National Institutes of Health Funding: University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Excellence in Autism Research

We have taught about the medical diagnosis of autism for almost 25 years. Before the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded brain research, teaching felt like simply trying to convince people, without evidence, that behavior and communication were different because an autistic person’s brain and body made them that way.  People still walked away skeptical. Teachers still blamed parenting. Folks said it was vaccines. Giving talks felt weak and at times pointless when too many people had closed minds. Pictures read more

2025 Pittsburgh Marathon Run for a Reason

Autism Connection of Pennsylvania is a charitable partner for the 2025 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Run for a Reason! There are 10 different events during Marathon weekend, and we hope you’ll choose Autism Connection of Pennsylvania as your charity! How it Works in 5 Steps: Step 1: Choose Your Event Select one of 10 events, including the marathon, half marathon, marathon relay, 4-mile fitness challenge, 5K, champions mile, kids marathon, toddler trot, or pet walk. Step 2: Fuel Your read more

Explaining Feelings and Pain Levels to Medical Staff

Willow Marie Iti is an autistic person, who like many, has always found it challenging to explain her body’s feelings and pain levels to doctors. “It often felt distant and subjective. So, I decided to create my own scale to help others understand and be more objective. Here is a free resource from my upcoming book. I hope this helps someone!” The scale takes a unique approach that includes emotional elements that play a role when a person is feeling read more