Autism News Roundup: Communication Rights & Policy Updates

David records from Orcas Island with producer Dave Yas and shares a supportive listener message about presuming competence, a shift to viewing autism as sensory-motor differences, and pursuing Spelling to Communicate while ending an eight-year ABA relationship. They discuss New York’s proposed communication rights bill, noting Senate Disability Committee chair Patricia Fahy added “validated” and “autonomous” language viewed as a harmful limitation for nonspeakers, and highlight advocacy urging removal. They cover states, including Washington, banning school seclusion rooms and restraint, distinguishing them from sensory rooms. They address RFK Jr. and President Trump’s promotion of leucovorin as an autism “breakthrough,” and the FDA limiting it to cerebral folate deficiency. They also describe upheaval and delays around the federal IACC and a new science-focused shadow committee. The episode ends with parenting confessions about reacting during vomiting and seizure-related events and a Duran Duran tribute show experience.

 

Topics

00:40 Recording from Orcas Island

01:42 Baseball Season Begins

03:08 Iconic Sports Moments

04:01 Listener Feedback and Impact

07:11 New York Communication Rights Bill

09:07 Poison Pill Language Inserted

12:49 Call to Action

15:03 Featured in a Blog

16:52 Banning Seclusion and Restraint

17:17 Understanding Seclusion Rooms

18:44 Harmful Impact on Students

21:27 Progress Across States

22:03 Autism Drug Hype

24:41 False Hope and Services

26:11 IACC Shakeup

28:46 Shadow Committee Debate

30:20 Politics Over Expertise

32:38 Fighting Misinformation

34:49 Parent Confession Chaos

38:15 Seizure Aftermath Lesson

40:52 Dave Confession Exit Early

41:30 Duran Duran Tribute Moment

42:57 Monthly Wrap Up