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; Marina Sarris, MA, web content administrator; and Jaimie Toroney, MHS, research manager.
Sarris contributed an article, “Making the World a Kinder Place for Children With Severe Autism,” to SPARK’s website, where it posted on Nov. 5. The article describes a family’s experience raising twins with severe autism, highlighting the complex care needs, challenges with communication and behavior, efforts to raise awareness, and their mother’s advocacy for better support and workplace flexibility.
Sarris also authored “How Did Autism Become Autism?” for SPARK’s website, where it posted on Dec. 10. The article traces how autism was first identified and labeled; outlines how autism’s definition and diagnostic practices have evolved over the 20th and early 21st centuries; and explains how broader understanding, changing diagnostic criteria and increased screening have increased recognition of autism in more people.
On Jan. 6, SPARK published a third article by Sarris, “Once Blamed for Her Son’s Autism, Mother Learns the Real Cause From SPARK.” The article explains how genetic research helped a family understand that their child’s autism was caused by a biological variation rather than parenting, reinforcing that autism has genetic roots.
Lastly, on Feb. 3, SPARK published Sarris’s article “An Answer About Autism Leads to a New Research Journey.” The article recounts how a family’s involvement in the SPARK autism study led to identifying a rare gene variant in their adult son and then propelled them into ongoing research collaboration and advocacy to deepen scientific understanding of that genetic condition.
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, “What Do Autistic Adults Say About Their Strengths and Talents?,” summarizes a study in which independent autistic adults described a wide range of their own strengths and talents, including cognitive and executive functioning skills, character traits like determination and patience, creativity, academic abilities, and interpersonal skills. It emphasizes that understanding these self-reported strengths can help broaden perspectives on autism beyond challenges and inform more balanced assessments and support approaches.
The second report, “Do Balance and Movement Issues Continue Into Middle and Older Age for Autistic People?,” explains that differences in balance and motor coordination commonly observed in children with autism continue into middle and older adulthood. It highlights research showing that autistic adults experience reduced postural stability compared to adults without autism, underscoring the importance of further study and targeted supports to reduce fall risk and improve quality of life.