The GW Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute - ANDI

Let's continue to celebrate neurodiversity year-round as we wrap up Autism Acceptance Month this April!

Are you and your child interested in learning about the brain?

If so, for more information you can either:
1. Click on interested!
2. Go to the website stated in our flyer and navitage to "Participate in our Research"
3. Click on the website in our bio!

Are you and your child interested in learning about the brain?

Click on the post for more information!

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🦃

Individuals with autism often experience struggles that come with changes in routine, including school services, family celebrations and food options. The unfamiliarity that comes with these changes may be very overwhelming for individuals on the spectrum so here’s a few tips to ensure a sensory friendly thanksgiving experience!
- In preparation, be sure to be transparent with children with autism and share what to expect. If traveling for the holidays, bring something from home to help calm their nerves and alleviate anxiety.
- Some autistic individuals may be selective eaters (SE) or have a more restrictive diet, therefore they may not enjoy traditional foods. Consider preparing specific foods that your child would love, a familiar meal may provide them with comfort.
- Check out GW’s Dr. Gregory Wallace’s research article on how eating habits affects individuals on the spectrum! "Rigidity and Sensory Sensitivity: Independent Contributions to Selective Eating in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults"
- Communicate! For those hosting Thanksgiving, remember your home is a new environment for them, so if they appear uncomfortable do not take it personally or view it as impolite. Instead, respect their communication preferences and try to build connections with them outside of talking. Offer them a comfortable space to relax or a shared activity.

As Halloween is just around the corner, here are some sensory friendly tips for our trick or treaters to ensure a safe and inclusive experience!

Happening Now in District House, get here as soon as popcicle!

Ice Cream Social for autistic individuals! Friends and family are welcome.

Happy Sundae! Did you hear the scoop? We are hosting a meet-and-greet ice cream social for autistic individuals!

We look forward to chillin' with you, Let us know your favorite toppings in the comments below!

When: October 7th, 2022
Where: District House room B114
Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm

Join Our Research!

recruiting kids between the ages 8-17 for in person studies (behavioral and fMRI) this summer. Studies are conducted at GWU or at GMU in Fairfax, VA. Aside from helping us to better understand social development and brain development, kids receive prizes and $20 per hour for participation. They may receive up to $90 per visit!

If you/your kids are interested in this opportunity, please let us know at [email protected]. We also really appreciate it, if you share this post!

Happy National Nurses Week & Happy International Nurses Day!

Did you know that our interim director Dr. Ashley Darcy-Mahoney is both a neonatal nurse practitioner and the director of infant research at the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute!

through her work at A.N.D.I, Dr. Darcy-Mahoney advances the body of research in infant health and developmental outcomes in high-risk infants with a focus on understanding the early brain and development trajectories in this population.

Find out more about her work on our website!