A nice interview w/ the UAB researchers, Dr. Biasini and Dr. Hopkins, and one of the study participants, 11 yo MaryLeigh Wear, is airing on some local TV stations.  It's great to see how tickled she is with the silly games :-).   They omitted her best quote, though.  The interviewer asked, "What did you learn from playing FaceSay?".  MaryLeigh replied, "I learned I need to look at both halves of the face.  I've been looking at just the bottom half."

Dr. Biasini and Dr. Hopkins turned at looked at each other, half wondering if the other had coached MaryLeigh to say that :-).  With my Montessori-sh "revelation vs explanation" approach, I never say that in the games.  But it's exactly the sort of "Aha moment" that I hoped for.

Read one of the news stories (cached on google)

Watch one of the TV segments at www.centrelipa.com

Read an interesting interview that first gave me the idea that such an "Aha" might be both possible and a big help.

The University of Alabama Birmingham announced  encouraging results of their randomized controlled trial with 49 autistic children.  Read the Press Release.