 |
|
|
|||||
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. We need to change the conversation about how we diagnose autismand what we believe causes it. Lately, theres been growing attention on environmental toxins and singular external triggers as explanations for autism. But the reality is far more nuanced. As a clinical geneticist and PhD genomic scientist with over a decade of experience working in medical affairs and clinical genomics, Ive seen firsthand how vital genetic information is in understanding autism. Many forms of autism have underlying genetic causesand our growing ability to identify these genetic underpinnings is transforming how we diagnose, manage, and support individuals and families. Relying on one approach doesnt work For years, autism diagnoses have relied almost entirely on behavioral assessmentsobservations of how a child communicates, interacts, and develops. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these screenings at 18 and 24 months. Yet in the U.S., the average age of diagnosis is still 5 years old. Why are families waiting years for answers when children can often be reliably diagnosed by age 2? The problem isnt that we lack tools. Its that weve relied too heavily on one approach. Autism is complex. Some children show mild or variable signs that are easy to overlook. Others present with overlapping developmental issues that cloud the picture. Too often, this leads to a wait and see approach that delays life-changing early intervention. Early intervention therapies improve a childs communication and social skills, increase their independence in the short- and long-term, and improve their cognitive developmentall crucial changes that can dramatically improve the childs, and familys quality of life. As head of medical affairs at GeneDx, I work at the intersection of clinical genomics, research, patient advocacy, and communicationand Ive seen how genetic testing can change everything. Tools like exome and genome sequencing dont rely on what we can observe. They uncover insights at the molecular level, giving families answers in weeks instead of years. That kind of clarity can make a profound difference in a childs care and development. Genetic testing Genetic testing is not hypotheticalits happening now, and its effective. Over 800 genes have been linked to autism spectrum disorder, and that number continues to grow. Exome sequencing looks at the portions of the genome that tell our bodies how to make proteins, while genome sequencing captures even more data by examining all of a persons DNA. When a change, or variant, is found in a childs DNA with one of these tests, it can explain the underlying cause of their developmental differences. These tests can yield a genetic diagnosis in up to 36% of children who show symptoms of autism alongside other developmental concerns. Just 10 years ago, these tests cost tens of thousands of dollars and took months to return results, but now, thanks to innovation and investment, patients can access these tests through most national insurance plans and can receive results in weeks, if not days. A genetic diagnosis is more than a label. It can unlock access to targeted therapies, inform medical management, provide eligibility for clinical trials, help families better understand what to expect, and help families connect with other families who have the same diagnosis. In many cases, it can alleviate the emotional weight of uncertaintyoffering not only answers, but also a path forward. Genomics should be a standard in healthcare My career has been driven by the belief that genomic information should be a standard part of healthcareespecially for individuals with rare and complex conditions like autism. Before joining GeneDx, I led clinical genomics teams, built testing programs with biopharma partners, and supported technologies to improve the accuracy and accessibility of genetic testing. Across every initiative, one thing has remained clear: The earlier we integrate genomic data into care, the more informed and effective that care becomes. This Autism Acceptance Month, I encourage families, pediatricians, and policymakers alike to consider how far weve comeand how far we still need to go. We must move beyond narrow narratives and singular explanations. We must embrace the complexity of autism, and the role genetics plays in it. We owe families more than vague guesses and delayed answers. With the tools we have today, we can provide answers soonerand thats a change worth making. Britt Johnson, PhD, FACMG is head of medical affairs at GeneDx.
Category:
E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. This year, I launched my first direct-to-consumer product: Scribbly, an AI-powered childrens book company that puts your kid right into the story. Until now, Ive mostly built apps for businesses, and collecting user feedback for those projects has been straightforward and structured. The D2C world is different. Read the Google reviews of any hotel or restaurant, and youll get a feel for how random feedback can be. As a creator or founder, even the slightest critique can feel like a knife when aimed at something youve labored over so intensely. Taking the right perspective on feedback is half the battle. Here are a few golden rules to keep in mind. 1. All feedback is a gift. As an app developer, I conduct plenty of user testing during the design phase of our products. But its never quite the same as your product fully being out in the wild, playing a part in your users lives. Think about how often youre asked for feedback. You go to a restaurant, then you get a text asking how the service was. You get your bike repaired, the store owner asks you to rate them on Google. You buy a new laptop, and an email hits your inbox asking how youre liking it. Organizations go to great lengths to get a sense of how their customers feel and what they think about the product or service. Any time you can hear straight from the source, its a gifta gift that helps you ask questions that matter in the next iteration of your business. An example: In the first iteration of Scribblys ordering user experience, I generated a preview of the customers book cover. A prospective customer sent me a note that she wasnt sure the illustrated likeness of her niece was good enough. This was someone I knew, and she sent me a text about it. I was grateful; some people wont tell you stuff like this, especially if theyre your friend and want to be supportive. I sent her a preview of the full book with its other illustrations of her niece expressively moving through the jungle adventure. Seeing all of it together, she changed her mind. What I learned is that the cover wasnt enough. I needed to show the whole book. This is an expensive thing to do for every prospect, but I knew then that it needed to be done. I changed the ordering process because of this, and conversion skyrocketed. 