What does wellbeing look like in families raising children with ASD?
A sense of wellbeing and what constitutes it as a state is highly variable, both in individual experience, and in the scientific literature.While this means it is challenging to assess, it is also critical to understand if researchers mean to develop interventions that really help children with autism and their families in ways that matter across the lifespan.
In the course of researching "Family wellbeing of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review" published May 8 in the Journal Autism, Dr. Jonathan Weiss, Canada Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research and graduate student Ami Tint reviewed 86 articles in mental and medical health. "We wanted to see if we could come to an overall understanding of what people mean when they say, 'we're studying wellbeing', " said Weiss.
NeuroDevNet - May 11th, 2015
MP talks to psychology students about being a parent of a child with autism
MP Mike Lake (Edmonton, Mill Woods, Beaumont) spoke with more than 500 York University psychology students about his experience as a parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
He referred to York psychology Professor Jonathan Weiss, who organized the talk and is the Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment and Care Research, as a rising star in ASD research. He told students that life with his son Jaden is a “real adventure,” saying he essentially functions as a three or four year old in a 19-year-old body.
Y-File - November 12th, 2014
Adults with Autism Report High Rates of Sexual Victimization
Adults with autism report starkly higher rates of sexual victimization than do other adults, and the risk appears to rise with lack of sexual knowledge, according to a new report.
The study, funded in part by Autism Speaks Canada, also found that while “neurotypical” individuals tend to get information about sex from social sources such as friends, family and teachers, those with autism tend to get it from impersonal sources such as websites.
Autism Speaks - August 19th, 2014
Adults with autism spectrum disorder at higher risk of being sexually victimized
Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a higher risk of being sexually victimized than those without the disorder, according to a new study out of York University.
Seventy-eight per cent of the ASD group in the study had at least one occurrence of sexual victimization relative to 47.4 per cent in the non-ASD group. The study also found that a lack of sexual knowledge in those with ASD played a role in increasing the risk of sexual victimization – experiences of sexual coercion, unwanted sexual contact, attempted rape or rape.
Y-File - August 13th, 2014
Children with developmental disabilities facing isolation and mental health issues, study finds
The results of a York-led research project looking at children with developmental disabilities has found more than half of the children also had motor impairments, one-third had no friends at school, half had no friends outside of school and 44 per cent were reported to have additional challenges, including anxiety and depression.
Y-File - March 26th, 2014
Autism Spectrum Disorders meeting determines direction of research
Faculty of Health psychology Professor Jonathan Weiss, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Treatment & Care Research at York, held the first advisory stakeholders meeting recently.
ASD community members attended the meeting, planned by Weiss and the Knowledge Mobilization Unit (KMb), including those from non-profit organizations, government agencies and community service groups, as well as researchers, self-advocates and parents of people with ASD. Dialogue and collaboration between the different sectors of the ASD community to determine the direction of the research by the chair over the next five years was the top business of the day.
Y-File - February 20th, 2013
York's CIHR Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) holds first stakeholders meeting to shape ASD research
On Tuesday, January 29, Dr. Jonathan Weiss, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Treatment and Care Research at York, opened the first advisory stakeholders meeting for many in the ASD community in Canada, including nonprofits, government agencies, community service groups, researchers, self advocates, and parents of people with ASD.
Faculty of Health News - February 1st, 2013
Autism project: Ontario moves to strengthen autism services
York University Professor Jonathan Weiss is one of eight experts from across Canada who have been selected to help Ontario further develop its autism programs and services, and guide its next steps in treating a growing number of people with the brain disorder, reported the Toronto Star Dec. 12.
Toronto Star - December 12th, 2012
Clinical Expert Committee to Advise Government on Autism
Ontario has appointed eight researchers, academics and clinical experts to advise the government on effective treatments, current research and best clinical practices for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The committee, reporting to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, will provide expert advice on up-to-date and evidence-based research to inform policy design and program development, including the implementation of clinical practice guidelines and benchmarks.
Newsroom - December 12th, 2012
Ontario Creating Expert Committee on Autism: McGuinty Government Taking Action to Improve Autism Services for Kids
Ontario is creating a new expert committee to help ensure that children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder get the right supports and treatment.
Newsroom - December 12th, 2012