28 August 2026

Other

• ‘I fight pain and fear with art’: how Yayoi Kusama blazed a trail for neurodivergent artists · The Guardian
  Yayoi Kusama used her vivid hallucinations and neurodivergent experiences as a vital coping mechanism, transforming personal pain and fear into the distinctive dot-filled artworks that defined her career. Her pioneering approach not only secured her status as a major figure in contemporary art but also helped pave the way for broader acceptance of neurodivergence within the creative industry. Permalink
• “I Work Better Under Pressure” · additudemag.com
  People with ADHD frequently experience automatic avoidant thoughts that justify procrastination as much as 62% of the time. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward interrupting them and shifting focus to actionable strategies. Consistent practice in identifying and challenging these thoughts helps rewire the brain to reduce avoidance behaviors. Permalink
• A gastrobar in Figueres limits its staff to three jobs to train neurodivergent young people in a low-stimulus environment · APD Noticies
  The gusTEAm gastrobar in Figueres provides employment training for neurodivergent youth by limiting its staff to three jobs within a low-stimulus, highly structured environment designed to reduce workplace uncertainty. Using tools like sensory regulators, color-coded tasks, and virtual reality preparation, the initiative serves as a transitional bridge to help participants gain experience before moving to broader hospitality roles. Permalink
• A Study of Brain Proteins Offers New Targets to Treat Autism · The New York Times
  Researchers identified a specific brain protein that regulates how neural circuits are pruned during early development, revealing its potential as a new therapeutic target for autism spectrum disorder. This discovery highlights the importance of synaptic pruning mechanisms in understanding and potentially treating the condition. Permalink
• Annual See Me Fest celebrates neurodiversity at Lakefront Park · Prior Lake News Compass
  See Me Neurodiverse is hosting its third annual free festival at Lakefront Park on September 20 to celebrate neurodiversity through inclusive, sensory-friendly activities. The event features accessible attractions such as obstacle courses, calming zones equipped with specialized tools, and entertainment for families gathering for inclusion and connection. Permalink
• Autism-linked variants rewire protein networks · thetransmitter.org
  A study in Science reveals that proteins from 100 genes associated with autism form a vast network of over 1,800 interactions, most of which are newly identified. This research demonstrates that specific genetic variants can rewire these protein complexes, offering a more direct view of the underlying biological mechanisms of autism beyond just genetic mapping. Permalink
• Cartoon illustrates importance of inclusivity in schools with autistic lead character · Yahoo News Canada
  The new animated series Pablo: Next Level features an autistic lead character and co-star to authentically portray the challenges of primary school life, aiming to foster inclusivity and understanding among young audiences. Created by Belfast's Paper Owl Films in collaboration with a young actor who has autism, the show seeks to empower children with additional needs while encouraging society to better engage with different minds. Permalink
• Designing Organizations for Neurodiversity (SSIR) · Stanford Social Innovation Review
  Although many organizations claim to value diverse thinking, their hiring and evaluation systems often filter out neurodivergent employees by prioritizing social fluency over actual competence. Research indicates that autistic individuals possess cognitive traits such as resistance to conformity pressures and reduced susceptibility to bias, which are critical for mitigating systematic errors in complex organizational environments. Therefore, companies should redesign workplace structures to leverage these unique strengths rather than forcing neurodivergent staff to conform to neurotypical norms. Permalink
• Effects of Cannabidiol‐Rich Cannabis Oil on Facial Expression Recognition and Theory of Mind in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial · onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  This post hoc subanalysis found that cannabidiol-rich cannabis oil significantly improved facial expression recognition and theory of mind in children with autism spectrum disorder over a 12-week treatment period. The study utilized data from a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to assess social cognition improvements compared to baseline measurements. These results suggest that CBD-rich cannabis oil may offer beneficial effects on key social cognitive deficits associated with ASD. Permalink
• Father and son host social club in St. Pete for neurodivergent young adults · tampabaybeacons.com
  Billy Eckert and his father established the Fun on the Spectrum social club in St. Petersburg to provide a supportive community for neurodivergent young adults aged 20 to 29. The group organizes regular meetups at local venues, helping members build connections and navigate social interactions while alleviating parental concerns through shared understanding. This initiative has evolved from a personal project into a vital social lifeline for autistic individuals in Florida seeking acceptance and friendship. Permalink
• Federal Panel Adopts Overhauled Autism Plan · Disability Scoop
  The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee adopted a sweeping new strategic plan that recommends nearly doubling federal autism investment from $390.4 million to over $747.4 million annually while shifting research focus away from genetics toward neurodevelopmental regression and precision therapeutics. Despite the plan's detailed recommendations for improved surveillance, diagnostics, and resource portals, its adoption has sparked criticism from advocacy groups regarding the late release of public comments and the lack of a plain language summary. Permalink
• Grant funding for neurodivergent camps and 50+ scheme · The Impartial Reporter