2. Maybe its them. Maybe its you. Its probably still valuable. My children never knew their grandfather, my dad, who occupied such a huge place in my life and childhood. So I had the idea of creating a Scribbly book about him and his life that I could share with my kids. I wanted to tell them about how he grew up on a farm with nine siblings, a lot of sweet corn, and a legendary pickle picker; how funny he always was, and how talented, too. All of this in a vibrantly illustrated bedtime story, hardbound with sewn binding and a premium, soft-touch matte cover. I would write the story and use AI for the imagery, since thats what Scribbly does. One family member took great offense to the entire idea. They suggested that making something with AI bearing the image and life of someone who has passed amounted to, more or less, sacrilege. Getting harsh feedback from someone so close to me, it stung. Still, I held it up to the light. Should I be doing this? Is there a better way to do it that addresses these concerns? I ended up keeping my concept, but changing its structure, integrating more real photos alongside the illustrations. I like it a lot better now. 3. Dont be precious. I can use honest feedback. I couldve used more of it my whole life. Nice people wont always tell us the truth, so it often comes from someoneless nice. But you cant let the messenger get in the way of the learning. Theres usually something theresomething real, something useful, something you wouldnt have seen on your own. Over time, Ive learned to take feedback objectively, not personally. As a young professional, that wasnt easy. I wasnt confident enough, so I was tender. Precious. Everything stung, because I feared it might be true. Deflecting was how I coped with how exposed I felt. If you feel that way too, consider another way. Ask yourself: Is there something here for me? What signal is this giving me that could help me improve? I think about how much energy we spend defending ourselves. Arguing. Posturing. Pretending. And for what? If you think youre perfect, youll never grow. For me, I want to keep making thingsand making them better. That means staying open. Staying curious. Staying humble, even when its uncomfortable. Feedback isnt always easy. But its how we get sharper. Smarter. Stronger. Its not a threat to who we are. Its a path to who we could be. Lindsey Witmer Collins is the founder of WLCM App Studio.
Category:
E-Commerce
If this is your first time being poor, Im Kiki, and Im trying to make it affordable to eat by using depression, recession, and wartime recipes, says TikTok creator Kiki Rough in a video posted last month. @kikirough Trying to crank out as MUCH affordable cooking content as possible! Im going to pin this video as a reference. Please remember to eat and also I love you! #cooking #series #recession #money #save #saving #savemoney #cash #cheap #affordable #affordablecooking #cooking #bake #baking #cookbook #recipe #recipes #learn #learning #howto #history #antique #flour #sugar #egg #eggs #tips #tricks #learntocook #familyrecipes #family #apron #red #hair #heart #glasses #fy #fyp #foryou # # #groceries #grocery Tea for Two (piano)(1131389) – Miwako Izumikawa While most people wouldnt turn to the 1940s for dinner inspiration, Roughs video has since racked up over 4 million views. ‘We are so back’ as says my 104-year-old grandparents,” one comment reads. The economy must be cooked if this is trending, added another. Roughs video dropped just days after President Trumps global tariff announcements in April, which sent the stock market tumbling and triggered headlines warning of a looming recession. While the ripple effects are expected to hit many industries, prices for grocery staples like seafood, coffee, wine, nuts, and cheese are all projected to rise due to the tariffs. Though not a professional chef, Rough says shes armed with hard-earned life experience, having learned to cook on food stamps. Her recipes often omit eggswhich have hit record-high prices due to avian fluand draw inspiration from vintage 1950s cookbooks known for their budget-friendly ideas. Rough isnt the only one sharing recession-era cooking tips. Eating like a medieval peasant until all my credit cards are paid off, another TikToker posted last month. Others are documenting grocery hauls from Dollar Tree or offering guidance on being old poor. Between March 23 and April 22, TikTok reported a 20% surge in posts using the hashtag #budgetmealsmany of which have garnered millions of views. @dollartreedinners $20 Budget Easter Dinner Shopping List fr 2025 I gave myself a $20 budget to make an Easter dinner for 4 using only ingredients from Dollar Tree. Here’s what I picked up, why I chose it, and how I made it work. Full dinner, dessert included — for under $20! Shopping List: Garlic Herb Biscuit Mix (Red Lobster biscuit dupe) Cheddar cheese Margarine or butter Idahoan Foods scalloped potatoes 2 cans of green beans 1 can of cream of mushroom soup Panko bread crumbs or French fried onions Deluxe macaroni and cheese 2 packs of deli ham 1 carton of milk 2 bags of sugar cookie mix 1 can of cherry pie filling 1 can of pineapple slices Total cost: $19.25! Check back tomorrow to see how it all came together! #dollartree #dollartreeeaster #budgetmeals #budgetfriendly #easterdinner #easteronabudget #cheapmeals #dollartreefinds #dollartreecooking #groceryhaul #easydinners #frugalmeals original sound – Dollar Tree Dinners Although a recession hasnt officially been declared in the U.S., economic uncertainty has many people looking for signs. Hairdressers report clients are abandoning bleach in favor of darker, natural shadesa trend dubbed recession brunette. Frozen pizza sales are also climbing, another classic indicator that wallets are tightening. An April survey from the University of Michigan found consumer confidence even lower than it was during the Great Recession (2007 to 2009). It might be time to shelve your Ottolenghi recipes and dust off The Canned Foods Cookbook from World War II.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||