Autism spectrum conditions are neurodevelopmental disabilities emerging early in development, defined by difficulties in social functioning and the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior/interests. The presentation of autism across individuals is marked by heterogeneity in intellectual and language abilities as well as in the level of support the individual requires, which is increasingly recognized in research on assessment and intervention. However, autism is a global problem: individuals with autism come from diverse backgrounds with respect to language, culture, nationality, geography, socioeconomic status, sex, gender. At the same time, behavioral sciences suffer from a non-representative focus on people from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) societies. The intersection of autism and demographic factors may require adaptation of practice to deliver appropriate services.
The present research topic aims to showcase methods and approaches that seek to improve the quality of life of autistic individuals, in particular those who have been historically underrepresented in autism research. These may be novel behavioral methods for diagnosis or intervention, advances in culturally-sensitive clinical practice, or the novel application of existing methods or computational approaches in ways that are appropriate and efficacious for underrepresented groups or low-resource settings.
We welcome evidence-based behavioral research that furthers the objective of improving the quality of life of autistic individuals and their caregivers from diverse backgrounds, in particular those from historically underrepresented groups (e.g., including but not limited to non-speaking individuals, those requiring significant levels of support, females or gender-diverse populations, those from minority cultural groups, those from non-WEIRD societies) or low-resource settings (e.g., including but not limited to rural and remote geographic locations, low-income countries).
With this shared objective, submissions can take a variety of approaches, for example:
• Diagnostic markers for autism including novel measurements, computational and analytic approaches, in particular those that can be employed in low-resource settings
• Interventions including but not limited to complementary therapies and novel adaptations of existing ones that are appropriate for historically underrepresented groups or low-resource settings
• Diagnostic and intervention approaches that are responsive to gender, cultural, other demographic differences.
Autism spectrum conditions are neurodevelopmental disabilities emerging early in development, defined by difficulties in social functioning and the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior/interests. The presentation of autism across individuals is marked by heterogeneity in intellectual and language abilities as well as in the level of support the individual requires, which is increasingly recognized in research on assessment and intervention. However, autism is a global problem: individuals with autism come from diverse backgrounds with respect to language, culture, nationality, geography, socioeconomic status, sex, gender. At the same time, behavioral sciences suffer from a non-representative focus on people from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) societies. The intersection of autism and demographic factors may require adaptation of practice to deliver appropriate services.
The present research topic aims to showcase methods and approaches that seek to improve the quality of life of autistic individuals, in particular those who have been historically underrepresented in autism research. These may be novel behavioral methods for diagnosis or intervention, advances in culturally-sensitive clinical practice, or the novel application of existing methods or computational approaches in ways that are appropriate and efficacious for underrepresented groups or low-resource settings.
We welcome evidence-based behavioral research that furthers the objective of improving the quality of life of autistic individuals and their caregivers from diverse backgrounds, in particular those from historically underrepresented groups (e.g., including but not limited to non-speaking individuals, those requiring significant levels of support, females or gender-diverse populations, those from minority cultural groups, those from non-WEIRD societies) or low-resource settings (e.g., including but not limited to rural and remote geographic locations, low-income countries).
With this shared objective, submissions can take a variety of approaches, for example:
• Diagnostic markers for autism including novel measurements, computational and analytic approaches, in particular those that can be employed in low-resource settings
• Interventions including but not limited to complementary therapies and novel adaptations of existing ones that are appropriate for historically underrepresented groups or low-resource settings
• Diagnostic and intervention approaches that are responsive to gender, cultural, other demographic differences.
