Join the Autism Society to Discuss Long-term Strategic Goals

January 12, 2012
By Autism Society

With the start of the New Year, the Autism Society has started a conversation with its Facebook friends about issues related to its strategic goals. These long-term goals include: ensuring all children showing signs of autism are properly screened by age 3, and ensure young adults leaving the educational system transition smoothly to independence, employment and/or higher education. This week, the conversation focused on early screening, and our friends left some great comments. Read below for a snippet of the conversation! If you have not already, please “like” us on Facebook and join the conversation. Next week, we will be talking about the issues that affect adults.

As you know, one of the Autism Society's long-term goals is to ensure all of children showing the signs of autism are screened by 3. In your opinion, how could we do this in your community?

April: Educating more pediatricians in low income and rural areas would be helpful. Looking back, my son could have been diagnosed earlier if his pediatrician had been better informed and not overwhelmed by the volume of patients she had.

Melinda: I think it should also be part of daycare centers training to be able to notice the signs.

Joel: Educate Pediatricians. It took two years to get a diagnosis because our son’s pediatrician at the time just thought his delay in speech was 'normal' because both my wife and I were late talkers.

Sheri: Parent denial is one contributing factor.

Vicky: Help doctors and teachers by giving them training to recognize symptoms of autism earlier. What looks like a normal delay might not be either normal or a delay.

Amy: Autism advocacy in the community can benefit families trying to be heard.

Karen: There need to be many more trained professionals who can actually diagnose all of those on the spectrum, including the less obvious individuals. My son was not diagnosed until age 11, and we had to travel out of town for a diagnosis. We are still traveling weekly to get him the therapies he needs as there are none available in our area.

Tara: Make sure parents are aware of the signs of autism. Our family wasn't aware until my grandson was diagnosed at age 6.

Amy: I actually don't think the doctors are to blame. I just think the common knowledge is autism="Rain Man." We need to educate, educate, educate! This way, if a parent misses it, a doctor catches it. If a doctor misses it, a teacher catches it, or a grandma, or a neighbor, or a soccer mom, and so on. I especially think that preschool teachers need more training because this is where many signs show that the doctors and parents have missed! Basic educators clearly do not have enough training in this area.