4/1 

 

TACA Resource, What We Do: https://tacanow.org/what-we-do/ 

 

4/2 

 

TACA Resource, Autism Action Month: https://tacanow.org/autism-action-month/ 

 

Fact: 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. 

 

Shaw KA, Williams S, Patrick ME, et al. Prevalence and Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 and 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 16 Sites, United States, 2022. MMWR Surveill Summ 2025;74(No. SS-2):1–22. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss7402a1. 

 

4/3 

 

TACA Resource, Immune Dysfunction in Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/immune-dysfunction-in-autism/ 

 

Fact: Research shows that some children with autism have immune abnormalities, including neuroinflammation and immune dysfunction, with studies estimating that about 25% may have measurable immune system differences. 

 

Al-Beltagi M. Autism medical comorbidities. World J Clin Pediatr. 2021 May 9;10(3):15-28. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v10.i3.15. PMID: 33972922; PMCID: PMC8085719. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8085719/ 

 

4/4 

 

TACA Resource, Blenderized Diet for G-Tubes: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/diet-article-advanced-and-refining-the-diet/blenderized/ 

 

Fact: A 2025 meta-analysis found that 11% of individuals with autism meet diagnostic criteria for ARFID, highlighting a significant overlap between autism and severe feeding disorders. 

 

Sader M, Weston A, Buchan K, Kerr-Gaffney J, Gillespie-Smith K, Sharpe H, Duffy F. The Co-Occurrence of Autism and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A Prevalence-Based Meta-Analysis. Int J Eat Disord. 2025 Mar;58(3):473-488. doi: 10.1002/eat.24369. Epub 2025 Jan 6. PMID: 39760303; PMCID: PMC11891632. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39760303/ 

 

4/5 

 

TACA Resource, Social Skills: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/social-skills/ 

 

Fact: Music therapy significantly improved language communication and social skills in children with autism. 

 

Shi Z, Wang S, Chen M, Hu A, Long Q and Lee Y (2024) The effect of music therapy on language communication and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Psychol. 15:1336421. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1336421. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1336421 

 

4/6 

 

TACA Resource, Leucovorin for Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/leucovorin-for-autism/ 

 

Fact: Children with autism are 19× more likely to have folate receptor autoantibodies that block folate from reaching the brain. 

 

Rossignol, D.A.; Frye, R.E. Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Pers. Med. 2021, 11, 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11111141 

 

4/7 

 

TACA Resource, Nutritional Deficiencies in Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/nutritional-deficiencies-in-autism/ 

 

Fact: Several studies suggest that supplementing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants may help improve cognition, behavior, and metabolic function in children with autism. 

 

Pérez-Cabral ID, Bernal-Mercado AT, Islas-Rubio AR, Suárez-Jiménez GM, Robles-García MÁ, Puebla-Duarte AL, Del-Toro-Sánchez CL. Exploring Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Foods. 2024 Sep 23;13(18):3010. doi: 10.3390/foods13183010. PMID: 39335937; PMCID: PMC11431671. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39335937/ 

 

4/8 

 

TACA Resource, College and Post-Secondary Education: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/college-and-post-secondary-education/ 

 

Fact: 126 colleges offer autism-specific support programs for degree-seeking students, and more than 362 colleges offer Inclusive Post-Secondary Education programs that provide alternative admissions and added support for students with intellectual disabilities. 

 

Website: https://can.softr.app/  

Website: https://thinkcollege.net/college-search 

 

4/9 

 

TACA Resource, Navigating Speech Issues in Autism: https://secure.everyaction.com/Av3wuwCWvUmkkuqQrWCYOw2 

 

TACA Resource, Obtaining Funding for an AAC: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/obtaining-funding-for-an-aac-device/ 

 

Fact: Research shows that echolalia can be a meaningful and functional form of communication and an important step in language development for gestalt language processors. 

