Flyer for an AIR-P webinar titled “Autism & Physical Health: Debunking Common Misconceptions” scheduled for Tuesday, July 15th at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET. The flyer lists five speakers with headshots and affiliations: Alice Kuo, MD, MBA, PhD – Professor and Chief at UCLA Medicine–Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Principal Investigator of AIR-P. Calliope Holingue, PhD – Assistant Professor, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Center for Autism Services, Science, and Innovation (CASSI™), Department of Mental Health. Heather Brown, PhD – Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. Emily Coombs, MSc, PhD student – University of Alberta. Jenny Mai Phan, PhD – Research Assistant Professor, George Mason University. The right side of the flyer lists webinar topics: obesity gastrointestinal issues sexual and reproductive health cervical cancer hormones & stress At the bottom right, there is a QR code labeled "Scan Me" under the header “Register Now!”

Let’s talk about physical health in autism—beyond the stereotypes. Join me + other amazing researchers for an AIR-P webinar on July 15 (2PM PT / 5PM ET) to bust myths on:

* GI issues
* Obesity
* Stress & Hormones
* Cervical cancer
* Reproductive health

Register: uclahs.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

I'm so sorry, Theresa.

Happy Mother's Day to those celebrating. Here is an incomplete list of fantastic #ActuallyAutistics mothers for you to follow & respect: @autisticenough.bsky.social, @supernovaparenting.org, @drjmphan.bsky.social, @autisminblack.bsky.social, @fidgetsandfries.bsky.social, @autisticdoctor.bsky.social.

I'm also glad that we got to see each other in person.

HEARD (Healthy Engagement in Autism Research Dialogue): A poster presentation on an initiative to bridge dialogues on important science topics in autism research, including genetics, animal models, and cell lines. Membership spans multiple countries and representations of self-advocates, family members, scientists, scholars, policy makers, etc. Jenny Phan, a Southeastern Asian American autistic woman and scientist is standing in front of the poster smiling.

My first #INSAR2025 ✅. There were so many great #autism presentations & meetings. I got to sit beside the amazing TC Waisman, Kristen Gillespie-Lynch and Shoba Meera on a panel for student and trainees talking about participatory research. Then, I co-presented w/ Samantha Harker on #HEARD.

Flyer for the CASSBI Seminar Series at George Mason University, hosted by the Center for Advancing Systems Science and Bioengineering Innovation (CASSBI). The featured speaker is Professor Tawara Goode, presenting “Youth with Disabilities: Transition Through a Cultural Lens” on Monday, May 5, 2025, from 12–1 PM ET via Zoom. The flyer includes a photo of Professor Goode and describes her extensive background in cultural competence, disability research, and leadership at Georgetown University. The seminar will explore the role of culture in transition experiences for youth with disabilities. Link provided: https://go.gmu.edu/cassbi.

Join us May 5, 12–1 PM ET for a virtual seminar with Professor Tawara Goode: “Youth with Disabilities: Transition Through a Cultural Lens.” Hosted by CASSBI at George Mason University. Free and open to all. Register: go.gmu.edu/cassbi

We’re a proudly neurodiverse family—autism, ID, ADHD, and more run in our genes. My kids light up my life with laughter and joy, even in a dark world. Because of them, I lead with compassion in my work and service. I've spent 10 years serving the disability community with love and purpose.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr during a press conference at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC, 16 April 2025. WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Link to story: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/rfk-jr-says-hhs-will-research-six-environmental-factors-for-potential-link-to-autism/ar-AA1D3D03

The HHS Secretary made big statements about autism today—& missed the mark. He needs our data. Our stories. It’s #AutismAcceptanceMonth. Not Awareness. We’re not going back. Share how autistic people—yourself and/or your kids, students, clients—are showing up & contributing. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Flyer for the CASSBI Seminar Series at George Mason University. Dr. Millie Rincón-Cortés will present “Modeling Maternal Adversity in Rodents to Study Intergenerational Effects” on Monday, April 14, 2025, from 12–1 PM ET via Zoom. The seminar will explore how early life adversity disrupts brain reward systems and impacts maternal behavior and offspring development. Hosted by the Center for Advancing Systems Science and Bioengineering Innovation. Free registration at https://go.gmu.edu/cassbi.

Join us on 4/14 12–1 PM ET for a virtual seminar with Dr. Millie Rincón-Cortés on modeling maternal adversity in rodents to study intergenerational effects. Learn how early life adversity affects brain reward systems, maternal behavior, & offspring development. Register at go.gmu.edu/cassbi.

Seven women sitting at a restaurant eating and drinking in front of a sunset.

