The PRISMA Group and Positive Exposure Partner to Celebrate the Humanity of People on the Autism Spectrum Through Photography and Art: "What's Your Thing?" is a global collaboration between PRISMA (Precision Medicine in Autism) and Positive Exposure, joining efforts to celebrate individuality, human connection, and the beauty of diversity through photography.”

By Steven Perlman, DDS, MScD, DHL (hon), PAOH President: “As I sat down to write this month’s President’s Message, I was shocked to hear about the passing of a dear friend, colleague, and a hero for the disability community, Dr. Harold (Hackie) Reitman. Hackie experienced a massive heart attack on the day he was leaving the hospital after having a hernia repaired. For 32 days, this gentle giant fought the fight of his life but was unable to walk out of the ring one more time.”

Rick Rader, MD, FAAIDD, FAADM, Editor-in-chief, Helen Journal: “April is designated as Autism Acceptance Month, and the United Nations declared April 2^nd as World Autism Awareness Day to raise awareness and promote understanding and acceptance of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In keeping with the theme of “being the first,” it is time to meet the first person diagnosed with autism, Donald Triplett. . .While he is considered Patient Zero, HELEN prefers to think of him as PERSON FIRST.”

David A. Ervin, BSc, MA, FAAIDD, Makom and Heather Cassidy, MD: “Last year, the esteemed Editor-in-Chief of Helen: The Journal of Human Exceptionality, Dr. Rick Rader, wrote in these pages of his address of the United Nations on the occasion of the 2024 World Down Syndrome Day (Rader, 2024a). The theme of that Day was Health Equity, and Dr. Rader took the occasion to advocate for formal training on intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in medical school.”

Ley Linder, MA, M. Ed, BCBA and Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM: “Eugene is a 41-year-old man with no known chronic medical issues and does not take psychotropic medications. The only medical concern for Eugene is that he is allergic to bees and always carries an epinephrine auto-injector (Epi-pen) with him. Eugene lives with three other men and is independent with activities of daily living but needs support for more complex tasks like money management and cooking.”

Isabella Backman: For decades, researchers have relied on animal models and post-mortem subjects to help unlock the key to certain social and communication differences that are hallmarks of autism. Now, a new study has uncovered a molecular difference in the brains of autistic people that is linked to the central features associated with the condition. It is the first time that synaptic density has been measured in living people with autism.