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SPARKforAutism

@sparkforautism

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Join a growing community of families, autistic adults, and researchers working to understand autism and improve lives.
#TenYearsofSPARK #WeAreSPARK✨

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We know the steps in every autistic journey are different, and every step matters to science. SPARK researchers are helping understand how autistic lives evolve over time. From sleeping, to making friends, to living independently, we continue to study all aspects of the autistic experience. We have made a lot of progress, and along the way, we have become the largest study of autism ever! With your help, the future will be even brighter.

This #AutismAcceptanceMonth, SPARK is thrilled to be celebrating TEN YEARS since our launch. We are building the future of autism research together — step by step. 🎶✨ by @sparkforautism

Wow. 10 years of SPARK, and it’s all thanks to you! 🎈✨

Since 2016, our mission has been to advance autism research, but we couldn’t do it alone.

From our incredible participants and clinical site partners to the breakthroughs in genetics and research discovery, we have so much to be thankful for.

Check out the 10 things fueling our gratitude as we celebrate a decade of advancement since our launch on 4/21/2016!

Here’s to many more! 🎉

ps. If you haven't done so lately, be sure to log into your SPARK dashboard to check out the latest! http://sparkforautism.org/portal/dashboard/ by @sparkforautism

You know what's sPoOoky? Not logging in to your SPARK Dashboard! 👻 Don't let your account collect cobwebs. 🕸️

New surveys appear on your dashboard occasionally, so check your Dashboard often to see if there are new opportunities. Your information leads to discoveries! 💙

Log in at the link in our bio.

#WeAreSPARK #SPARKforAutism #AutismResearch #Halloween by @sparkforautism

SPARK isn't SPARK without you! 💙 New surveys appear on your SPARK Dashboard occasionally, so check your Dashboard often to see if there are new opportunities. Your information leads to discoveries!

Log in to your dashboard today at the link in our bio.

#WeAreSPARK #SPARKforAutism #AutismResearch by @sparkforautism

Researchers asked 295 autistic adults ages 18 to 35 from the SPARK study to describe their strengths and difficulties in their own words. Participants said the same trait can be either a strength or a challenge, depending on the situation.

Read the full Research Match report at the link in our bio.

#Autism #SPARKforAutism #AutismResearch #SPARKResearchMatch #AutisticAdults by @sparkforautism

SPARK launched in 2016 with the goal of recruiting tens of thousands of people with autism and their families for research. We marked our 10th anniversary this spring, and here's a look at what the SPARK community has made possible over the past decade. 💙

SPARK is the largest study of autism, ever, with 425,000 participants. SPARK data has helped identify more than 200 autism-related genes, and scientists using SPARK data have published more than 250 research papers. These are 10 takeaways from 10 years of studying autism.

Thank you to the individuals and families who have entrusted us with their data and stories. Read the full article at the link in our bio.

#Autism #SPARKforAutism #AutismResearch #10YearsOfSPARK #AutismAwareness by @sparkforautism

When a young child is upset, parents respond in lots of different ways. A SPARK Research Match study looked at what shapes those responses.

For children without an autism diagnosis, parents' non-supportive responses increased as their child's social and emotional challenges grew. For children with a diagnosis, the pattern went the other way.

Researchers say getting a diagnosis may help parents understand their child's behavior and respond in more supportive ways. 💙

Read the full research summary at the link in our bio.

#Autism #SPARKforAutism #AutismResearch #AutismParents #ResearchMatch by @sparkforautism

Laura Youker is careful. She has door locks and chains to keep her young daughter and son from running away, a common behavior in autistic children like hers.

But one day a delivery created a distraction, and a door chain went unfastened. Quickly and quietly, the children left the house. The family searched frantically for Marley and Carter, fearing they would get lost or hurt. They found Marley, but not her brother. Police arrived, and their helicopter found Carter an hour later. He was uninjured and headed toward a park.

Keeping them safe and finding the services they need is not easy. Marley, 7, and Carter, 5, have level 3 autism, which means they need the highest level of daily support among people on the autism spectrum. They do not speak, and they have learning disabilities and developmental delays.

But there is so much more to this sister and brother. They are affectionate children who love hugs, fireworks, cake pops (Marley), Spider-Man (Carter), and all varieties of food, even broccoli. 💙

Laura joined the SPARK autism study to expand what we know about level 3 autism, which affects an estimated one in four autistic people. “I would like to know more about what causes them not to be able to speak,” she says.

Read the Youker family’s story at the link in our bio. by @sparkforautism

Join us for October's webinar!
What: Comparative Analysis of Autistic Women Across the Lifespan — Childhood vs. Adulthood Diagnosis
When: Friday, October 23rd | 12:00-1:00pm EST
👉 Register to join us via Zoom
-OR-
👉 RSVP and join us on FB Live
LINKS IN BIO!

*The recording will be available once the program concludes! by @sparkforautism

How do parents respond when a young child is upset? 💜

A recent Research Match summary looked at how 1,780 parents of children ages 2–5 said they’d respond to 12 “upset” scenarios. Parents of autistic children reported slightly more supportive responses, and fewer non-supportive or distressed ones.

👉 Read the full summary at the link in bio.
Research: Northrup J.B. et al. Autism 30, 525–537 (2026)

#SPARKforAutism #WeAreSPARK #AutismResearch by @sparkforautism