We ended @gatlinburg.bsky.social with more fun and fellowship with Children's National Hospital Center for Autism crew in front of sunset San Diego, CA. #IDDRC #IDDResearch #Autism #AutismResearch #Conference #Pediatrics

Preprint coming soon 😉! Stay tuned.

Jenny Phan is standing in front of her poster, presenting her research on puberty in neurodevelopmental disability populations.

Just wrapped up presenting a poster at the @gatlinburg.bsky.social! We reviewed what we know & don’t know about puberty in youth w/ neurodevelopmental disabilities. Much of puberty research leaves out ND youth. We need more inclusive studies, especially on ND-specific mechanisms.

A group of diverse individuals, including elderly participants, are engaged in a Dance for Parkinson's® class in a spacious dance studio with mirrors. They are holding hands in a circle with arms raised and extended outward, participating in a movement exercise. The group is led by an instructor, and the studio features a light-filled, open environment with minimal furniture in the background. Participants are dressed in comfortable, active clothing.

For 2 yrs, @GMU_CASBBI students have been co-developing tools with #Parkinsons patients, care partners, and clinicians to improve communication & care. Partnering with Dance for PD®, they’re tracking #biometrics during Dance Therapy-unlocking the potential of movement. Support student-led research.

Logo within a blue circle featuring symbols of major world religions above a row of stylized buildings: Sikh Khanda, Jewish Star of David, Christian cross, Islamic crescent, Hindu Om, and a red-and-white yin-yang symbol at the center. To the right are blue and red human figures representing unity and gender inclusivity. The word "VIRTUE" appears in gray below the buildings.

Team VIRTUE, @GMU_CASBBI NSF Research Traineeship, is breaking barriers to #DomesticViolence prevention in Northern VA. They partnered with local orgs (e.g., DC Peace Team) to bring Restorative Justice to survivors @ The Women’s Center. Support student-led, community-driven solutions like this.

Logo with a red background featuring a yellow and orange firefighter maltese cross. Inside the cross is a lightbulb with a brain and heartbeat line inside, symbolizing innovation and health. Surrounding the top half of the cross are the words "First-responders, Innovation, Research, and Exploration." At the bottom, inside the cross, is the acronym "FIRE" in bold yellow letters.

We're proud to spotlight our FIRE initiative—#FirstResponders, Innovation, Research, and Exploration—@GMU_CASBBI for #MasonVisionDay! We're building a research & community partnership model to improve the health and well-being of #firefighters and first responders. Learn more: cassbi.gmu.edu/donate/

#MasonVisionDay is here! For the next 12 hrs, we spotlight community-driven research at the intersection of #SystemsScience & #Bioengineering innovation. Your donation powers: 🔬 Research 🤝 Community engagement 🎓 Student & trainee support 🧪 Cutting-edge tech & tools. Give today: cassbi.gmu.edu/donate

#idd #disabilityinclusion #transitionsupport #communityengagement… | George Mason University - Center for Advancing Systems Science and Bioengineering Innovation ✨ Join us for an important conversation on transition services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)! We're excited to share that the Center for Advancing Systems Scien...

Excited to share our latest effort at @GMU_CASBBI! We’re launching a new initiative to improve #TransitionSupport for youth with #IDD, centering inclusion and community voice.
Learn more about the panel at tinyurl.com/4ed96ztv
#DisabilityInclusion #CommunityEngagement #Neurodiversity

How to Support the Neuropsychological Health of the Vietnamese Diaspora How to Support the Neuropsychological Health of the Vietnamese Diaspora is the first book in a new series entitled A Clinical Guide to the Neuropsychological Health of Immigrant Populations, which gui...

New book release: "How to Support the Neuropsychological Health of the Vietnamese Diaspora." I am deeply honored to contribute chapters to this body of work addressing the intersection of #culture, #health, & #neuropsychology within the #Vietnamese diaspora. Link: tinyurl.com/2e44a54x

These senators voted to confirm Kennedy. They voted to decimate the world's premier health agency. They own this.

A protest scene in an urban setting with a crowd of demonstrators holding various signs. One prominent sign in the foreground reads, “So bad, even introverts are here.” in bold red and blue lettering.

