In the back-and-forth about 13-year-old Adam Race, deep pressure was mentioned as a technique to help calm an autistic individual. Animal science professor and author Temple Grandin has frequently noted the calming effects of deep pressure, “type of surface pressure that is exerted in most types of firm touching, holding, stroking, petting of animals, or swaddling.” Grandin invented a “squeeze machine” so she could self-administer deep pressure. Special weighted vests, blankets, and other articles of clothing have also been created. Brian Mullen, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering recently won the $50,000 UMass Amherst Technology Innovation Challenge for …read more