New research has challenged the theory that people with autism lack empathy because of testosterone overload. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found no connection between testosterone and empathy in a study of 643 men. They gave the men testosterone...

The Labour Party’s plans to abolish private schools ignore the impact on special needs students. That’s the view of Claire Dorer, chief executive of the National Association of Independent Schools & Non-Maintained Special Schools (NASS). Dorer says the plans laid...

Some young adults who were bullied as a child could have a greater risk of ongoing depression, according to a study. In work that has important findings for the autism community, in which bullying is rife, researchers looked for factors...

New research shows that UK businesses – including high-street brands – are losing millions of pounds of revenue every year by turning their backs on disabled consumers. The researchers conducted a poll of 501 people who consider themselves to be disabled,...

A biotech firm is to trial a new drug on people with a subtype of autism. Swiss firm Stalicla plans to trial the drug STP1. It has met officials from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to get the...

The father of an autistic teen whose residential school was closed by Ofsted says the watchdog would have acted differently over a mainstream setting. Kevin Maxwell, from Bath, is looking for a new placement for 16-year-old son Jonah. It follows...

Researchers have confirmed there is a gut-brain nervous system link in autism. They say it opens a new direction in the search for potential treatments. Such treatments could ease behavioural issues associated with autism by targeting the gut. People with autism...

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has warned all councils in England of their legal duties over children who are out of education. It follows a case where Leeds City Council left a young girl without proper education for nine...

Researchers are trialling party drug ketamine as a treatment for Rett syndrome. Led by the US Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT), the study will look at the drug’s safety and effectiveness. Medics currently use it mainly as an anaesthetic. Rett...

A mother says her autistic son is being held in hospital-like conditions in supported living. The mother, who cannot be identified, says the institutional-type arrangements amount to “psychological torture”. She said when her son visits her, home-support staff will take...