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Hello ,
As the weather warms and students prepare for their well-deserved break, we continue working on ongoing projects and initiatives.
On June 9, ARI will co-sponsor a side event at the United Nations highlighting the growing challenges and opportunities associated with autism and aging. The program will bring together leaders from the fields of government, medicine, and research, as well as members of the autistic community, to explore ways to better support autistic adults later in life. The event is intended to encourage international dialogue and action on this important but often overlooked issue. Additional information about the event is provided below.
This month, we are releasing updated pages for our webinar library, featuring topic categories, search capabilities, and easy access to quizzes and related webinar resources. If you haven't checked out our free online webinars on a wide range of topics, summer is a great time to check AutismWebinars.org to register for upcoming talks and catch up on any you may have missed this winter and spring. You can watch the playback and take the knowledge quiz for free anytime.
We are pleased to welcome Dr. David Beversdorf, Caroline Bissett, J.D., and Illene Roggensack, MBA, CFRE, to our Board of Directors. Roni Rosenfeld, J.D., will also be joining us as a Board Fellow. We thank them for the important work they do on ARI's behalf.
We hope your summer adventures are safe and fun.
Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.
Autism Research Institute
| | Live June 9: United Nations Event Highlights Quality of Life for Aging Autistic Adults | | |
On June 9, 2026, the Autism Research Institute will co-sponsor a side event at United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 19th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19).
The program will focus on improving quality of life for aging autistic individuals, with presentations addressing healthcare access, chronic medical and mental health conditions, community participation, supported decision-making, and other key factors that affect well-being across the lifespan.
Speakers will include internationally recognized clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and autistic self-advocates representing a range of countries and professional disciplines. Together, they will explore current challenges, share emerging research and best practices, and discuss opportunities to strengthen services, supports, and policies for autistic adults as they age.
The event aims to foster greater awareness, international collaboration, and policy development. Individuals around the world are invited to watch the discussion live online beginning at 11:30 a.m. EDT (USA). Click here to view the livestream.
| | ARI Welcomes Three New Board Members | | | | |
We are pleased to welcome three new members to ARI's Board of Directors: Caroline Bissett, JD; David Beversdorf, MD; and Illene Roggensack, MBA, CFRE.
Caroline, David, and Illene bring a wealth of experience and perspective to ARI, and we are grateful for their willingness to serve. We look forward to working together to advance ARI's mission.
They join Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN; Margaret Bauman, MD; Robert Hendren, D.O.; Wenn Lawson, Ph.D.; James Walker; and Harland Winter, M.D. We are grateful to all of our board members for their ongoing leadership and service on behalf of ARI.
| | ARI Spotlight: Board Fellow, Roni Rosenfeld | | | | Roni Rosenfeld is a first-year MBA student at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (Class of 2027), concentrating in Strategy and Finance. Roni holds a dual degree in Law and Economics from Tel Aviv University and spent six years as a commercial litigator at Goldfarb Gross Seligman, one of Israel's leading law firms, where she advised on complex litigation, M&A, and large-scale commercial transactions. As a Golub Capital Board Fellow, she is excited to deepen her understanding of board governance and build meaningful connections across the nonprofit sector. | | Webinar Summary: Autism Psychopharmacology | | | | Pilar Treles, MD, discusses current perspectives on psychopharmacology and autism. She describes constraints on clinical trials and highlights a symptom-domain approach to prescribing pharmacological interventions in autism. She also outlines common medications used for symptoms of ADHD, restrictive repetitive behaviors, and sleep issues. Trelles then details current clinical backings for these medications and continually emphasizes the synergistic impact of using medication and behavioral interventions alongside parental education. | | | | |
Contemporary research on the intersection of autism, sexuality, and gender identity asserts that autistic individuals are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ than the neurotypical population.
To better support autistic LGBTQIA+ individuals, we must accept, validate, and listen to the lived experiences of this community. We hope these resources from across the web are helpful to LGBTQIA+ members of the autism community and those who love and support them.
| | ARRI: Research Updates at Your Fingertips | | |
Expanding access to evidence-based autism research is a key priority for ARI. Under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Edelson and ARI’s staff and boards, we have significantly expanded the reach of our award-winning quarterly journal, The Autism Research Review International (ARRI), over the past 18 months. To ensure maximum accessibility, ARRI is now available online at ARRIOnline.org, while the print edition remains available by subscription for those who prefer a hard copy.
We invite you to explore ARRI online and stay informed about the latest developments in autism research.
| | From ARRI: Breastfeeding does not impact severity of autism | | | | Using multiple assessments, the researchers measured the clinical severity of autism symptoms for each child. They report, “Our results did not indicate a contribution of initiation or duration of breastfeeding to the prevention of clinical severity of autism.” In addition, they say, “The evidence of a positive association between breastfeeding duration and IQ in the general population was not found in our sample of children with autism.” | | From ARRI: Parents of children with autism report high rates of stress, stigmatization | | | | Researchers surveyed 66 caregivers caring for children with neurological conditions. Nearly all of the children were diagnosed with autism and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers found that almost 80 percent of respondents experienced poor well-being, high levels of stress, and poor mental health. In addition, more than 22 percent reported experiencing stigmatization. | | | Participants needed: Dr. Gregory Wallace, a past ARI webinar presenter on autism in adulthood, including executive functioning differences, eating behaviors, and aging well, is seeking autistic adult participants to complete an online study. For more info visit the study website or contact the investigators. | | |
University-based researchers often contact ARI for help finding research participants to add valuable data to our understanding of autism.
Research topics range from sibling differences to school experiences, trauma, adult issues, and more.
| | Register Now: Free Upcoming Webinars | | |
ARI Webinar 6/10:
What Brain Science Reveals About Communication
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This talk explores how the brain processes speech and voices in autism, how these differences relate to real-world communication, and how understanding these processes can inform more effective supports.
Presented by
Daniel Abrams, PhD
Stanford University
1 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S.)
6/10/26
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ARI Webinar 6/17:
Autism &
ADHD in Adulthood
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Dr. Wenn Lawson will speak about what it can be like navigating adulthood with both autism and ADHD, the impact of receiving a diagnosis, and the self-care and compassion that are necessary for success.
Presented by
Wenn Lawson, PhD
Curtin University, Australia
1 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S.)
6/17/26
This is a joint presentation with the World Autism Organization.
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ARI Webinar 6/23:
Managing Digestive Issues and Constipation in Autism
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Learn about evidence-based, effective nutritional strategies to manage constipation and other common digestive issues experienced by autistic individuals.
Presented by
Kelly Barnhill, MBA, CN, CCN
The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development
1 p.m. Eastern Time (U.S.)
6/23/26
| | Making a Difference in 2026 | | Read ARI's 2025 Stub-Year Report (Fiscal Transition Period) here | | |
At ARI, we continue to focus on education while funding and supporting research into immune, gastrointestinal, metabolic, and neurologic factors. Research and education are the foundations of meaningful progress.
When you support ARI, you send a powerful message—that you value our independent legacy and believe in objective research conducted free from outside influence.
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