DONNA WILLIAMS WILL BE ONLINE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON APRIL 16, 2008 Autism Speaks announces international events to mark inaugural celebration of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SHARE PLATFORM WITH EXPERTS AND RESEARCHERS AT AUTISM CYMRU'S THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN CARDIFF, APRIL 22-23, 2008 April 24, 2008 is closing date for applications for the new Chair in autism at Cardiff University Dr LORNA WING WILL BE ONLINE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON MARCH 14, 2008 Antibodies in blood of mothers of autistic children 'bind to foetal brain cells' Irish opposition party calls for complete overhaul of services for autistic children Man who stabbed his mother to death has since been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome Gallant Stefan braves Canadian blizzards for autism Woman plans prison visit to see autistic teenager who knifed her mother British MP criticises charity after patient absconds from hospital for Asperger's sufferers and allegedly rapes girl Father takes autistic son to Costa Rica to seek 'stem cell treatment' People with Asperger's syndrome 'lack a brain signal linked to sense of self' MMR vaccine 'does not cause autism' - latest study Epilepsy 'could affect non-motor neurons in autism,' say Spanish researchers Woman found guilty of starving autistic sister to death Hero Jonathan, schoolboy with Asperger's syndrome, steers car across busy road to safety after mother blacks out New mercury study casts further doubt on links with autism Accelerated head growth confirmed in infants later diagnosed with autism Top US autism expert rejects vaccine link with autism - as ABC rejects calls to cancel controversial TV drama featuring the mercury theory Mother hopes to set up animal sanctuary for autistic children Virginia House of Delegates approves autism legislation Dairy-free diets 'could put autistic boys at higher than normal risk for thinner bones' Father asks why Irish state has not apologised for delay in diagnosing and treating autistic son Judge closes courtoom doors so autistic girl can use keyboard and possibly testify about abuse allegations against father - but witness criticises facilitated communication 'Bizarre' investigation into case of mother who took her own life after trying to strangle autistic son Private garden opens to boost autism research Mother convicted of murder for suffocating autistic daughter with plastic bag Three separate studies 'provide unequivocal evidence' that disrupting gene on chromosome seven leads to subtype of autism Region of chromosome 16 'definitely involved in autism' Hugh Morgan, Autism Cymru's chief executive, awarded OBE in New Year's Honours list Fever 'lessens symptoms of autism' - new study Missing brain protein 'may be one of the culprits behind autism' Alabama Task Force will ask lawmarkers to approve $1 million for autism education Police will take lessons in how to handle individuals with autism Prosecutor alleges mother deliberately drowned autistic daughter How dogs can help children with autism Australian couple charged with murdering their autistic daughter Student with Asperger's syndrome 'may have been distracted' before being struck by train Special actor takes lead role in school play - and knows everyone else's lines, as well 'Largest-ever' autism study starts enrolling families in US Doctor ordered to stand trial on charges he caused death of autistic boy during chelation Families with autism still face huge problems in Kenya Autistic graduate proves shining example in the Philippines AUTISM RESEARCH CENTRE IN WALES IS 'A WORLD-CLASS INITIATIVE' AUTISM 2007 - THIRD AWARES INTERNATIONAL ONLINE AUTISM CONFERENCE - STARTS ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007 Call to have all American children screened for autism twice by age of two British autism campaigners call for full parliamentary debate on special educational needs Help offered to families affected by autism who were also victims of California wildfires Meet the Danish company for employees with autism Hollywood celebrities leap on board for autism First genome scan for autistic spectrum disorders completed 'I would not have my autistic son any other way,' says Emma Noble, of former British PM John Major's grandson, Harry Severely autistic teenager survives four days in West Virginia wilderness 'I exist, and I'm a lot like you' - that's the message of artwork by autistic children and adults Autistic boy comes out of coma after allegedly being beaten by his mother 'March of hope' for autism in Paris Autistic student