Here are the latest updates on autism for Thursday, May 11th.

• Autistic man in a legal battle with Walmart over service dog ban. (2023-05-02, The Washington Post)

An autistic man is suing Walmart after the company refused to allow his service dog into its stores. The man, who has not been identified, says that his dog is essential for his mental and physical well-being and is discriminated against because of his autism.

• The popular game Minecraft was relaunched with new accessibility features for autistic players. (2023-05-03, CNN)

The developers of the popular video game Minecraft have relaunched the game with a new accessibility feature after a boy with autism wrote that he couldn’t play it because it was too difficult. The new feature, called “Reduced Sensory Input,” makes the game less overwhelming for players with autism by reducing the amount of flashing lights and loud noises.

• Seventy-five people have died in autism and developmental disability units in the US since 2015, according to a new report. (2023-05-04, The New York Times)

A new report has found that at least 75 people have died in autism and developmental disability units in the US since 2015. The report, which the Government Accountability Office conducted, found that many of the deaths were preventable and that there are serious concerns about the safety of people with autism and developmental disabilities in these units.

• TV star Chrissy Teigen says she is “proud” of her son for being diagnosed with autism. (2023-05-05, People)

TV personality Chrissy Teigen has spoken out about her son’s autism diagnosis, saying she is “proud” of him. Teigen’s son, Miles, was diagnosed with autism in 2022. In an interview with People magazine, Teigen said that she is “proud” of Miles for being himself and is “learning so much” from him.

• Autism Speaks launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the condition. (2023-05-06, Autism Speaks)

The autism advocacy organization Autism Speaks has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the condition. The “Light It Up Blue” campaign encourages people to light up their homes, businesses, and other buildings in blue on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day.

• Autistic students at a California high school demand more support from their district. (2023-05-07, The Sacramento Bee)

Autistic students at a California high school demand more support from their district. The students, who are part of the school’s autism support group, say they are not getting the services they need to succeed. They call on the district to hire more qualified staff, provide more resources, and create a more inclusive environment for all students.