Simons Simplex Collection (SSC)

Who hasn't felt the disapproving stares of others when their child with autism was acting differently? Those glares convey the shame, disappointment or rejection that societies around the globe attach to autism. What does stigma mean for people?

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld stepped into a minefield when he diagnosed himself as being on the autism spectrum – "on a very drawn out scale." He complained of problems with social engagement and understanding figures of speech. Were these faint whispers of autism he described similar to the Broad Autism Phenotype?

Raphael Bernier wanted to help people with their day-to-day lives. Could he do that from an autism research lab?

Most of us don't think twice about where to stand when talking to another person. We just know what's right. But for people with autism, this may not be automatic. They may stand too close to others and have other behaviors that are socially disabling.

Scientists often make discoveries by starting with a set of symptoms and looking for the cause. But some autism researchers worked in reverse: they began with a mutated gene and then looked for its symptoms. In so doing, they found a subtype of autism with its own traits.

Dr. Wendy Chung, director of clinical research at the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, presented What We Know About Autism at a TED2014 conference. Listen to what she had to say.

Scientists have taken a close look at the protein-coding portion of the DNA of families in the SSC and have identified a number of genetic errors that are strong risk factors for autism. Scientists are making strides in the understanding of the biological origins of ASD in the developing brain.