abandoned on street corner Autism Cymru's Emergency Services Card launched in Cardiff Autism Speaks launches first web-based video glossary of early warning signs of autism Young autistic woman 'was starved to death' Health aide convicted of smothering autistic teenager Charges against children who videotaped their assault on autistic boy Children 'can be diagnosed with autism at 14 months' Scientists find way of reversing learning and memory problems in fragile X Recognition for Bahrain's inspirational autistic memory champ Policy battle over as autism as Australian government and opposition both announce aid packages Most teenagers and adults with autism 'have less severe symptoms as they grow older' Celtic Nations Autism Partnership launches Atlantic Alliance with Autism Society of America Tony Blake - blind and autistic - defies the odds to start his own jazz band Compounds in digestive system 'linked to autistic-type behaviour' US study rules out thimerosal link to neurological problems in children Autistic weightlifter competes at Special Olympics in China Mecamylamine to be tested in children with autism 'I call Jim Carrey the autism whisperer' Lifeguards praise boy with Asperger's syndrome for trying to save student from choppy seas Health Minister of Cyprus promises immediate improvement in autism services Deputies defend decision to use Taser stun gun on autistic teenager Second teenager with autism recovering after being shot with Taser gun on same day AUTISM CYMRU RECOMMENDED IN LATEST CHARITY REPORT New testosterone study supports 'extreme male brain' theory of autism Plea to Brunei government to help autistic individuals New British technique 'could allow screening of children for autistic spectrum disorders at two' Cyprus government Minister expresses alarm over autism conditions First-ever international savants exhibition opens The story behind Italy's first farm community for adults with autism Mice with genetic mutation 'show savant skills' Autistic teenager turns up safe New York Governor signs 'Jonathan's Law' - named after autistic boy who died after being improperly restrained Children with autism 'do not adapt as readily to unfamiliar faces' British health officials appeal to parents to give their children MMR jab following surge in measles Third aide arrested for physically abusing autistic woman AUTISM CYMRU AND AUTISM SPEAKS HOST WALES' FIRST AUTISM RESEARCH CONFERENCE ON NOVEMBER 9, 2007 Arsenal football club pledges support for autism charity Autism campaigner honoured Authorities ask chelation doctor to turn himself in and face manslaughter charge in connection with death of autistic boy New study discovers 'faulty connections between cells within single brain regions of people with autism' Museums thrust autistic artists into the mainstream Thugs attack boy with Asperger's syndrome Alternative treatments for autism 'growing more pervasive' Anorexia 'shares traits with autism' Friends roller-blade 2,000 miles around US for autism Autistic boy's pet tortoise, Bob, back home after being mutilated Group home employees filmed beating autistic resident with wooden coat hanger, police say Six-year-old autistic boy deported from Ireland to Nigeria, despite protests Mothers help push through Bill requiring South Carolina insurance companies to cover autism 'British autism researchers are at forefront of discovery - but serious challenges remain': Dame Stephanie Shirley Firefighters taught about autism in New Jersey Disabilities Act should be widened to include autism, say Indian government officials Autism study supports claim that contagious yawning and empathy reply on similar brain mechanisms New study claims 'significant improvements' after hyperbaric oxygen treatment Pregnant women and new mothers join new search for causes and early markers of autism Students skate across 14 US states to raise money for autism research 'Our autistic son was kicked off flight to Chicago' Judge rules that mother's alleged confession of murdering autistic daughter can be used against her at trial New Autism Centre of Excellence to be created in San Diego Spanish autism group asks for special health card to avoid tensions in doctors' waiting-rooms Mother flushed with success after persuading supermarket to change toilet system for autistic son Man arrested after performing 'exorcism' on autistic boy Teenager with severe autism left homeless after lease expires Mother of four autistic children delighted with 'compassionate' help from police First UK surfing event dedicated to children with autism Third teenager charged over killing of autistic man in Sydney Exposure