People with disabilities have the same questions about bodies, relationships, and intimacy that everyone else does. They deserve the same access to education that helps them understand consent, recognize healthy boundaries, and navigate relationships safely. Yet many never receive it. The gap isn't theoretical. Research from UC Davis showed that after completing the Relationships Decoded curriculum, participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities improved their understanding of healthy relationships by 22%. That matters because people with IDD face disproportionate rates of sexual abuse compared to the general population, often because they've never been taught what consent looks like or how to recognize when someone is violating their boundaries. Why Sexuality Education Matters. Sexuality education for people with disabilities isn't about encouraging sexual activity. It's about safety, autonomy, and the ability to make informed decisions about your own body. Without it, people with disabilities are more likely to experience abuse. They may not recognize coercion, may struggle to articulate what happened to them, or may have been taught that compliance with authority figures is non-negotiable in all contexts. Education that covers consent, body autonomy, and healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics reduces that risk. It gives people the language to name what's happening and the framework to understand when something isn't right. Beyond abuse prevention, sexuality education supports people in understanding their own development, asking questions about their bodies without shame, and building relationships that are based on mutual respect rather than confusion or pressure. Starting education before puberty is most effective. Proper...

Sexuality education protects people with disabilities from abuse and supports healthy relationships, yet access is limited.

Sexuality Education for People with Disabilities: Why It Matters and Where to Find It

People with disabilities have the same questions about bodies, relationships, and intimacy that everyone else does. They deserve the same access to education that helps them understand consent, recognize healthy boundaries, and navigate relationships safely. Yet many never receive it. The gap isn't theoretical. Research from UC Davis showed that after completing the Relationships Decoded curriculum, participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities improved their understanding of healthy relationships by 22%. That matters because people with IDD face disproportionate rates of sexual abuse compared to the general population, often because they've never been taught what consent looks like or how to recognize when someone is violating their boundaries. Why Sexuality Education Matters. Sexuality education for people with disabilities isn't about encouraging sexual activity. It's about safety, autonomy, and the ability to make informed decisions about your own body. Without it, people with disabilities are more likely to experience abuse. They may not recognize coercion, may struggle to articulate what happened to them, or may have been taught that compliance with authority figures is non-negotiable in all contexts. Education that covers consent, body autonomy, and healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics reduces that risk. It gives people the language to name what's happening and the framework to understand when something isn't right. Beyond abuse prevention, sexuality education supports people in understanding their own development, asking questions about their bodies without shame, and building relationships that are based on mutual respect rather than confusion or pressure. Starting education before puberty is most effective. Proper...

The future of autism research and treatment is focused on early childhood. As most parents and scientists know, early intervention is key for better treatment and better results. However, many children are not being diagnosed with autism until age 4 or 5. Autism Speaks just granted $765,937 to Sally J. Rogers and fellow researchers at UC Davis MIND Institute to extend their research into ground-breaking autism treatments for younger children. Rogers also works with Annette Estes of the Center for Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington in Seattle, who also received money from Autism Speaks. Their research focuses on young children, ages 12 to 30 months. The research is testing smart phone technology, new child assessment approaches, and other interventions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of parent-implemented treatments. As many parents wait for a diagnosis, they are researching and implementing these interventions. The researchers believe parent interventions are very important for autism treatment, but we do not know to what extent these interventions have on their own. This research is particularly relevant for those individuals with autism who do not have access to other resources and therapeutic care. This project, known as the Parent and Toddlers with ASD at Home, or PATH project, is designed to help parents improve social and communicative learning opportunities at home through typical daily living and care-giving activities. The purpose is also to find the most effective treatments that parents...

Autism research seeks early treatment; UC Davis gets $765K for a study on parent-led interventions for toddlers with ASD.

Autism Treatments for Very Young Children

 The future of autism research and treatment is focused on early childhood. As most parents and scientists know, early intervention is key for better treatment and better results. However, many children are not being diagnosed with autism until age 4 or 5.   Autism Speaks just granted $765,937 to Sally J. Rogers and fellow researchers at UC Davis MIND Institute to extend their research into ground-breaking autism treatments for younger children.   Rogers also works with Annette Estes of the Center for Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington in Seattle, who also received money from Autism Speaks.   Their research focuses on young children, ages 12 to 30 months. The research is testing smart phone technology, new child assessment approaches, and other interventions in order to evaluate the effectiveness of parent-implemented treatments. As many parents wait for a diagnosis, they are researching and implementing these interventions.   The researchers believe parent interventions are very important for autism treatment, but we do not know to what extent these interventions have on their own. This research is particularly relevant for those individuals with autism who do not have access to other resources and therapeutic care.   This project, known as the Parent and Toddlers with ASD at Home, or PATH project, is designed to help parents improve social and communicative learning opportunities at home through typical daily living and care-giving activities. The purpose is also to find the most effective treatments that parents...

Autism research seeks early treatment; UC Davis gets $765K for a study on parent-led interventions for toddlers with ASD.

