Shannon Des Roches Rosa is senior editor at Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, parent to three ever-taller children, and a fan of her spouse’s work in public media science documentaries. She lives near San Francisco, California.
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
Managing editor
Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
From this contributor
Clinicians must put more effort into autism-specific medical care
Without it, autistic adults with high support needs like my son are missing out on treatments that could reduce their suffering and improve their quality of life.
Clinicians must put more effort into autism-specific medical care
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
14 March 2022 | 6 min read
How to help autistic children cope with pandemic lockdowns
Sheltering in place is especially hard for autistic children who dread changes in routine and who may have learned to repress their ways of managing stress. Here are tips to help them cope.
How to help autistic children cope with pandemic lockdowns
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
28 April 2020 | 4 min read
Autism meeting evolves to address needs of people on the spectrum
The annual meeting of International Society for Autism Research has aligned its offerings with the priorities of people with autism and their families.
Autism meeting evolves to address needs of people on the spectrum
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
1 May 2018 | 5 min read
A call to scientists to develop communication tools for autism
People with autism who speak few or no words need tools that can help them communicate. Scientists could make this happen.
A call to scientists to develop communication tools for autism
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
20 December 2016 | 6 min read
Before talking about autism, listen to families
Scientists should phrase their findings to be sensitive to the dignity and needs of people with autism.
Before talking about autism, listen to families
By
Shannon Des Roches Rosa
26 January 2016 | 6 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Loss of interneuron plasticity may be shared hallmark of neurodevelopmental conditions
Restoring an experience-dependent interneuron plasticity gene in adulthood improves memory and cuts seizures in CNTNAP2 knockout mice, a new study shows.
Loss of interneuron plasticity may be shared hallmark of neurodevelopmental conditions
Restoring an experience-dependent interneuron plasticity gene in adulthood improves memory and cuts seizures in CNTNAP2 knockout mice, a new study shows.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
12 August 2026 | 5 min read
Neuropsychiatric MRI brain signatures fail reproducibility test
Small neuroimaging studies are unlikely to capture consistent anatomical changes related to conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and mood disorders, according to a new “wake-up call” study.
Neuropsychiatric MRI brain signatures fail reproducibility test
Small neuroimaging studies are unlikely to capture consistent anatomical changes related to conditions such as autism, schizophrenia and mood disorders, according to a new “wake-up call” study.
By
Holly Barker
12 August 2026 | 5 min read
Three models, three routes to altered auditory processing, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 10 August.
Three models, three routes to altered auditory processing, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 10 August.
By
Jill Adams
11 August 2026 | 2 min read