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Author(s): Laura Foran Lewis [sup.1] , Caroline Ward [sup.1] [sup.2] , Noah Jarvis [sup.1] [sup.3] , Eleni Cawley [sup.1] [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.59062.38, 0000 0004 1936 7689, Department of [...], Autistics are more likely than neurotypicals to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, and other sexual orientations. Autistics and sexual minorities represent populations at high risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Little is known about the experiences of individuals living at this intersection. In this phenomenology, 67 individuals who identified as autistic sexual minorities participated in online interviews to describe the meaning of their experiences. Six themes emerged, including: self-acceptance is a journey; autistic traits complicate self-identification of sexual orientation; social and sensory stressors affect sexual expression; feeling misunderstood and isolated; challenges finding mutually satisfying relationships; and difficulty recognizing and communicating sexual needs. Autistic sexual minorities experience a "double minority" status that complicates identity formation and increases vulnerability in sexual relationships.

Author(s): Roald A. Øien [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sara M. Vambheim [sup.1] , Logan Hart [sup.1] [sup.2] , Anders Nordahl-Hansen [sup.3] , Craig Erickson [sup.5] , Logan Wink [sup.5] , Martin [...], The autism mental status exam is an eight-item observational assessment that structures the way we observe and document signs and symptoms of ASD. Investigations of test performance indicate strong sensitivity and specificity using gold-standard assessment as reference standard. This study aims to explore potential sex differences in AMSE test performance and observations of 123 children referred for autism assessment. Results indicates more language deficits in females with ASD than in males with ASD and less sensory symptoms in females compared to males with ASD. The AMSE performance is similar in identifying ASD and non-ASD in females compared to males. Less disruptive behaviors in females, might cause a need for a bigger hit to other areas of development to raise concern.

The prevalence of Autism and other Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) has increased dramatically in recent years. The criterion for a clinical diagnosis of Autism, however, is independent from the special education eligibility requirements for Autism services. While the DSM-IV-TR provides a nationally-accepted definition for Autism and ASD, under federal law, the special education criteria for Autism services can vary from state to state. By analyzing federal, special education child-count data as well as each state's legal code, this study examines and compares eligibility criteria in all 50 states and Washington DC. Our results reveal inter-state variability in Autism eligibility requirements within special education, and this variability can have an impact on prevalence rates. Implications and recommendations for researchers and practitioners in clinical psychology, public health, education, pediatrics, and public policy are discussed. Keywords Autism * ASD * Diagnosis * Special education * Policy DOI 10.1007/s10826-009-9268-8

Byline: Julianne S. Collins (1), Richard J. Schroer (1), Jeffrey Bird (1), Ron C. Michaelis (1) Keywords: Neurobehavioral disorders; single nucleotide polymorphism; homeobox genes Abstract: A recent study has suggested that the A218G polymorphism in the homeobox Al (HOXA1) gene may influence susceptibility to autism. We have determined the frequencies of the A and G alleles of the HOXA1 A218G polymorphism in both white and black patients from the South Carolina Autism Project (SCAP) and controls. Marked differences were found in allele frequencies between the races, but no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were seen in either white or black SCAP family members. More direct tests, comparing genotype frequencies between probands and controls and tracking transmission of the A versus G alleles to affected offspring, did not support the contention that allele status for the HOXA1 A218G polymorphism influences one's susceptibility to autism. Author Affiliation: (1) Greenwood Genetic Center, J. C. Self Research Institute, Greenwood, South Carolina Article History: Registration Date: 05/10/2004

Byline: Tammy Pilowsky (1), Nurit Yirmiya (2), Cory Shulman (1), Ronit Dover (1) Keywords: Autism; diagnosis; Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised; Childhood Autism Rating Scale Abstract: Diagnoses for autism based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were examined for 83 individuals with suspected autism. Agreement between systems reached 85.7%. Participants receiving diagnosis of autism based on only one system were significantly younger in age than individuals receiving diagnoses according to both systems. Individuals who did not receive diagnosis of autism on the ADI-R had lower chronological and mental ages and lower CARS scores compared to individuals who received diagnosis of autism based on the ADI-R. Eighteen females and 18 males were matched to examine possible gender differences. No significant findings were revealed, suggesting that the symptoms of autism according to the ADI-R and CARS do not differ between males and females when matched for chronological and mental ages. Author Affiliation: (1) Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, 91905 (2) Department of Psychology or School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel, 91905 Article History: Registration Date: 29/09/2004