FORT WORTH, Texas — An institute at UNT Health Fort Worth is participating in a national study working to understand why adults with Down syndrome are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The study, the Alzheimer’s Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome, is supported by the National Institutes of Health, and is working to identify biological markers of…

An actress with autism and a reality show about individuals on the spectrum who are looking for love are both in the running for Emmy Awards. Tal Anderson, who has autism, was nominated this week for her role on HBO’s acclaimed hospital drama “The Pitt.” Anderson is up for outstanding guest actress in a drama…

Over half of states are not living up to their obligations under federal special education law, with many receiving a failing grade from the U.S. Department of Education multiple years in a row. Just 20 states earned a “meets requirements” designation from the Education Department this year for serving students with disabilities ages 3 to…

CHICAGO — By the time Illinois notified group home provider Broadstep two years ago that it was revoking its license, the list of problems documented by state investigators spanned nearly seven pages. Expired medications. Incomplete background checks. “Critical incidents,” which may have included medical emergencies and other events that spurred 911 calls, not reported properly.…

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The mailroom where Amanda Bolton works is a symphony of noise — machines humming, envelopes shuffling and boxes being prepped for shipment. But Bolton tunes it all out and focuses on the work in front of her — a skill she attributes in part to a lifetime living with hearing loss. “Some…

MACEDONIA, Ohio — When a frantic mother called 911 to report that her 3-year-old son with autism, who is nonverbal, was missing, Macedonia dispatcher Rebecca Elias immediately began asking questions she had learned just weeks earlier during a specialized autism response training. “Does he tend to go near things or is attracted toward certain things?”…

A Sephora store seen inside Kohl’s at Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis, Calif in 2022. (Bethany Clough/The Fresno Bee/TNS) One of the biggest names in the beauty business is taking steps to better accommodate people who are neurodivergent. Sephora said that it will offer “quiet hours” at its stores globally, turning down the music and…

Half of states are suing over new Medicaid eligibility requirements that advocates have warned will lead people with disabilities to lose coverage. A coalition of officials from 25 states and Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit last week challenging recently released rules for Medicaid work requirements. Under the mandate, which most states must implement by the…

NEW ORLEANS — Women breathing wildfire smoke late in pregnancy had a higher risk of having a child later diagnosed with autism, even when the smoke exposure lasted only a few days, according to a study by Tulane University researchers. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology recently, followed over 204,000 mother-child pairs in Southern…

Marvel will publish special issues of several comics including “Amazing Spider-Man,” left, and “Uncanny X-Men” for Disability Pride Month. (Marvel) In a series of special issues that are about to drop, Marvel Comics is putting the focus on a half dozen heroes with various disabilities. Backup stories in four issues — “Amazing Spider-Man #32,” “Uncanny…