4 news items this week
The Dutch Autism Association has an information desk at Meppel library on August 17 and a walk-in session at its local Autism Information Point on August 21. A neurodiversity meetup follows on August 22. The programme may be useful for people looking for information or peer contact without immediately entering a formal care pathway.
Autscape takes place in Hertfordshire from August 17 to 20. The conference is created by and for autistic people. Non-autistic visitors are welcome, but their preferences do not determine how the event is designed, and programme activities are optional. It is a practical example of accessibility going beyond a quiet room added to an otherwise unchanged event.
The US Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee is accepting comments on its draft 2026–2028 plan until August 20. The window was extended after criticism of an initial four-day deadline. The plan concerns federal priorities for research and support, so comments address the direction of several years of policy rather than a single study.
Children’s Mercy is holding a free online session for parents and professionals on August 18. It does not start from a blanket ban. Screens may provide regulation or a predictable activity, while transitions and sleep can still need attention. This is an educational event rather than new research, but its framing is more useful than applying one screen-time rule to every child.
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