Boston comedian under fire for calling autistic children 'morons' 'Autism genes' may confer skills on people without the condition Nearly one in four Americans believes vaccines cause autism - despite lack of scientific evidence Japanese study finds that children with autism are more likely to be fathered by men over 35 New study identifies rare chromosomal aberrations in children with autism and variery of disabilities Artist with Asperger's syndrome donates two paintings to help homeless National Institute of Mental Health drops controversial chelation study Children with autism 'have supercharged brains' Two Pittsburgh psychologsts take different approaches to early detection of autism Vandals wreck new autism centre in Northern Ireland Autistic online comedian sacked for offending employers 'Autism van' hits streets of Miami New study shows that triple MMR vaccine does not increase risk of autism New Australian tool developed for diagnosing autism in young children Video of autistic youth being punched in face is posted on YouTube Concern over increase in autism among Minneapolis Somali community 'Pattern of abuse of autistic children in Florida schools' Fears that man with Asperger's cleared of TV presenter's murder is being manipulated Professor launches pilot day-care programme for autism in Michigan Father admits punching autistic daughter in head Bill will provide for training of teachers in autism in New York State Loving five-year-old autistic boy drowns in pool Texas researchers begin double-blind study of role of gluten- and casein-free diet in autism Eye contact 'falters early in autism' New communication device allows autistic girl to 'speak' Autistic boy turns up safe after two nights lost in Portland wilderness More than one in three Irish parents forced to wait over a year for autism diagnosis Grammar school 'was wrong to refuse to make special exam provisions for autistic pupil' Autistic man used to bruise himself - now he's a valued lens-maker US radio host: 'Nearly every child with autism is a brat who hasn't been told to cut out the act' Human-frog hybrids 'could reveal neurological secrets of autism' Impressed police consider employing computer hacker with Asperger's syndrome Parents of children with autism 'classified as socially aloof' Autism advocates praise new Louisiana insurance law Genes associated with autism 'may affect process of learning' Autistic boy saves mother from fire Father jailed for trying to kill autistic son Neural stem cell development 'may be linked to autism' Louisiana father of autistic boy at centre of controversy Hospital staff suspended after sex offender with Asperger's syndrome absconds Autistic toddler and mother thrown off American flight Different wiring of brains of adults with autism 'may be responsible for social impairments' Brazil faces international condemnation over inadequate autism facilities IMFAR researchers discuss findings in remarkable week for autism French government announces new autism plan Father suspected of murdering autistic son Canadian father calls off hunger strike for autism Mother discovers she has Asperger's syndrome after daughter is diagnosed with condition Eye tracker technology holds out promise for earlier diagnosis of autism Man with Asperger's syndrome shot with taser gun Major new British study will examine infants with autistic older siblings Second thimerosal case reaches court in US Pittsburgh researchers plan to house autistic youths in 'clean room' New study will calculate number of British adults with autism Parents of autistic children 'twice as likely to have had psychiatric illness' Children living next to mercury polluter 'found to have higher risk of developing autism' 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 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 Hero Jonathan, schoolboy with Asperger's syndrome, steers car across busy road to safety after mother blacks out 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' Prosecutor alleges mother deliberately drowned autistic daughter Alabama Task Force will ask lawmarkers to approve $1 million for autism education Police will take lessons in how to handle individuals with autism 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'