 

Blanc, M., Blackwell, A., & Elias, P. (2023). Using the Natural Language Acquisition Protocol to Support Gestalt Language Development. https://doi.org/23814764000300140072 

 

4/10 

TACA Resource, Supporting Siblings: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/supporting-siblings/ 

Fact: Research shows that many siblings of individuals with disabilities develop empathy, patience, personal growth, and strong sibling bonds, especially when they feel supported and connected within the family. 

Levante A, Martis C, Del Prete CM, Martino P, Primiceri P, Lecciso F. Siblings of Persons with Disabilities: A Systematic Integrative Review of the Empirical Literature. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2025 Mar;28(1):209-253. doi: 10.1007/s10567-024-00502-6. Epub 2024 Oct 16. Erratum in: Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2025 Mar;28(1):254. doi: 10.1007/s10567-024-00510-6. PMID: 39414751; PMCID: PMC11885339. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11885339/ 

4/11 

TACA Resource, Sleep Issues in Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/sleep-issues-in-asd/ 

Fact: Up to 86% of individuals with autism experience at least one sleep problem daily, which can affect behavior, attention, and daytime functioning. 

Albertini ML, Spoto G, Ceraolo G, Fichera MF, Consoli C, Nicotera AG, Di Rosa G. Sleep Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Developmental Impact and Intervention Strategies. Brain Sciences. 2025; 15(9):983. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090983 

4/12 

 

TACA Resource, Picky Eating: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/picky-eating-and-autism/ 

 

TACA Resource, Gluten-Free, Casein-Free, Soy-Free Diet: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/introduction-to-the-gluten-free-casein-free-soy-free-diet/ 

 

Fact: Children with autism are up to 5× more likely to experience feeding problems, and studies estimate that up to 91% may have gastrointestinal symptoms. Evidence suggests that in some children, picky eating may be linked to underlying GI discomfort. 

 

Madra M, Ringel R, Margolis KG. Gastrointestinal Issues and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2020 Jul;29(3):501-513. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2020.02.005. Epub 2020 Apr 2. PMID: 32471598; PMCID: PMC8608248. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8608248/ 

 

Pérez-Cabral ID, Bernal-Mercado AT, Islas-Rubio AR, Suárez-Jiménez GM, Robles-García MÁ, Puebla-Duarte AL, Del-Toro-Sánchez CL. Exploring Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Foods. 2024; 13(18):3010. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13183010 

 

4/13 

 

TACA Resource, Seizures: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/seizures/ 

 

Fact: Studies show that 11–39% of children with autism experience seizures, most often in early childhood and again during adolescence. 

 

Atlegang Mputle, Wandile F. Tsabedze, Curwyn Mapaling. Mapping Comorbidities Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder from Infancy to Adolescence: A Scoping Review, The Open Psychology Journal, Volume 18, 2025. 31 Oct 2025. SCOPING REVIEW. DOI: 10.2174/0118743501392742251002062114 

https://openpsychologyjournal.com/VOLUME/18/ELOCATOR/e18743501392742/ 

 

4/14 

 

TACA Resource, Therapeutic and Communication Options for Speech: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/therapeutic-and-communication-options-for-speech-issues-in-autism/ 

 

Fact: Evidence-based speech and communication interventions for autism—including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), spelling to communicate, and letterboards—can help children develop meaningful ways to communicate their needs and interact with others. 

 

Anixt JS, Ehrhardt J, Duncan A. Evidence-Based Interventions in Autism. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2024 Apr;71(2):199-221. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.001. Epub 2024 Jan 30. PMID: 38423716; PMCID: PMC11788931. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11788931/  

 

4/15 

 

TACA Resource, Anxiety: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/anxiety/ 

 

Fact: ADHD and anxiety are common co-occurring conditions in autism. Studies estimate up to 84% of children with autism show ADHD symptoms, and about 40% have at least one anxiety disorder. 

