Autism Light: Dr. Stephen Edelson
Today’s Autism Light is Dr. Stephen Edelson.Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.Dr. Stephen M. Edelson lives in San Diego, California and serves as the Director of the Autism Research Institute. Dr. Stephen Edelson is an Autism Light because he has dedicated over 30 years of his life to autism research, and has a trademark for connecting the dots so the latest and cutting edge research results make a true difference for the lives of people with autism.
Work with Dr. Bernard Rimland: Dr. Stephen Edelson partnered with the late Dr. Bernard Rimland for 20 years and succeeded him as the Executive Director of the Autism Research Institute in 2006. These two giants in the world of autism co-edited the book Recovering the Autistic Child. You may order this and other books through the Bookstore at the Autism Research Institute’s Website. However, we have a special opportunity to all readers of this blog. Dr. Edelson is giving away a complimentary copy of this book on our blog. See the post at this link for all the details of this giveaway which starts today and goes for the next two weeks, leading up to the Autism Research Institute’s Fall Conference.
Education: Dr. Stephen M. Edelson earned his Doctorate in Experimental Psychology at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and had Dr. Douglas Medin as a mentor. His research has focused on these four areas in particular.
- Biomedical
- Behavioral
- Sensory
- Cognition
Other Roles: Here are a few of Dr. Stephen Edelson’s additional roles in service to autism.
- Serves on panel of professional advisers to the Autism Society of America
- Editor of the Autism Research Review International quarterly newsletter (Subscription Information)
- Environmental toxins and autism. Research supports a direct correlation between environmental toxins and autism. Dr. Edelson recommends Stuart Freedenfeld’s free video from the 2011 Conference in Atlanta, “The Role of Environmental Toxins in the ASD Epidemic”.
- Absorption of food for those with autism. Problems in this area can cause people with autism to be prone to have gastrointestinal problems. Dr. Edelson writes, “There are many changes that might be made, such as eating organic foods, avoiding preservatives, food colorings and artificial flavorings, and trying restricted diets.”
- Sleep problems for those with autism. Dr. Edelson says, “There are several safe and natural remedies that might be effective in improving sleep, such as melatonin and 5-HTP, and there are behavioral techniques parents can employ. Dr. Edelson recommends a free workshop addressing sleep at the upcoming ARI Conference in LasVegas on October 13.
- Training methods. Dr. Edelson writes, “In many cases, the more stimulation provided to a person on the autism spectrum, especially when young, the better prognosis. This includes education, social skills training, occupational therapy including sensory integration, and more.”
- Behavior problems. Dr. Edelson writes, “I am often asked for advice on treating severe behavior problems. Effective interventions include teaching better communication skills and engaging in vigorous exercise.”
Global Autism Alliance: Dr. Stephen Edelson continues to seek global partnerships in working with autism research. Here is a video of Dr. Edelson introducing the Global Autism Alliance.
- It is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization focused on conducting and sponsoring research aimed at improving the quality of life for today’s generation of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.
- It is the oldest autism research organization in the world with a data bank of over 40,000 case histories from more than 60 countries.
- ARI promotes the understanding of autism via conferences and research, but does not endorse or reject specific treatments or professional services.
- Dr. Stephen Edelson.
Note: There is a Stephen B. Edelson, M.D., who practices in Atlanta, Georgia and also works with children with autism. The two Stephen Edelson’s are not related to one another.
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