed a 9-year-old with special needs to have the entire theater to himself to watch the new Mario movie.

NC mom tells the story of her son's autism diagnosis

Jennifer Lynn Dixon and her husband, Chris, have two boys -- 6-year-old Aiden and 5-year-old Jaxon. Jaxon, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2, was nonverbal until last summer.

Johnston County mom creates Facebook support group for parents of children with autism

As Autism Awareness Month wraps up, a Johnston County mother wants any parent with a child with autism to remember they're never alone.

Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer

Autism Awareness Month: the often misunderstood neuro-developmental condition

April is Autism Awareness Month. The neuro-developmental condition is often misunderstood. Yet diagnoses are on the rise, according to the CDC.

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