Autism

4/18/2019

Autism Issue Briefs from Waisman Center UCEDD/LEND

Two publications describing evidence-based approaches to improving services for autism spectrum disorders are available online from the Waisman Center UCEDD/LEND programs as part of a series of Issue Briefs and Study Briefs.

4/17/2019

A Woman's Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) is pleased to invite you to attend our annual special event to recognize National Autism Awareness Month, A Woman's Voice: Understanding Autistic Needs.

4/17/2019

AIR-B Network Hosts Community Autism Conference in South Los Angeles

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network; PI: Connie Kasari), consisting of University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Davis, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rochester, Drexel University, and each site�s community partners, provides a free conference at each region�s community every year. The purpose of these conferences, an integral part of the AIR-B Network�s research, is to raise autism awareness, disseminate research findings in the community, and to bring researchers, parents and community members together.

4/17/2019

AIR-P Network Activities - April 2019

The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), led by Karen Kuhlthau, PhD, conducts research on evidence-based interventions to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities.

4/17/2019

Effects of Propranolol on Conversational Reciprocity in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A pilot, double-blind, single dose psychopharmacological challenge study

Zamzow RM, Ferguson BJ, Stichter JP, Porges EC, Ragsdale AS, Lewis ML, Beversdorf DQ

Pharmacological intervention for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an important addition to treatment, yet currently available agents target co-morbid psychiatric concerns, such as aggression and irritability. Propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist with anxiolytic effects, has been shown to improve verbal fluency and working memory in adults and adolescents with ASD in single-dose challenges.

4/17/2019

Family & Professional Resources & Developments for Rural and Underrepresented Communities within Northern California

Northern California is uniquely positioned to serve a diverse community of historically underrepresented children and families, as well as professionals within rural communities. As members within a majority minority state, we strive to continue learning about the complex intersection of disability, diversity, and inclusion as we actively develop culturally sensitive services and programs. We wish to highlight the strides that our staff members have taken in our diversity and inclusion efforts in several programs related to family support and service navigation, research and professional training specific to diverse and rural populations.

4/17/2019

From Research to Practice - Wisconsin LEND: Milwaukee Link trainees engage in data analysis to develop the Family-centered Autism Navigation (Family CAN) Interview

The Wisconsin LEND: Milwaukee Link program is a satellite program of the Madison-based LEND program that is offered at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. As an extension of the Wisconsin LEND program, Milwaukee Link trainees have the opportunity to engage in leadership training focused on enhancement of service delivery for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities with ethnic and/or economic diversity. Research experiences are an integral part of a trainee's leadership development.

4/17/2019

Improving Initial Age of Diagnosis for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities: Asking Parents

Pang Chaxiong (MN LEND Fellow), Alefyah Shipchandler, (graduate research assistant), and Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande (researcher and MN LEND faculty), all with the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, will be presenting a poster-- Improving Initial Age of Diagnosis for Children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Communities: Asking the Parents-- at this year's INSAR meeting in Montreal, Canada in May.

4/17/2019

MCHB Minute - April 2019

This issue of the Developments newsletter provides an opportunity to highlight a host of exciting activities coming up this spring and summer supported through the Autism CARES Act. HRSA's Autism staff is looking forward to the ongoing exchange of ideas and information that these activities will stimulate, and to interacting with you in many of these venues.

4/17/2019

New Pediatric Sleep Education Modules - Developed by the Pediatric Pulmonary Centers

We are pleased to share a new resource, the Pediatric Sleep Education Modules, developed by the HRSA-funded Pediatric Pulmonary Centers. The modules are free, online, self-directed, training modules related to the care of pediatric sleep patients. CMEs are provided for completing the modules, which can be done individually or as a group.

4/17/2019

Report: Low-Income and Minority Youth with Autism Face Worse Outcomes than Peers

Youth with autism are growing up in a world where awareness of autism and expectations for full inclusion in society are increasing. Today, one in 59 children have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder and no two youth with ASD are alike, their service and support needs vary and continually change as they age.

