The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) Autism Research and Engagement Core team members are consultants to SPARK (Simons Powering Autism Research), a long-term study of autism spectrum disorder. Those members include Cheryl Cohen, MS, director of online and community programs; J. Kiely Law, MD, MPH, research director; Alison R. Marvin, PhD, research manager; Marina Sarris, MA, web content administrator; and Jaimie Toroney, MHS, research manager.
Sarris contributed an article to SPARK’s website, “The Little Known World of Autistic Women,” posted on Aug. 27. The article highlights findings from a large U.S. study of autistic women revealing that many experience significant mental health challenges such as depression, suicidal thoughts and self-harm, even while maintaining careers, relationships and family responsibilities like their peers.
Sarris wrote another article, “Traveling the Distance to Help an Autistic Child,” that was posted on SPARK’s website on Oct. 2. The article shares the story of a family who moved from India to the U.S. so their son with autism could receive the medical care and support he needed. It highlights their challenges navigating a new country and healthcare system, as well as their determination to improve their child’s quality of life.
Lastly, on Oct. 7, SPARK published Sarris’s article “An Autism Diagnosis in Adulthood, A New Path to Follow.” The article tells the story of Braxton Webb, who after receiving an autism diagnosis in his 30s discovered he had a rare genetic variation and shifted his career to working with autistic children. It highlights how the diagnosis opened up a new sense of purpose for him as a father and enabled him to set a meaningful long-term goal of opening a child care center designed for children with autism.
The Autism and Research Engagement Core produced two new SPARK Research Match Summary Reports, which provide valuable insights into critical topics related to autism. The first report, “How Do the Health Care Experiences of Autistic Teens and Young Adults in Rural Areas Compare to Those in Urban Areas?,” examines how autistic adolescents and young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare fare in rural compared with urban settings. It finds that while both rural and urban individuals face obstacles in accessing care, those in rural regions report fewer nearby providers and greater difficulty finding clinicians with autism-specific expertise.
The second report, “Does Sexual Identity Affect Whether Autistic Adults Mask Their Autism Traits?,” explores a study in which autistic adults who identify as sexual minorities reported engaging in masking of their autistic traits more frequently than autistic adults who identify as heterosexual. It highlights how intersecting identities of neurodivergence and sexual orientation may influence the burden of hiding one’s authentic self.