 

Atlegang Mputle, Wandile F. Tsabedze, Curwyn Mapaling. Mapping Comorbidities Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder from Infancy to Adolescence: A Scoping Review, The Open Psychology Journal, Volume 18, 2025. 31 Oct 2025. SCOPING REVIEW. DOI: 10.2174/0118743501392742251002062114 

https://openpsychologyjournal.com/VOLUME/18/ELOCATOR/e18743501392742/ 

 

4/16 

 

TACA Resource, Newly Diagnosed with Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/newly-diagnosed-with-autism/ 

 

Fact: Research shows that children who begin evidence-based early intervention at a younger age, especially before age 3, often make greater gains in social communication, cognitive abilities, adaptive skills, and reduction of autism symptom severity. 

 

Anixt JS, Ehrhardt J, Duncan A. Evidence-Based Interventions in Autism. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2024 Apr;71(2):199-221. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.001. Epub 2024 Jan 30. PMID: 38423716; PMCID: PMC11788931. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11788931/ 

 

4/17 

 

TACA Resource, Facilitating Friendships: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/facilitating-friendships/ 

 

Fact: Research shows theater-based social skills interventions can improve social communication and social cognition in youth with autism. 

 

McDonald RG, Khawar S, Yacoub N, Cargill MI, Lerner MD, Kang E. Performance- and Theater-Based Interventions for Supporting Social Cognition and Social Communication in Autistic Youth: A Review and Theoretical Synthesis. Semin Speech Lang. 2022 Aug;43(4):255-276. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1750763. Epub 2022 Jul 27. PMID: 35896405. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35896405/ 

 

4/18 

 

TACA Resource, Special Education IEP Tips: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/special-education-iep-tips/ 

 

Fact: Research shows that when IEP goals, accommodations, and services are individualized and aligned to a student’s needs, they are more likely to support meaningful progress in school. 

 

Adrienne D. Woods , Marie C. Ireland , Kimberly A. Murphy and Hope Sparks Lancaster. Publication: Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. Volume 55, Number 2. Pages 249-258. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_LSHSS-23-00084. 

 

4/19 

 

TACA Resource, GI Issues in Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/the-poop-page/ 

 

Fact: More than half of children with autism experience gastrointestinal symptoms. A 2023 meta-analysis found 37% of children with autism had constipation, 21% had abdominal pain, and 19% had diarrhea. 

 

Atlegang Mputle, Wandile F. Tsabedze, Curwyn Mapaling. Mapping Comorbidities Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder from Infancy to Adolescence: A Scoping Review, The Open Psychology Journal, Volume 18, 2025. 31 Oct 2025. SCOPING REVIEW. DOI: 10.2174/0118743501392742251002062114 

https://openpsychologyjournal.com/VOLUME/18/ELOCATOR/e18743501392742/ 

 

4/20 

 

TACA Volunteer Program: https://tacanow.org/what-we-do/taca-volunteer-program/ 

 

Fact: Research on parent-to-parent autism support found that families who connect with experienced autism parents gain emotional support, practical guidance, and increased resilience while navigating their child’s journey.  

 

Lee, J. D., Terol, A. K., Yoon, C. D., & Meadan, H. (2024). Parent-to-parent support among parents of children with autism: A review of the literature. Autism, 28(2), 263-275. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613221146444 

 

4/21 

 

TACA Resource, Underlying Medical Issues in Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/underlying-medical-issues-in-autism/ 

 

Fact: Research shows that most children with autism experience additional health conditions. About 70% have at least one co-occurring condition, and 41% have two or more. 

 

Atlegang Mputle, Wandile F. Tsabedze, Curwyn Mapaling. Mapping Comorbidities Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder from Infancy to Adolescence: A Scoping Review, The Open Psychology Journal, Volume 18, 2025. 31 Oct 2025. SCOPING REVIEW. DOI: 10.2174/0118743501392742251002062114 

https://openpsychologyjournal.com/VOLUME/18/ELOCATOR/e18743501392742/ 

 

4/22 

 

TACA Resource, Autism & Mitochondrial Function: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/autism-and-mitochondrial-function/ 

 

Fact: Research suggests up to 80% of children with autism show metabolic evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, which can affect how cells produce energy. 

