The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 1 in 110 children in the U.S have an ASD, although recent reports approach 1 in 100 children in the U.S. with an ASD. The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the CDC is working to find out how many children have ASDs, discover the risk factors and raise awareness of the signs.  This panel discussion will provide information on each of these programs.

Surveillance

More people than ever before are being diagnosed with an ASD. By studying the number of people diagnosed with an ASD over time, we can find out if the number is rising, dropping or staying the same. We can also compare the number of children with ASDs in different areas of the country and among different groups of people. The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is a group of programs funded by the CDC to determine the number of people with ASDs in the United States. The ADDM sites all collect data using the same surveillance methods, which are modeled after CDC’s Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (MADDSP). In this panel discussion, Dr. Catherine Rice will give a comprehensive overview of the ADDM Network and recent findings.

Epidemiology

We do not know all of the causes of ASDs. However, we have learned that there are likely many causes for multiple types of ASDs. There may be many different factors that make a child more likely to have an ASD, including environmental, biologic and genetic factors.

The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is a multi-year study funded by the CDC. It is currently the largest study in the U.S. to help identify factors that may put children at risk for ASDs and other developmental disabilities. Understanding the risk factors that make a person more likely to develop an ASD will help us learn more about the causes. In this panel discussion, Dr. Diana Schendel will give a comprehensive overview of the SEED and priority research areas.

Public Education

We naturally think of a child's growth as height and weight, but from birth to 5 years, every child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks and acts. A delay in any of these areas could be a sign of a developmental problem, even autism. The good news is the earlier it’s recognized, the more you can do to help your child reach her full potential.

The CDC, in collaboration with a number of national partners, launched a public awareness campaign called “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”  The campaign aims to educate parents about childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, and encourages developmental screening and intervention. In this panel discussion, Ms. Julia Whitney will give a comprehensive overview of the objective of the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign and key activities to date.