  Mid Ulster Council secured a total of £6,050 in grant funding from the Northern Healthy Lifestyle Partnership to support its 50+ Move, Eat & Thrive scheme and Neurodivergent Summer Camps. The funds are intended to enhance existing programs, with officials confirming that services will extend beyond urban areas to cover rural parts of the district. Councillors welcomed the initiative and recommended the acceptance of the funding offer during the development committee meeting. Permalink
• How a Parsippany Teen’s Mission to Transform Autism Support Is Changing Lives Across the Globe · Parsippany Focus
  Anvesha Bhagat founded Action Autism, a nonprofit organization providing free resources like a patented sensory cube and multilingual caregiver guides to support children with autism globally. After self-founding the initiative by working at a care facility, she expanded its reach to multiple states and countries while actively engaging policymakers through Senate meetings and proposed legislation for earlier autism identification and sensory-friendly school environments. Permalink
• How to recognize ADHD behavior as students head back to school · WQAD
  The article provides guidance for identifying ADHD behaviors in students as they return to school, helping parents and educators recognize signs of the condition during the transition. It emphasizes the importance of early detection to ensure students receive appropriate support and resources for academic success. Permalink
• ICB with 30-fold increase in neurodiversity spend now paying 42 private providers · HSJ | Health Service Journal
  An integrated care board that increased its spending on autism and ADHD care thirty-fold over three years is projected to exceed its budget again. The board is currently supporting forty-two private providers with this significantly expanded funding for neurodiversity services. Permalink
• Kennedy advisers recommend doubling US autism spending on care, family support · Reuters
  Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump recommended that the United States double its federal spending on autism care and family support services. This proposal aims to significantly expand resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families under the incoming administration. Permalink
• Longer Breastfeeding Linked to Fewer ADHD Symptoms in Children · SciTechDaily
  A large-scale study found that longer periods of exclusive breastfeeding are associated with fewer ADHD symptoms in children up to age eight, even after adjusting for genetic and sociodemographic factors. This protective effect was most pronounced when exclusive breastfeeding lasted up to six months and remained detectable through early childhood. However, researchers caution that the relationship is complex and likely influenced by shared genetics and other environmental factors rather than solely causation. Permalink
• Neurodiversity at work: Rights, responsibilities and reality | Events | Insights · Squire Patton Boggs
  The article promotes a webinar exploring the legal and practical strategies for creating neuroinclusive workplaces to support the one in five people who are neurodivergent. It emphasizes that fostering such environments drives innovation while requiring employers to navigate complex obligations regarding discrimination, reasonable adjustments, and privacy. The event aims to equip HR professionals and executives with actionable insights and a forthcoming guide on balancing employee needs with legal responsibilities. Permalink
• Neurodiversity: Beyond "Differently Wired" · Psychology Today
  The neurodiversity movement has successfully challenged stigma by reframing conditions like autism and ADHD as natural neurological variations rather than diseases, yet it remains constrained by the very medical model it critiques. By accepting psychiatric categories and focusing exclusively on internal biological explanations for distress, this paradigm uncritically replaces deficit-based essentialism with difference-based essentialism. Consequently, it fails to account for social and relational factors that contribute to psychological impairment, thereby maintaining a narrow explanatory framework despite its progressive moral stance. Permalink
• New autism protein map offers path toward targeted treatments, doctors say · KTVB
  Researchers have created a comprehensive map of proteins associated with autism spectrum disorder that identifies specific biological targets for intervention. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of more precise and effective personalized treatments for individuals on the autism spectrum. Permalink
• NHS bosses warn of chaos in ADHD and autism care · BBC
  NHS leaders warn that autism and ADHD care is facing chaos due to spiraling costs and poor oversight of unregulated private providers expanding under patient choice policies. A report reveals extreme price variations between non-NHS providers, with some health boards experiencing funding increases up to ten-fold as they struggle to monitor quality and safety. The government has promised an independent review and a new national approach to address these systemic issues. Permalink
• No school places for twin sisters (7) with autism for a third year in a row · The Irish Times
  Seven-year-old twin sisters with autism in south Dublin have been denied school placements for a third consecutive year despite their parents applying to over ten different institutions. The family's continued inability to secure special class places highlights systemic barriers faced by children with autism, as standard admission policies have failed to accommodate their specific educational needs. Permalink
• Poorly designed roads, public facilities trap PWD · The Guardian Nigeria News
  Physically challenged individuals in Nigeria remain trapped by inadequately designed roads and public facilities that fail to accommodate their mobility needs. This structural neglect highlights the urgent necessity for accessible infrastructure to ensure equal participation in society. Permalink
• Rasak Adekoya: Redesigning Systems for Disability Inclusion · Ford Foundation
  Rasak Adekoya overcame systemic discrimination and personal blindness to become a pivotal leader in Nigeria's disability rights movement, helping draft the country's first enforceable disability law. He argues that true inclusion requires dismantling attitudinal and structural barriers by prioritizing economic independence and accessible infrastructure. As a Ford Global Fellow, he advocates for shifting focus from individual interventions to systemic changes that empower people with disabilities through livelihood and policy reform. Permalink