4/17/2019

Sleep Problems in Children with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities: A Brief Report.

Sleep problems in children with autism and the association with child behavioral problems was studied in an ethnically diverse population, in a cross-sectional study with structured interview. Sample included 50 families of children with autism and 50 families of children with other developmental disabilities, matched by age/gender. Interview included Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Aberrant Behavior Checklist.

4/17/2019

Updates from the State Public Health Autism Resource Center

This cohort continues to participate in monthly technical assistance calls which have supported the grantees as they explore solutions to addressing tele-health and -education needs. The rich and productive discussions around engaging diverse populations through expanding tele-health and -education have resulted in numerous technical assistance opportunities including Delaware, Washington, and Wisconsin attending and presenting the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center, Convergence Telehealth Summit in Williamsburg, Virginia on March 31st-April 2nd. Additionally, the Wisconsin team visited the University of Missouri, Thompson Center�s to learn more about how to implement the ECHO Autism model.

4/17/2019

Virginia Collaborative Developmental Disabilities Trainee Exchange

In September 2018, Va-LEND at Virginia Commonwealth University was awarded a grant to collaborate with the University of Virginia in a trainee exchange program. As part of this project, Va-LEND Trainees have had the opportunity to visit an array of clinics at the University of Virginia as part of their LEND clinical hours . To date a total of eight Va-LEND Trainees have visited twelve different clinics and the Va-LEND Training Co-Directors also observed a clinic at UVA. Additional visits by LEND trainees are scheduled in the coming months. The clinics visited by Va-LEND Trainees were: Down Syndrome, DBP Diagnostic Clinic, Pediatric Neuromuscular, the Autism Clinic, and the Neonatal Clinic. The trainees had a positive experience and benefitted from the opportunity to observe other clinics at a different University.

4/17/2019

When an Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Resolves, What Remains?

A chart review was performed of 38 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by 3 years of age at an inner-city developmental program who subsequently experienced resolution of ASD symptomatology and no longer met diagnostic criteria for ASD at follow-up an average of 4 years later. Demographic, developmental/cognitive data, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule data as available were reviewed from the initial diagnostic evaluation and at the time of follow-up.

4/12/2019

Now Archived: Winter Webinar Series from AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group

AUCD's Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) presented its winter webinar series. The goal was to share new and innovative work from AUCD member programs from across the country in brief, accessible presentations tied together across a common topic, and to support conversation around each.

4/9/2019

Tuesdays with Liz: Happy Autism Acceptance Month!

April is all about autism as it is Autism Acceptance Month! Liz talks about why we need to advocate for acceptance of autism and not only awareness, what autism is, and briefly covers the Autism CARES Act.

4/8/2019

Augmentative Communication & Empowerment Supports, or "ACES"

Developed in 1990 at the Institute on Disabilities at the Temple University Augmentative Communication & Empowerment Supports, or "ACES," is a program for young adults who use speech generating devices transitioning from school to work, to help develop and refine their communication.

4/5/2019

Study Finds that Psychiatric Emergency Room Visits Increased Among US Youth (MD IDDRC)

In a recent study published in Pediatrics, Luther Kalb, PhD, core faculty member of the IDDRC at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, examined trends in psychiatric emergency department (ED) visits from 2011 to 2015 among youth ages 6 to 24 in the U.S. Data for this study primarily came from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a national survey of ED visits across the US.

4/4/2019

Comunico Con Mi Equipo!

Research suggests that parents need on-going support, training, and information in their preferred language on the applications and uses of AAC at home.

4/1/2019

April 2019: Autism Acceptance Month

AUCD, our members, and partners have used this as an opportunity to share information relating to Autism Spectrum Disorders. The month has traditionally been framed as Autism Awareness Month, and April 2 as World or International Autism Awareness Day. In recent years you may have noticed that AUCD has shifted to include both "Awareness" and "Acceptance" in our April messaging. 2019 marks our full transition to April as Autism Acceptance Month.