From the President
Autism Awareness
By Phyllis Sloyer, President, AMCHP
This issue of Pulse is devoted to autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). For many of us, this has become our most recent sentinel issue. Even before the passage of the federal Combating Autism Act of 2006, I noticed billboards in my state alerting everyone that one in 150 children had autism. The increasing awareness of ASD led to the enactment of health insurance mandates in some states while in others the focus was on the “potential causes” of autism and concern that the condition was linked to immunizations. I believe the most striking aspect of ASD is a reaffirmation of the need for solid public health approaches in partnership with our health care providers. [read more]
From the CEO
Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Mike R. Fraser, PhD
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) brings together many maternal and child health issues including health policy and politics, healthcare financing and access, public health science and evidence-based decision making, family and professional partnerships, and the need for increased support for both research and practice at the state and local levels. There are so many unknowns when it comes to ASD that it is difficult to feel like there is anything we can do to address this growing issue and yet because of the prevalence of ASD it is essential that we act to address the challenges autism poses for our families and friends, our neighbors and communities. [read more]
Features
April is National Autism Awareness Month
By Marguerite Kirst Colston
Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Initiatives Autism Society of America
Established in the 1970s by Autism Society of America (ASA) advocates to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, National Autism Awareness Month presents a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. With one in 150 Americans now being diagnosed, the need for services and supports are greater than ever, and this year ASA hopes to raise awareness of the many issues faced by families affected by autism. [read more]
Interagency Committee Releases First Federal Strategic Plan for Autism Research
By Dr. Susan Daniels
Deputy Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
In March 2009, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) released the first federal strategic plan for autism research. The document, called the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Research, advises the federal government on needs and priorities for autism biomedical and services research. The IACC strategic plan is organized around six critically important questions for people with ASD and their families regarding diagnosis, the biology of autism, risk factors, treatments and interventions, services and supports and issues faced by adolescents, adults and older adults with autism. [read more]
It’s Time to Change How We View a Child’s Growth
By Georgina Peacock, MD, MPH, FAAP
CDC, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Research shows that children with developmental delays benefit considerably from early intervention services, yet half of these children are not identified until age five. While parents are very aware of changes in their young child’s physical development, such as height and weight, there are also important milestones children should reach in terms of how they play, learn, speak and act. Smiling for the first time, making eye contact, and pointing are just a few of these developmental milestones. [read more]
Real Life Stories
A Mother’s Gift that Keeps on Giving: A Son Living With Autism
By Sophie Arao-Nguyen, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Family Voices, Inc.
It has been 15 and a half years since my son LJ got diagnosed with Language Disorder, then Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS), then Autism, then now Asperger's Syndrome. Back in 1993, autism was still an unknown diagnosis in most circles. I am thankful that at that time I lived in the Bay area where disability resources, advanced medical research and cutting edge technology were the norm. [read more]
Member to Member
In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, AMCHP asked the State Implementation Grantees funded through the Combating Autism Act Initiative, to answer the following question:
What is your team doing to raise awareness about autism in your state?
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