64 posts
Standard
In recent years, the term "profound autism" has gained significant traction within clinical and advocacy circles as a descriptive label for individuals on the most severe end of the autism spectrum. While the phrase was intended to highlight the specific, intensive needs of a subset of the autistic population, its implementation has been hampered by…
Standard
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Inside the quiet hum of a local gym, the rhythmic clanking of iron plates serves as a steady heartbeat. Steve Alexy moves toward the weight rack with a deliberate, pigeon-toed gait. His left arm remains pinned tight against his torso, while his right arm swings in a slow, twitching motion that…
Standard
In recent years, the term "profound autism" has emerged as a significant, albeit contentious, descriptor within the neurodiversity community. Designed to bridge the gap in understanding for individuals at the most severe end of the autism spectrum, the label is currently at the center of a concerted effort to move from a loose, subjective concept…
Standard
The label “profound autism” has gained significant traction over the last several years, emerging as a distinct clinical and social descriptor for individuals on the more severe end of the autism spectrum. While the term was intended to draw attention to a population with unique, high-level support needs, its application has remained inconsistent across research…
Standard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A routine traffic stop can be a source of anxiety for any driver, but for those with autism or other communication disabilities, the experience can quickly escalate into a life-altering crisis. For Megan Brown, the fear of what might have happened during a November afternoon last year remains a vivid, haunting…
Standard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A routine traffic stop is a high-stress event for any driver, but for Mason Ott, it nearly turned into a life-altering tragedy. Ten months after a frightening confrontation with a Kansas City police officer, his mother, Megan Brown, still finds herself overwhelmed with emotion when reflecting on how close she came…
Standard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A routine traffic stop is a high-stress event for any driver, but for those with autism or other communication-related disabilities, the experience can quickly devolve into a life-altering crisis. For Megan Brown, a mother from Lawrence, this abstract fear became a terrifying reality on an autumn afternoon last year. The incident,…
Standard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A routine traffic stop can be a source of anxiety for any motorist, but for Mason Ott, a 21-year-old with autism, it transformed into a harrowing, life-altering confrontation. The incident, which occurred on an autumn afternoon shortly before Thanksgiving last year, serves as the catalyst for a significant legislative change in…
Standard
MINNEAPOLIS — For Niraphanh Insomphou, the transition to life in the United States has been a journey spanning nearly four decades. Like thousands of other Minnesotans, her family arrived in the state during the 1970s, having fled the upheaval in Laos to seek a safer, more stable future. While her siblings integrated into the fabric…
Standard
MINNEAPOLIS — For nearly four decades, Niraphanh Insomphou has called Minnesota home. Like many in the state’s vibrant immigrant community, her family arrived in the 1970s seeking refuge after fleeing conflict in Laos. While her siblings eventually navigated the complex path to U.S. citizenship, Insomphou—who lives with profound intellectual and developmental disabilities and is unable…
