University of Washington Autism Center

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

At the UW Autism Center, we celebrate the many ways people experience and express who they are. This month and every month, we honor and support our LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Questions after an autism screening?

The OTAI Screening Guide helps families better understand autism, next steps for evaluation, and resources that may help support their child.

Learn more on our website:https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Appendix-A-OTAI-Decision-Aid-Booklet.pdf

Haircuts can be stressful for many autistic children and families.

The Washington Autism Alliance has shared practical sensory-friendly haircut tips along with a list of stylists who may better understand sensory needs.

Explore the resource on their website: https://washingtonautismalliance.org/sensory-friendly-haircuts-tips-and-list-of-stylists/

Mid-Week Affirmation: Every day holds light worth noticing.

These next few weeks bring some of the longest days of the year. This means more daylight, more time for small moments of light to show up in everyday life.

New research-based technology is emerging locally to support autistic individuals and their families.

A research team at UW Bothell has developed a mobile app designed to help improve access to supports and strengthen day-to-day organization for individuals on the autism spectrum and their caregivers. The project reflects ongoing efforts to create practical, user-informed tools that connect families with helpful resources and support systems.

Read more at dailyuw.com: https://www.dailyuw.com/article/uw-bothell-research-team-develops-app-to-assist-individuals-with-autism-and-their-families-20260303

Providers, save the date! This September, The University of Washington Autism Center is excited to host FTF Consulting for a two-day training. This introduces a compassionate, collaborative approach to treatment, focusing on improving relationships and supporting meaningful behavior change.

Participants will learn how to conduct Practical Functional Assessments and apply Skill-Based Treatment to teach communication and adaptive skills in safe, supportive contexts.

This training will emphasize strategies to prevent escalation, empower learners, use data to guide decisions. We will review the universal protocol to promote safety, dignity, and positive outcomes across settings.

More information coming soon!

Happy Mother’s Day 💙

To all mothers, caregivers, and mother figures in the autism community: thank you for your advocacy, love, and steady support.

Our team recently attended the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting, joining researchers, clinicians, and community members from around the world to share new findings and advances in autism research.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and bring back insights that help inform our work at the UW Autism Center.