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This is the first study to investigate instrumental activities of daily living in older autistic adults. We conducted interviews with fifteen adults (mean age = 60.1, SD = 7.4, range = 50-73) from Australia with no intellectual disability. Analysis included both deductive and inductive steps, to categorise responses using the Occupational Performance Model Australia and identify themes across participants' experiences. Strengths and challenges were unique to the individual, as were the methods they had developed to manage tasks. Challenges occurred mostly at the interaction between aspects of the environment (sensory, cognitive, social and cultural) and personal factors such as health conditions and sensory sensitivities. Enhanced person-environment fit is needed, as is a shift in wider sociocultural attitudes to enable comfort and autonomy in later life., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Lay Abstract: Technology has the potential to help people with various support needs live more autonomous lives. This includes autistic individuals. In this article, we look at how older autistic adults use technology in their daily lives. Past research examining technology use and autism has mainly focused on helping children to learn new skills. To date, very little research has been conducted looking at how to create and design technology for use by older autistic adults. This is concerning because older autistic adults will likely have supports needs that match or exceed those of similarly aged non-autistic individuals. In this article, we spoke to autistic adults over 50 years about their daily experiences and how they use technology. We identified some important ways that older autistic adults use technology in their daily lives, as well as a number of support needs and barriers to technology use. Based on the findings, we were able to provide some guidelines and recommendations for technology developers and service providers to assist with designing, creating and using technology with older autistic adults.

This study was undertaken to evaluate variations in the dental health of children living within fluoridated South Birmingham, using a classification of residential neighbourhoods (ACORN) as a descriptor of socio-economic status, and to evaluate the change in these differences over time. Five-year-old children were examined as part of the rolling programme of epidemiological surveys co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) in 1987 and 1989/90. The ACORN classification of each child was determined from the postal code of the home address. ACORN groups were amalgamated into three ranked divisions. There was a variation in dental health both in 1987 and 1989/90; children from disadvantaged groups had the poorest dental health. There was more marked variation in 1987 than in 1989/90. The reduction in inequality during this period was due to a relatively greater improvement in the dental health of the children from the more socially deprived areas.

Prompted by a parent's concern about the enamel defects of his daughter's teeth, the present study surveyed a sample of 6-8-year-old children using a modified developmental defects of enamel index. The aim was to establish the prevalence of such defects in permanent teeth of children in West Bromwich and to investigate differences according to social class or ethnic origin. Results showed that the mouth and tooth prevalence of enamel defects in Sandwell were not higher than those reported in similar studies. Analysis revealed no statistical significance between the tooth or mouth prevalence of defects according to the social class of the child although significant differences were found between children of Asian and non-Asian origin. A greater prevalence of diffuse defects was found among non-Asian children, conversely there was a greater prevalence of demarcated defects among Asian children. Recommendations are made in relation to the conduct of future studies of a similar kind with regard to the number of teeth examined, the presentation of reproducibility results and the evaluation of the cosmetic appearance of the teeth.