Editorial – February 2022

It is a privilege and honor to assume the role as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD) from Dr. Fred Volkmar, who has served in this role for almost 15 years. In addition to his tireless efforts on behalf of the journal, Dr. Volkmar has assembled an impressive group of highly accomplished, productive, and hardworking associate editors. As a JADD reviewer for many decades, and more recently a senior, associate, and co-editor, I look forward to working with this distinguished group of scholars. In addition to being a researcher in the field of autism for many decades, I am also the aunt of an autistic child. Although he used no spoken verbal words when diagnosed at two-and-a-half, he is now thriving socially, academically and athletically as a teen. This personal experience has been both enlightening and educational. …