• Review laws to protect rights of women with disabilities · The Daily Star
  Speakers at a recent seminar urged the Bangladeshi government to review existing laws and policies to better protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities, who face compounded discrimination due to gender, disability, and social stigma. The panel highlighted critical gaps in current legislation like the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act 2013, weak implementation of accessibility standards, and insufficient digital and physical infrastructure for public services. They called for immediate legal amendments, dedicated representation in policymaking, and integrated accessible helplines to address systemic barriers and ensure equal access to justice and resources. Permalink
• Seoul Council Parties Launch Rival Push on Disability Rights, Housing · Seoul Economic Daily
  Rival factions in the Seoul Metropolitan Council are competing over policy initiatives, with the People Power Party focusing on practical housing measures and the Democratic Party championing disability rights. The PPP condemned the government's unilateral real estate policies while proposing expanded housing supply and transit reforms to support citizens. Simultaneously, Democrats secured a compromise for increased mobility rights for people with disabilities, ending years of subway protests through political dialogue. Permalink
• Show 1485: What Are We Still Getting Wrong About ADHD? · The People's Pharmacy
  ADHD diagnosis should be based on how symptoms impair daily functioning rather than just the presence of specific behaviors like hyperactivity or distractibility. Common misconceptions include the belief that ADHD primarily affects young boys and is a childhood condition that people outgrow, whereas it often persists into adulthood and significantly impacts women as well. Effective management requires combining medication with nonpharmacological skill-building strategies, as drugs alone do not teach necessary coping mechanisms for long-term success. Permalink
• SPARC-ing change for neurodivergent young people · NSW Education
  Nikhil Jathan, a youth leader in the Skills and Pathways Advocacy and Representative Committee (SPARC), is advocating for more inclusive post-school pathways by advising the NSW Department of Education on policy improvements. He specifically highlights the need to better support neurodivergent young people through accessible program design and guidance that accommodates their diverse learning needs. Permalink
• Staffer accused of assaulting child at Queen Creek autism center appears in court · yourvalley.net
  A 19-year-old woman appeared in court facing charges for the alleged assault of a 5-year-old child at Action Behavior Centers in Queen Creek. The incident involves an accusation against a staff member at the autism therapy facility, though these reports list arrests rather than convictions. Permalink
• The Effect of a Parent Advocacy Intervention on Service Access for Autistic Youth: The Moderating Role of Baseline Advocacy Ability · onlinelibrary.wiley.com
  The ASSIST program successfully improved parent advocacy skills and increased access to government disability services for autistic youth during their transition from school-based support. Permalink
• The executive pipeline is missing neurodivergent leaders · Training Journal
  Neurodivergent individuals remain severely underrepresented in executive leadership due to narrow archetypes that conflate competence with extroversion and subjective promotion processes that overlook their unique capabilities. The article argues that redefining leadership around outcomes rather than personality traits is essential to capture the significant talent pool of neurodivergent professionals who are currently excluded by default. Integrating structural neuroinclusion at senior levels can enhance organizational innovation, decision-making, and resilience. Permalink
• The percentage of mothers who respond to their baby's cries within one second may be associated with a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood. · GIGAZINE
  A study by the University of Glasgow found that children diagnosed with ADHD or disruptive behavioral disorders at age 7 were significantly less likely to have had mothers who responded to their vocalizations within one second during infancy. Specifically, a 10-point increase in the rate of these rapid maternal responses correlated with a 21% lower likelihood of an ADHD diagnosis, highlighting the potential impact of immediate caregiver engagement on neurodevelopmental outcomes. This association was not observed for autism or mood disorders, suggesting the timing of parental response is specifically linked to attention and behavior regulation challenges. Permalink
• TV review: Buried with Michael Sheen and The Great ADHD Myth · The Church Times
  The article reviews two distinct programs, highlighting a drama starring Michael Sheen and a documentary challenging the prevailing narrative around Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It contrasts the emotional depth of the theatrical production with the critical analysis presented in the latter's exploration of ADHD misconceptions. The review serves as a comparative assessment of how these different media formats address serious personal and medical themes. Permalink
• UCSF QBI Secures $46M for Autism Research Boost · Mirage News
  UCSF has secured a $46 million grant from ARIA to expand research into the molecular mechanisms of autism by mapping disrupted protein complexes identified in recent genetic studies. This funding supports collaborative efforts to develop precision small-molecule medicines that target shared protein networks, potentially addressing multiple forms of autism simultaneously with greater scalability than current gene-targeting therapies. The initiative aims to accelerate the translation of fundamental biological insights into therapeutic impacts for individuals with profound autism and other complex disorders. Permalink

Summaries are AI-generated and may contain errors; the linked article is the authority.