Act Early Network
The Act Early Network is a collaborative initiative that supports you and the work in your state to improve early identification of autism and other developmental disabilities. The Act Early Network comprises three parts:
- Act Early Forum: An email discussion forum and Act Early webinars. Click here to read more.
- Act Early Ambassadors: Early identification champions in 25 states. Click here to read more.
- Act Early State Systems Projects: 10 funded projects for improving early identification. Click here to read more.
The Network is a joint effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). CDC’s "Learn the Signs. Act Early." program is the foundation of the Act Early Network. For more information visit: www.cdc.gov/ActEarly or ActEarly@cdc.gov.
Act Early Forum Resource Sharing Site
- post your resources
- learn new information from other state teams
- easy way to request or share information nationally
Click here to read about the Act Early Regional Summit Project.
Act Early Ambassadors Project
The Act Early Ambassadors project is designed to develop a network of state-level experts to improve early identification practices. It is a collaborative effort on behalf of CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). Act Early Ambassadors serve as state liaisons to the Act Early Initiative and act as a community champion or change agent to increase awareness activities and improvement of early identification practices.
Upcoming Events
Early Access to Care - Reduce the Average Age at Autism Diagnosis and Increase Access to Evidence-based Early Intervention Services; a HealthMeet Webinar
Wednesday, June 19, 20132:00pmET - 3:00pmET
Location: webinar
Join us to learn more about what Autism Speaks is doing improve access to care and ways your efforts combined with those of others in your community can help make a difference.
National Center on Inclusive Education Summer Institute: When Behavior Gets in the Way: Creating Caring Schools and Communities
Monday, July 29, 2013 - Wednesday, July 31, 2013Location: Manchester, NH
This conference from the UNH Institute on Disability's National Center on Inclusive Education (NCIE) Summer Institute will provide learning experiences for families, educators, community service providers, community mental health professionals, and self-advocates who are working to promote inclusive education and transition experiences for students who have challenging behaviors.
2013 AUCD Conference
Saturday, November 16, 2013 - Wednesday, November 20, 2013Location: Washington, DC
The 2013 AUCD Conference will be held at the Washington, DC, Renaissance Hotel.
Materials from Past Events
Early Access to Care - Reduce the Average Age at Autism Diagnosis and Increase Access to Evidence-based Early Intervention Services; a HealthMeet Webinar
Wednesday, June 19, 20132:00pmET - 3:00pmET
Location: webinar
Join us to learn more about what Autism Speaks is doing improve access to care and ways your efforts combined with those of others in your community can help make a difference.
Act Early Forum Webinar: Benchmarks for Monitoring Early Identification and Linkage to Services
Thursday, May 9, 2013 - Thursday, May 9, 20133:00 pm ET - 4:00 pm ET
Location: Webinar
ATN/AIR-P Works in Progress Webinar: Genetic Testing
Tuesday, January 29, 20133:00pmET
Dr. Gail E Herman, MD/PhD, will discuss the role of genetics in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), as well as current recommendations for genetic testing in individuals with an ASD diagnosis. She will also briefly discuss exciting new research findings concerning genes involved in ASDs and new modes of genetic testing (whole exome and genome sequencing) that are rapidly entering the clinical arena.
News
4/1/2013
AUCD Celebrates April as Autism Awareness Month
3/21/2013
25 Act Early Ambassadors Selected for 2013
Ambassadors will work as community champions with programs that serve young children and their parents to improve early identification of developmental delay and collaborate with state agencies and campaign partners to improve policy and programs for early identification.
3/20/2013
HRSA & CDC Announce New Autism Data
'Changes in Prevalence of Parent-Reported Autism Spectrum Disorder in School-Aged Children: 2007 to 2011-2012'
Findings: (1) The prevalence of parent-reported ASD among children aged 6-17 years was 2 percent in 2011-2012 compared to 1.2 percent in 2007. (2) The change in prevalence estimates was greatest for boys and for adolescents aged 14 to 17 years. (3) Much of the increase in the prevalence estimates from 2007 to 2011-2012 for school-aged children was the result of diagnoses of children with previously unrecognized ASD.
Resources
3/2/2011
ASD Video Glossary
Welcome to the ASD Video Glossary, an innovative web-based tool designed to help parents and professionals learn more about the early red flags and diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This glossary contains over a hundred video clips and is available to you free of charge. Whether you are a parent, family member, friend, physician, clinician, childcare provider, or educator, it can help you see the subtle differences between typical and delayed development in young children and spot the early red flags for ASD. All of the children featured in the ASD Video Glossary as having red flags for ASD are, in fact, diagnosed with ASD.
1/11/2011
Congressional Autism Caucus Releases Report on Federal Autism-Related Efforts
U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (PA-14) and Chris Smith (NJ-4), released a report describing autism-related research and service activities carried out by the US Government over the last four years. This report, which was required by the Combating Autism Act (CAA) of 2006, describes action that the Federal Government has undertaken since enactment of the CAA, primarily in the fields of research and services. The report highlights the positive impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and noted the effectiveness of behavioral health treatments for children with autism.
1/6/2011
Medical journal: Study linking autism, vaccines is 'elaborate fraud'
from http://www.cnn.com
This article is about the British Medical Journal's article which stated Dr. Andrew Wakefield's study that linked autism to childhood vaccines is an "elaborate fraud" and Dr. Andrew Wakefield's reaction to the BMJ's article.