Upcoming Boycotts & Protests

2/28 – Economic Blackout
3/4 – #ProtectOurKids Protests
3/4 – 50501 Protests
3/7 – March for Science
3/7-3/14 – Amazon Boycott
3/21-3/28 – Nestlé Boycott
4/7-4/14 – Walmart Boycott
4/18 – Economic Blackout #2
4/21-4/28 – General Mills Boycott

Trump’s war on DEI comes for programs helping autistic students find jobs in STEM Programs meant to help autistic students study science have been caught in the Trump administration’s war on DEI, Eric Garcia reports

New from me: A MacArthur genius fellow grantee has worked on helping #Neurodivergent and #ActuallyAutistic people enter the STEM fields. He was set to receive a $4 million grant. But Trump's war on DEI killed the grant.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Wayback Machine Saves Thousands of Federal Webpages Amid Purge of Government Data Under Trump Thousands of informational government webpages have been taken down so far in the second Trump administration, including on public health, scientific research and LGBTQ rights. Amid this mass erasure ...

💾 ⬇️
www.democracynow.org/2025/2/28/in...

A flyer for the CASSBI Seminar Series hosted by George Mason University's Center for Advancing Systems Science and Bioengineering Innovation. The seminar, titled "Minority Stress in Autism: Challenges and Resilience in Transition-Age Youth," will be presented by Dr. Jessie Greenlee on Monday, March 3rd, 2025, from 12 PM to 1 PM (ET) on Zoom. The flyer includes Dr. Greenlee's bio, highlighting her research on autism-related minority stress, mental health disparities, and intersectional identities. It also includes an abstract discussing challenges faced by autistic young adults in education, employment, and mental health. A photo of Dr. Greenlee is included on the right side of the flyer, where she is smiling outdoors wearing glasses. The flyer encourages attendance at the free seminar and provides links to CASSBI's website and social media pages.

Join us for a free virtual seminar on Minority Stress in Autism with @drjlgreenlee.bsky.social! Learn about the challenges autistic young adults face in education, employment, and mental health. 📅 Monday, March 3, 12 PM ET. Link: go.gmu.edu/cassbi

It may not be cool or hip in some circles, but we legitimately do need a massive amount of people to run for office.

Flood the school boards, councils, county seats, state legislatures, Congress, etc.

Big changes at the top happen when the ground shifts at the bottom. And that can start now.

The presidents of all universities should hold a press conference together at the National Press Club in Washington DC condemning the attacks on science and universities and outline the stakes for all Americans. 1/

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm so angry for you, your colleagues, mentees, and extramural researchers. You are a rare talent. The institute lost a valuable leader and champion of well-being for the autistic and neurodivergent community.

Check your studentaid.gov account ppl. To my surprise, a $2k addition appeared in my account balance that I supposedly owed back in 2013. I wasn't enrolled in college during 2012-2013 because I took a gap year to work. I wasn't eligible to take out student loans during that period.

We, the People stand with you. And are SO sorry this is disrupting your lives.

Go follow @altnps.bsky.social and @altcdc.bsky.social for further actions to take & keep the faith in a kinder, more heart-centered nation.

Former HHS Agency Heads Highlight the Critical Role of HHS Staff In Securing America’s Health and Well-being and Economic Strength We are honored to have worked with dedicated and skilled public servants who have been leading the fight for a healthier America at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Trump Administration now has begun arbitrarily removing HHS staff from their positions, leaving no doubt that the health and well-being of families and communities across the country will suffer as a result. The work of the members of the HHS team is not just important to the health of this country, it is also vital to the economic security of our nation. These are the dedicated public servants who have been: making sure your food and water are safe; running the health insurance programs that cover nearly half of all Americans; making sure hospitals, dialysis centers and nursing homes provide quality care; finding cures and treatments for diseases like pediatric cancer; standing up the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline and other mental health services; combatting the overdose and fentanyl crisis; getting primary care to rural communities; providing support for new moms and babies; ensuring families have access to affordable high-quality child care; ensuring that new drugs and devices are safe and effective; detecting and responding to infectious disease threats in communities around the country; serving survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and children in foster care; and so much more. These individuals are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are dedicated and passionate public servants who have committed their careers to working on behalf of the American people. We owe them a debt of gratitude, not a pink slip. Signed by: Dr. Monica Bertagnolli (NIH) Chiquita Brooks-LaSure (CMS) Dr. Robert Califf (FDA) Dr. Mandy Cohen (CDC) January Contreras (ACF) Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon (SAMHSA) Carole Johnson (HRSA) Dawn O’Connell (ASPR)

To all the civil servants who were unjustly fired from federal jobs, you didn't deserve this. We thank you for your service to this country and the world. We are a less safe nation today without you. May you find work where you will be appreciated for your talents, skills, and expertise.

I feel like I'm going insane every time I see a media story about DOGE that doesn't also mention the fact that the Government Accountability Office exists and performs the exact function that DOGE pretends to, only in a credibly constitutional, non-partisan, and conflict-of-interest-free manner