Autism News Roundup: Communication Rights & Policy Updates

David records from Orcas Island with producer Dave Yas and shares a supportive listener message about presuming competence, a shift to viewing autism as sensory-motor differences, and pursuing Spelling to Communicate while ending an eight-year ABA relationship. They discuss New York’s proposed communication rights bill, noting Senate Disability Committee chair Patricia Fahy added “validated” and “autonomous” language viewed as a harmful limitation for nonspeakers, and highlight advocacy urging removal. They cover states, including Washington, banning school seclusion rooms and restraint, distinguishing them from sensory rooms. They address RFK Jr. and President Trump’s promotion of leucovorin as an autism “breakthrough,” and the FDA limiting it to cerebral folate deficiency. They also describe upheaval and delays around the federal IACC and a new science-focused shadow committee. The episode ends with parenting confessions about reacting during vomiting and seizure-related events and a Duran Duran tribute show experience.   Topics 00:40 Recording from Orcas Island 01:42 Baseball Season Begins 03:08 Iconic Sports Moments 04:01 Listener Feedback and Impact 07:11 New York Communication Rights Bill 09:07 Poison Pill Language Inserted 12:49 Call to Action 15:03 Featured in a Blog 16:52 Banning Seclusion and Restraint 17:17 Understanding Seclusion Rooms 18:44 Harmful Impact on Students 21:27 Progress Across States 22:03 Autism Drug Hype 24:41 False Hope and Services 26:11 IACC Shakeup 28:46 Shadow Committee Debate 30:20 Politics Over Expertise 32:38 Fighting Misinformation 34:49 Parent Confession Chaos 38:15 Seizure Aftermath Lesson 40:52 Dave Confession Exit Early 41:30 Duran Duran Tribute Moment 42:57 Monthly Wrap Up