Autism Among Us: Rising Concerns and the Public Health Response

childrenOverview

Autism is often a misunderstood developmental disability whose diagnosis is either missed or misdiagnosed. Symptoms are now recognized in early childhood, but in the past, diagnosis was often delayed until school age. In recent years, this condition has been identified as a spectrum of disorders. It is not known how many people in the U.S. have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the number of new diagnoses is rising. Is this a result of previous misclassification, an increased awareness of ASD, recent funding opportunities for those diagnosed with ASD, or is there another cause? Our program will examine the answers to these questions. We will also present community strategies for increasing ASD awareness, discuss the importance of early detection, and demonstrate how community support is necessary to ensure the highest level of social and cognitive development for these children. Miami, Florida is a community that has made great strides in this effort by fostering partnerships among public health professionals, researchers, local service agencies and educators. Join us as we share their strategies for ensuring that all children with ASD are identified and supported with the necessary resources.

Goal

This program will seek to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the importance of early identification, developmental support, and community partnerships in responding to the rising concerns surrounding this developmental disability.

Objectives

  • Identify four key behaviors that may suggest a child has an autism spectrum disorder.
  • Identify the role of healthcare professionals in identifying ASD and other developmental disabilities.
  • Identify three possible reasons for the rise in autism diagnoses over the past couple of decades.
  • Describe at least two community strategies for supporting children with ASD.

Audience

Public health leaders, managers, and professionals from local and state government agencies, boards of health, school systems, community organizations, academic institutions, federal agencies, and others who seek to learn more about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the community's response in identifying and supporting children with ASD.