In a study released April 9, 2012 by Pediatrics, researchers looked at the possible link between metabolic conditions and autism. While there were more cases of autism amongst mothers with metabolic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, metabolic conditions do not cause autism. While the research is interesting, most experts agree that this research does not account for the startling increase in the number of cases of autism. The study found that women with diabetes or hypertension were 1.61 times more likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder, and they were also 2.35 times more likely to have a child with developmental disabilities than women without these metabolic conditions. With the CDC's announcement in March that 1 in 88 children have autism, people are looking for answers. In the study published April 9, researchers led by UC Davis epidemiologist Paula Krakowiak investigated 1,004 California children between the ages of 2 and 5. 512 of these children had an autism spectrum disorder, 172 had developmental disabilities, and 312 of the children showed typical development. There was not a statistically significant relationship between autism and diabetes, but there was a slight link between diabetes and developmental disabilities. While most of the media is now pointing to obesity as a cause of autism, remember that this study looked at only 1,000 children, and it only proposes a link between the two conditions, and not a causal relationship....

Study suggests link between maternal obesity, diabetes, hypertension and higher autism, developmental disability risk in children.

Obesity Linked to Autism

 In a study released April 9, 2012 by Pediatrics, researchers looked at the possible link between metabolic conditions and autism. While there were more cases of autism amongst mothers with metabolic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, metabolic conditions do not cause autism.    While the research is interesting, most experts agree that this research does not account for the startling increase in the number of cases of autism.   The study found that women with diabetes or hypertension were 1.61 times more likely to have a child with an autism spectrum disorder, and they were also 2.35 times more likely to have a child with developmental disabilities than women without these metabolic conditions.   With the CDC's announcement in March that 1 in 88 children have autism, people are looking for answers. In the study published April 9, researchers led by UC Davis epidemiologist Paula Krakowiak investigated 1,004 California children between the ages of 2 and 5. 512 of these children had an autism spectrum disorder, 172 had developmental disabilities, and 312 of the children showed typical development.   There was not a statistically significant relationship between autism and diabetes, but there was a slight link between diabetes and developmental disabilities.   While most of the media is now pointing to obesity as a cause of autism, remember that this study looked at only 1,000 children, and it only proposes a link between the two conditions, and not a causal relationship....

Two studies published this month in the Journal of Neuroinflammation found that children with autism have altered regulatory T cells, immune components that act as "brakes" on inflammation, compared to typically developing children. In an animal model, Treg therapy reduced neuroinflammation, changed gene expression in brain regions tied to autism, and improved social and behavioral outcomes. The research comes from the UC Davis MIND Institute and was led by Professor Paul Ashwood. It's one of the first studies to test whether increasing regulatory T cells (Tregs) can address both immune dysfunction and behavioral challenges in autism. What the Studies Found. The first study characterized Tregs in 36 children with autism and 18 typically developing children. Researchers found that autistic children had altered Tregs both in number and in the genes those cells express. Children with fewer Tregs showed more challenging behaviors. The study also identified distinct Treg patterns in autistic children with gastrointestinal problems compared to those without GI symptoms. In the second study, researchers used a maternal immune activation (MIA) mouse model, in which offspring exhibit autism-like behaviors. They transferred Tregs from healthy mice into MIA offspring and examined tissues commonly affected in autism: blood, brain, and gut. Male mice showed the most significant improvements after Treg treatment. Changes included increased helpful Treg cells, reduced pro-inflammatory cells in the spleen and gut, fewer inflammatory cytokines, and altered gene expression in the cerebellum, frontal cortex, and hippocampus. Males also showed behavioral improvements in self-grooming and socializing. "These results suggest that...

UC Davis study finds altered regulatory T cells in autistic children; Treg therapy reduced neuroinflammation in mice.

New Research Links Immune System 'Brakes' to Autism Behaviors and Points to Possible Treatment

Two studies published this month in the Journal of Neuroinflammation found that children with autism have altered regulatory T cells, immune components that act as "brakes" on inflammation, compared to typically developing children. In an animal model, Treg therapy reduced neuroinflammation, changed gene expression in brain regions tied to autism, and improved social and behavioral outcomes. The research comes from the UC Davis MIND Institute and was led by Professor Paul Ashwood. It's one of the first studies to test whether increasing regulatory T cells (Tregs) can address both immune dysfunction and behavioral challenges in autism. What the Studies Found. The first study characterized Tregs in 36 children with autism and 18 typically developing children. Researchers found that autistic children had altered Tregs both in number and in the genes those cells express. Children with fewer Tregs showed more challenging behaviors. The study also identified distinct Treg patterns in autistic children with gastrointestinal problems compared to those without GI symptoms. In the second study, researchers used a maternal immune activation (MIA) mouse model, in which offspring exhibit autism-like behaviors. They transferred Tregs from healthy mice into MIA offspring and examined tissues commonly affected in autism: blood, brain, and gut. Male mice showed the most significant improvements after Treg treatment. Changes included increased helpful Treg cells, reduced pro-inflammatory cells in the spleen and gut, fewer inflammatory cytokines, and altered gene expression in the cerebellum, frontal cortex, and hippocampus. Males also showed behavioral improvements in self-grooming and socializing. "These results suggest that...

UC Davis study finds altered regulatory T cells in autistic children; Treg therapy reduced neuroinflammation in mice.

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Special Needs
Articles

Sexuality Education for People with Disabilities: Why It Matters and Where to Find It

Autism Treatments for Very Young Children

Obesity Linked to Autism

New Research Links Immune System 'Brakes' to Autism Behaviors and Points to Possible Treatment

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Sexuality Education for People with Disabilities: Why It Matters and Where to Find It

Autism Treatments for Very Young Children

Obesity Linked to Autism

New Research Links Immune System 'Brakes' to Autism Behaviors and Points to Possible Treatment

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles