Maaisha Osman was the Spring 2023 editorial intern at Spectrum, writing articles about the latest in autism research. She graduated from the Northeastern Journalism School in Boston, Massachusetts, and was an editor at Storybench — a digital publication on media innovation. Her work has appeared in STAT, The Bay State Banner and other local news outlets in Boston. You can find her on Twitter @MaaishaO.
Maaisha Osman
Former news intern
Spectrum
From this contributor
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
Knocking down the gene that codes for the proteins normalizes the vocalizations.
Abundant motor proteins disrupt cries in FOXP2 mice
By
Laura Dattaro, Maaisha Osman
28 July 2023 | 3 min read
Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children
Minimally verbal autistic preschoolers gained new words and phrases in a head-to-head comparison of two interventions.
Two scientists, two interventions: A ‘gentle rivalry’ to aid autistic children
By
Maaisha Osman
2 June 2023 | 4 min read
Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults
Autistic people tend to drop out of Medicaid once they reach adulthood in states that don’t waive the income restrictions on enrollment.
Medicaid waivers curb disenrollment among autistic young adults
By
Maaisha Osman
26 May 2023 | 3 min read
Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills
Autistic toddlers who receive a personalized intervention at about 18 months of age gain more abilities than those who start the therapy nine months later.
Autism intervention before age 2 may aid social, language skills
By
Maaisha Osman
16 May 2023 | 4 min read
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
A growing proportion of researchers has reached such “super principal investigator” status, but the distribution is not even across demographic groups.
Black and women researchers are less likely to hold three or more NIH grants simultaneously
By
Maaisha Osman
5 May 2023 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Unconfounding genetic and environmental factors, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 31 August.
Unconfounding genetic and environmental factors, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 31 August.
By
Jill Adams
1 September 2026 | 2 min read
Amid funding uncertainty, neuroscientists report a mix of cynicism, persistence
Two years into one of the most tumultuous tenures in U.S. federal funding, researchers outline how they are coping with ongoing changes and reflect on the impact these changes are having on the system more broadly.
Amid funding uncertainty, neuroscientists report a mix of cynicism, persistence
Two years into one of the most tumultuous tenures in U.S. federal funding, researchers outline how they are coping with ongoing changes and reflect on the impact these changes are having on the system more broadly.
By
Emily Singer
28 August 2026 | 5 min read
Reimagining Mexico’s brain bank
Since Alzheimer’s disease researcher José Luna-Muñoz assumed leadership of the facility—Latin America’s oldest—in 2011, he has been acquiring additional tissue types and is working to expand donor recruitment to rural areas.
Reimagining Mexico’s brain bank
Since Alzheimer’s disease researcher José Luna-Muñoz assumed leadership of the facility—Latin America’s oldest—in 2011, he has been acquiring additional tissue types and is working to expand donor recruitment to rural areas.
By
Alejandra Manjarrez
28 August 2026 | 7 min read