to insecticides 'may play role in autism,' but study is preliminary Driver of van in which autistic boy died admits guilt Study shows first association between increased white matter in brain and functional impairment in autism French authorities taken to court for 'knowingly discriminating' against children with autism Officials in Phoenix, Arizona, alarmed after second autistic boy drowns in a week Autistic savant banned from music store Police arrest man over mutilation of autistic boy's pet tortoise Teacher accused of hitting, pinching and scratching autistic pupils 'My autistic son does not belong in psychiatric centre' Hearing opens into charges of professional misconduct against Andrew Wakefield Tofu produced by workers with autism proves huge hit in Japan The BioHug - a new invention to help people with autism California researchers say 'flu virus in mothers can trigger schizophrenia and autism Social skills school programmes for autism 'are only minimally effective' School district held an autistic student 'hostage' to 'blackmail' parents, say judges Professor Simon Baron-Cohen condemns leak of unpublished autism study and alarmist suggestion of MMR link: 'The most careful studies all show prevalence rate of one in 100 - and MMR vaccine does not cause autism' Priominent physicists rally to defence of Willy Cottrell, jailed 'eco-terrorist' with Asperger's syndrome Final plea to Irish Justice Minister over autistic boy who faces uncertain fate if deported to Nigeria Autistic boy's pet tortoise, Bob, fights for life after brutal mutilation Parents of autistic boy who died after receiving chelation treatment sue doctor Appeal to Irish government to support European Union autism project US doctor claims that autism is related to vitamin D deficiency Autism 'can be diagnosed at one year of age' - new study Autism, schizophrenia and manic depression 'may be linked to several of the same genes' School district ordered to continue to fund autism tuition Italy introduces its first Master's degree in autism Award-winning special-needs teacher charged with assaulting autistic boys Scotland publishes 'benchmark' for care of autistic children Massachusetts autism centre brings research and treatment to United Arab Emirates Wrestler murders son with fragile X, then kills himself Father strangles autistic son on Sicily Father refuses to hand over son, claiming that he was wrong diagnosed with autism in Belgium Blocking key brain chemical 'can reverse many symptoms of fragile X, most common genetic cause of autism' Concern after paediatrician removes diagnosis of autism in New Zealand Boys with autism 'have higher levels of growth hormones' Another autistic child found dead in pond Autistic children's brains 'can be trained to read people's expressions' In the face of many studies, parents face uphill struggle to prove that mercury could have caused their children's autism Director of home given life sentence for raping autistic teenager New study: children with autism 'can understand other people through stereotypes' Autistic boy drowns in pond Canadian research study may find hope of alternative to Intensive Behavioural Intervention for autism Family of six-year-old autistic boy facing deportation to Nigeria make final legal bid in Ireland Fascinating - and surprising - insights emerge from Uta Frith's mini-symposium on autism research Researchers study role of protein structures in autism Major test cases open in US over parents' claims that vaccines caused autism Canadian film star and director Eugene Levy becomes spokesman for autism Mother arrested on charge of attempting to murder autistic son Mother of autistic man files wrongful death lawsuit Another likely 'autism gene' discovered First autistic student graduates from Texas school Children with both autism and ADHD 'are more likely to bully' Gymnastics helps Lithuanian-born girl handle her autism Autistic man speaks for first time in fifty years Parents of minority autistic children fight on two fronts Schoolboy told to change T-shirt bearing slogan: 'Autism - it's no mystery, it's mercury'' Mainstream schools 'treat autistic children like animals in zoos' Irish High Court awards autistic boy 60,000 euros in compensation for delay in education Pre-natal exposure to mercury preservatives 'is no higher in children with autism' Spain will get an 'Autism City' Major BILD autism conference opens in Belfast on June 7, 2007 Treatment of autism and related conditions 'cost Australian economy up to $7 billion a year' Round-up of autism research findings at IMFAR Brains of people with autism 'do not respond to visual clues in faces'