It's not every day that someone brings a hand-sewn Big Bird costume to a research appointment at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

Medically reviewed by Dakari Quimby, PhDMedically reviewed by Dakari Quimby, PhD Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), often known simply as autism, is a developmental disability in children and adults.

While autism is more widely recognized today than in the past, it's still not often fully understood by neurotypical people. In r/AskReddit, autistic people opened up about what autism is really like ...

This story was originally published in Group Therapy, a weekly newsletter answering questions sent by readers about what’s been weighing on their hearts and minds. Sign up here to get it in your inbox ...

Autism symptoms in adults often include social communication difficulties, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. Symptoms can vary widely, from food aversions and sleep ...