Autism spectrum disorder

autistic boy playing in sandbox

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers any one of a group of disorders with an onset typically occurring during the preschool years and characterized by difficulties with social communication and social interactionalong with restricted and repetitive patterns in behaviors, interests, and activities.

Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder are no longer considered distinct diagnoses, and medical or genetic disorders that may be associated with ASD, such as Rett’s syndrome, are identified only as specifiers of the disorder.

Resources from APA

Young girl using crutches walks alongside diverse group of friends.

Disability and Neurodiversity: Biological Pillar

Resources to help broaden disability and neurodiversity representation across the biological pillar of APA’s National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula

Young child with autism rides a bike while being <a href=supported by his mom, who has her hand on his upper back." />

Knowing me, knowing you: Self defining memories in adolescents with and without an autism spectrum disorder

Do autistic adolescents and non-autistic adolescents recall self-defining and everyday memories in the same way?

Amy Pearson, PhD

Amy Pearson, PhD

Pearson is an autistic researcher who uses creative research strategies to understand friendship, bullying, and other aspects of autism

Young girl with autism participates in an online research study assisted by her mother.

“Autism research is in crisis”: A mixed method study of researcher’s constructions of autistic people and autism research

Learn how the involvement of autistic individuals in research might transform the way autism is understood and discussed in the scientific world