National Council on Severe Autism

01/24/2026

01/24/2026

Comment "BOOT26" for info. AAC can feel overwhelming — devices, core boards, modeling, goals… and not enough real-world guidance.

This 4-day AAC Bootcamp is designed to make AAC practical, doable, and compassionate.

You’ll learn how to:
✔ Model AAC without pressure or expectation
✔ Support beginning AAC users with confidence
✔ Create access across daily routines
✔ Honor communication, including protests

No fluff. No compliance-based strategies.

Just real AAC support for real classrooms.

🗓 February 9–12
💻 Virtual
💲 Only $10

01/21/2026

Help Us Find Jonathan Hoang - Endangered & Missing Person has been enduring this nightmare for a year. Their son has autism. And has been missing.
__________

"For nearly a year, the Hoang family has lived without answers. “They told me and my parents, ‘It’s not a crime to go missing,’” said Pfister. She described the emotional toll of his disappearance, saying, “Just to wake up one morning and someone you love, they’re gone with no, no sign, no trace, and like, it’s like he’s disappeared off the face of the Earth.”
__________

More has to be done to protect the most vulnerable, like this

When prominent autistic self-advocate groups say things like "we don't support GPS trackers, they can be used to take away our autonomy," please consider this. If they personally do not need tools like GPS trackers and alert systems to stay safe, they do not get to speak for people with severe and profound autism and their needs.

We hold out hope that Jonathan is found safe and unharmed.

Senate Bill 6070, proposing "Purple Alerts" for missing adults with cognitive disabilities, was sparked by the disappearance of Jonathan Hoang.

01/20/2026

The Editor-in-Chief of Science, Dr. Holden Thorp, joins Autism Confidential for a candid discussion on autism diagnosis, prevalence debates, and the limits of today’s narratives.

Dr. Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief of Science, joins Autism Confidential with Jill Escher, NCSA president, for a candid conversation on autism diagnosis, seve...

01/20/2026

NCSA is ecstatic for the NJ Chapter - National Council on Severe Autism who made history getting group home safety bills across the finish line. This effort has been a complex effort since the fall of 2024, but they never stopped. They brought more voices to the table, listened, negotiated, collected data, and kept pushing forward.

This is only the beginning. The message is clear, though. If you are someone who harms vulnerable people with disabilities, NJ is not going to be the state for you anymore. More bills are coming. The NJ Chapter is changing the culture of disability care to ensure people with disabilities are safe and supported.

Congratulations to Co-Chairs Patricia Miller and Mitch Baum and to the 1500+ members of the NJ Chapter.

And for anyone reading this in any state, no matter how untenable your present situation is, keep Yana Mermel's face seared in your mind as proof-positive that a parent's dogged demand for justice can indeed change the system.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)

And very glad Yana Mermel (NCSA-NJ policy and legislation committee member as well as co-founder of AlsoHuman) is getting some well deserved recognition here.

Yana and the other members of our team have been relentless traveling to Trenton, emailing calling, advocating, hounding, begging, pleading, and speaking —without leaving a dry eye in the house — in support of these bills.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2026/01/nj-just-made-history-with-law-protecting-people-with-disabilities-in-group-homes.html?gift=7c855c08-cf7e-4151-a54d-d8e5c9da3aaeg so g s

01/20/2026

Kaelynn’s Autistic Angle here, you dropped this ——> 👑

BRAVO 👏👏👏👏👏 Thank you for taking this opportunity to shine a light on those with the most profound needs in the autism community.

01/19/2026

Trigger warning: disability abuse.

This is Caroline’s story. Proof of harmful impact from the HCBS settings rule.

She deserves better. They all deserve better.

Examining the Actual Impact of the HCBS Settings Rule on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

01/15/2026

“Who’s actually protected when the cameras are gone?”

Excellent explanation by Bobby's World - Profound Autism - "He is my heart, I am HIS voice". Thank you.

It’s not about the doll.

01/15/2026

Drexel University is Seeking Caregivers of Minimally-Speaking or Non-speaking Autistic Individuals Ages 8 and Older

This study is for caregivers of minimally speaking or non-speaking autistic children, adolescents, or adults. We want to learn more about the different ways your loved one communicates. Many people use non-verbal communication methods instead of, or in addition to, speech. Examples include gestures and gaze (for example, pointing, nodding, directing eyes towards something), picture books or cards, choice boards, pointing to letters on a letterboards, hand signs, or typing.

The goal of this study is to understand how non-speaking and minimally-speaking individuals on the autism spectrum are helped by their caregivers to communicate using non-verbal communication methods, including Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), Spelling to Communicate (S2C) or other methods.

To take part, caregivers must be able to read and understand English well enough to complete an online survey. The person you care for must be age 8 or older, have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and currently be minimally speaking or non-speaking. This study is conducted entirely online.

This survey is the first step in a larger research project designed to document and understand effective ways to support communication in autistic people using non-verbal methods.

If you are interested in participating or learning more, you can:
• Email us at express_study@drexel.edu (express underscore study at drexel dot edu) • Text or call us at (215) 571-3291
• Complete the online screener by using this link or the QR code below: https://tinyurl.com/drexel-express-screener