{"id":24881,"date":"2025-09-23T15:48:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T20:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autism.org\/?p=24881"},"modified":"2025-11-18T10:10:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T15:10:30","slug":"aging-and-autism-un-think-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/autism.org\/aging-and-autism-un-think-tank\/","title":{"rendered":"Aging and Autism: Exploring the Challenges of Autistic Seniors"},"content":{"rendered":"

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UN Think Tank Playlist on YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Recorded October 3, 2025<\/strong><\/h3>\n

United Nations, New York City<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>
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In partnership with the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation<\/a>, the Autism Research Institute sponsored the 2025 United Nations Think Tank on Aging and Autism.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Think Tank Format<\/h2>\n

Moderators invited key experts to give brief overviews of topics related to aging and autism, followed by a focused exploratory roundtable discussion.<\/p>\n

Panelists and audience members included autistic individuals, clinicians, researchers, and representatives of UN member states.<\/p>\n

The Think Tank was moderated by Fakhri Shafai<\/a> (AIDE Canada) & Vanessa Bal (Rutgers University).<\/p>\n<\/div>

Meeting Agenda<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Time<\/th>\nPresentation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
10:00-10:15am<\/td>\nWelcome remarks by the sponsors: Stephen M. Edelson,<\/a> (Autism Research Institute, USA), H.E. Natasha Meli (Permanent Representative of Malta to the UN), and Elizabeth Zwick<\/a> (NLM Foundation, USA).<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10:15-10:30am<\/td>\nDena Gassner, Drexel University and<\/u> Chan Li, University of Malta \u2013 Navigating \u00a0healthcare systems and reducing administrative burdens and bureaucratic barriers<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10:30-10:45am<\/td>\nKaren Turner, Massachusetts General Hospital and<\/u> David Nicholas, University of Calgary – Needs and capacity in long-term care and acute medical settings, including hospital admissions<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10:45-11:05am<\/td>\nRobert L. Hendren<\/a>, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus, UCSF; Autism Research Institute; Oak Hill School Board and Research and<\/u> Margaret Bauman<\/a>, Boston University School of Medicine – (a) Impact of medications on autistic individuals during aging; and (b) Physical and mental health challenges associated with aging<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11:05-11:20am<\/td>\nMelissa Levin, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and<\/u> Mary Doherty<\/a>, University College Dublin School of Medicine – Cancer treatment considerations in older autistic adults <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11:20-11:40am<\/td>\nAbha Chauhan<\/a>, Ph.D., NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities – (a) Biological underpinnings of aging in autism; and (b) Age-related neurological conditions, such as Dementia. <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11:40-11:55am<\/td>\nChristopher Palmer<\/a>, Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, Malta) – Preparing autistic adults to effectively communicate with healthcare providers during medical visits <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11:55-12:10pm<\/td>\nKimberly Armstrong<\/a>, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University<\/span> and Spectrum Works (Canada) and<\/u> Wenn Lawson<\/a>, (Curtin University, West Australia) – Benefits of late autism diagnosis and self-recognition in older adults <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12:10-12:25pm<\/td>\nAlistair de Gaetano<\/a>, Autism Advisory Council (Malta) – Financial vulnerability, precarity and support for exercising legal capacity <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12:25-12:40pm<\/td>\nLaura Graham Holmes<\/a>, Hunter College (CUNY) – Learning from other sectors (e.g., the LGBTQ community) about addressing systemic issues<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12:40-12:55pm<\/td>\nFakhri Shafai<\/a>, Chief Science Officer at AIDE Canada – Loneliness and social isolation <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12:55-1:00 pm<\/td>\nStephen M. Edelson, <\/a>, Autism Research Institute – Closing remarks <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

10:00-10:15am<\/strong> – Welcome remarks by the sponsors: Stephen M. Edelson,<\/a> (Autism Research Institute, USA), H.E. Natasha Meli (Permanent Representative of Malta to the UN), and Elizabeth Zwick<\/a> (NLM Foundation, USA).<\/p>\n

10:15-10:30am<\/strong> – Dena Gassner, Drexel University and<\/u> Chan Li, University of Malta – Navigating healthcare systems and reducing administrative burdens and bureaucratic barriers<\/p>\n

10:30-10:45am<\/strong> – Karen Turner, Massachusetts General Hospital and<\/u> David Nicholas, University of Calgary – Needs and capacity in long-term care and acute medical settings, including hospital admissions<\/p>\n

10:45-11:05am<\/strong> – Robert L. Hendren<\/a>, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus, UCSF; Autism Research Institute; Oak Hill School Board and Research and<\/u> Margaret Bauman<\/a>, Boston University School of Medicine – (a) Impact of medications on autistic individuals during aging; and (b) Physical and mental health challenges associated with aging<\/p>\n

11:05-11:20am<\/strong> – Melissa Levin, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and<\/u> Mary Doherty<\/a>, University College Dublin School of Medicine – Cancer treatment considerations in older autistic adults<\/p>\n

11:20-11:40am<\/strong> – Abha Chauhan<\/a>, Ph.D., NYS Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities – (a) Biological underpinnings of aging in autism; and (b) Age-related neurological conditions, such as Dementia.<\/p>\n

11:40-11:55<\/strong> – Christopher Palmer<\/a>, Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability, Malta) – Preparing autistic adults to effectively communicate with healthcare providers during medical visits<\/p>\n

11:55-12:10pm<\/strong> – Kimberly Armstrong<\/a>, Spectrum Works (Canada) and<\/u> Wenn Lawson<\/a>, (Curtin University, West Australia) – Benefits of late autism diagnosis and self-recognition in older adults<\/p>\n

12:10-12:25pm<\/strong> – Alistair de Gaetano<\/a>, Autism Advisory Council (Malta) – Financial vulnerability, precarity and support for exercising legal capacity<\/p>\n

12:25 to 12:40pm<\/strong> – Laura Graham Holmes<\/a>, Hunter College (CUNY) – Learning from other sectors (e.g., the LGBTQ community) about addressing systemic issues<\/p>\n

12:40-12:55pm<\/strong> – Fakhri Shafai<\/a>, Chief Science Officer at AIDE Canada – Loneliness and social isolation<\/p>\n

12:55-1:00pm<\/strong> – Stephen M. Edelson, <\/a>, Autism Research Institute – Closing remarks<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Published Editorial Perspectives on Seniors & Aging<\/h2>\n

Navigating New Territory – The Growing Focus on Autistic Seniors <\/a><\/p>\n

Advancing Care Priorities for Health and Quality of Life Among Older Adults in the Autism and\/or Intellectual Disabilities Communities: Proceedings of an International Think Tank<\/a><\/p>\n

Strategies for Research, Practice, and Policy for Autism in Later Life: A Report from a Think Tank on Aging and Autism<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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