 

Frye RE. Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Unique Abnormalities and Targeted Treatments. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2020 Oct;35:100829. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2020.100829. Epub 2020 Jun 23. PMID: 32892956. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32892956/ 

 

4/23 

 

TACA Resource, Cerebral Folate Deficiency: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/cerebral-folate-deficiency/ 

 

Fact: Cerebral Folate Deficiency occurs when folate levels are low in the brain, even when blood folate levels appear normal. 

 

Rossignol DA, Frye RE. Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2021; 11(11):1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11111141 

 

4/24 

 

TACA Resource, Detoxification and Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/detoxification-and-autism/  

 

Fact: Research shows children with autism often have lower glutathione levels, impacting the body’s ability to detoxify. 

 

Liu X, Lin J, Zhang H, Khan NU, Zhang J, Tang X, Cao X, Shen L. Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder-Current Progress of Mechanisms and Biomarkers. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 1;13:813304. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.813304. PMID: 35299821; PMCID: PMC8921264. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8921264/ 

 

4/25 

 

TACA Resource, Methyl B12 for Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/methyl-b12-for-autism/ 

 

Fact: Research shows methyl B12 treatment was associated with improvements in expressive communication in children with autism. 

 

Rossignol DA, Frye RE. The Effectiveness of Cobalamin (B12) Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pers Med. 2021 Aug 11;11(8):784. doi: 10.3390/jpm11080784. PMID: 34442428; PMCID: PMC8400809. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34442428/ 

 

4/26 

 

TACA Resource. Therapeutic Interventions for Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/traditional-therapies/ 

 

Fact: Research shows ABA-based interventions can help improve socially meaningful skills such as communication, adaptive skills, and emotional regulation while reducing challenging behaviors that interfere with learning and independence. 

 

Anixt JS, Ehrhardt J, Duncan A. Evidence-Based Interventions in Autism. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2024 Apr;71(2):199-221. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2024.01.001. Epub 2024 Jan 30. PMID: 38423716; PMCID: PMC11788931. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11788931/ 

 

4/27 

 

TACA Resource, Medical Causes of Speech Issues: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/medical-causes-of-speech-issues-in-autism/ 

 

Fact: 25–30% of children diagnosed with autism are minimally verbal. 

 

Posar A, Visconti P. Update about "minimally verbal" children with autism spectrum disorder. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2021 Sep 1;40:e2020158. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2022/40/2020158. PMID: 34495269; PMCID: PMC8432069. 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8432069/ 

 

4/28 

 

TACA Resource, Medical Interventions for Autism: https://tacanow.org/family-resources/high-impact-medical-interventions-for-autism/ 

 

TACA National Autism Conference: https://tacanow.org/conference/ 

 

Fact: Medical conditions such as sleep disorders, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, and neurological conditions are significantly more common in children with autism than in the general population. 

 

Al-Beltagi M. Autism medical comorbidities. World J Clin Pediatr. 2021 May 9;10(3):15-28. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v10.i3.15. PMID: 33972922; PMCID: PMC8085719. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8085719/ 

 

4/29 

 

TACA Resource, Mast Cells and Autism https://tacanow.org/family-resources/mast-cells-and-autism/ 

 

Fact: Children with autism are up to five times more likely to have food allergies, with about 25% affected compared to 5% of the general pediatric population. 

 

Pérez-Cabral ID, Bernal-Mercado AT, Islas-Rubio AR, Suárez-Jiménez GM, Robles-García MÁ, Puebla-Duarte AL, Del-Toro-Sánchez CL. Exploring Dietary Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Foods. 2024; 13(18):3010. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13183010 

 

4/30 

 

TACA Website: https://tacanow.org/ 

 

Fact: Research shows that hope can help reduce parental stress when raising a child with autism. It’s not just a feeling, it’s a powerful factor that supports resilience, confidence, and the ability to navigate the journey ahead. 

 

Naicker VV, Hedley D and Bury SM (2024) Does hope mediate the relationship between parent’s resolution of their child’s autism diagnosis and parental stress. Front. Psychol. 15:1443707. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1443707 

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1443707/full