You may remember a story that ABC News ran last year about Carly. Carly, diagnosed with severe autism at a very young age has struggled a great deal throughout her life. Her parents and neurotypical twin sister were amazed at the thoughts that Carly is able to now communicate to them with the assistance of a communication device. This device has given her family, and medical professionals insight into what goes on in her thoughts, and she in turn explains why her body forces her to stim.

As we know, thousands and thousands of those affected by autism are unable to verbally communicate their needs. Many have relied on such avenues of pictures or sign language to communicate but even those can present challenges. Kansas University has created an innovative project in which they are requesting applicants to participate in learning and utilizing an electronic communication tool.

The has LENA Foundation has developed an autism screen based on detectable acoustic patterns in the voices of children with autism. This screening may lead to earlier diagnosis of autism in children as young as 18 months, or perhaps even younger.