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Autism Speaks, CDC and partners answer COVID vaccine questions for the autism community … Autism Speaks hosted the CDC’s Georgina Peacock, M.D., and the presidents of the Autism Society of America and Autism Science Foundation on Wednesday for a webinar about COVID … “The autism community has been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic, and our hope is that autistic people and those who care for them can quickly access the available COVID vaccines they need to safely participate in the community and …
Autism in the Black community… any family, but for Black families, the process often comes with additional, unique obstacles. Thanks to public awareness and outreach campaigns in underserved communities, the most recent CDC autism prevalence report shows that the prevalence of autism in the Black community is—for the first time—higher than in … underrepresented communities. Overcoming barriers Systemic biases in healthcare and cultural misconceptions about who can and cannot be autistic contribute to delays in diagnosis for Black children. Historically, autism was thought to …
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)… (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children … and sleep disorders Anybody can be autistic, regardless of sex, age, race or ethnicity. However, research from the CDC says that boys get diagnosed with autism four times more often than girls. According to the DSM-5-TR, the diagnostic … by doctors, often leading to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. Getting a diagnosis is also harder for autistic adults, who often learn to “mask”, or hide, their autism symptoms. Autism is a lifelong condition, and an autistic person’s needs, …
Study finds higher COVID death rate for Californians with disabilities and in skilled nursing facilities… in California for people with disabilities, researchers found that risk of COVID infection was linked to types of housing and the number of residents in group settings, and risk of death from COVID was highest in facilities with 24-hour skilled … “This report is a small window into what is clearly a disproportionate impact of this virus on people with disabilities, who are more likely to live in skilled nursing and group facilities as adults,” said Stuart Spielman, senior vice president … risks are more significant for people with autism at younger ages, that information is critical to public health policy.” CDC guidance for people with developmental and behavioral disorders notes that in addition to living situation, some people …
US Senate passes the Autism CARES Act of 2024, sending it back to House for final passage… advancing the critical legislation back to the House of Representatives for final consideration. The bill, which renews and expands support for federal autism programs, underscores the federal government’s commitment to addressing the growing … key programs under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These programs enhance the quality of life of autistic individuals and … pediatrician workforce, mental health of autistic people and communication supports particularly for autistic individuals who may be unable or limited in using speech. The Autism CARES Act of 2024 now returns to the House of Representatives for …
Montana’s Medicaid benefit changes to provide more children with autism the treatment they need… with autism! In 2017, Montana began covering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) when prescribed for children with autism who are served by Medicaid. But in the years since, state officials grew concerned that too few eligible children were using the benefit. The state initiated a careful analysis, including a stakeholder survey and provider focus groups, As a result, a re-vamped program was announced earlier this year with a focus on expanded … As of April 2022, Montana Medicaid served approximately 117,475 individuals (under age 21) throughout the state . The CDC estimates that approximately 1 in 44 or 2.3% of 8-year-old children are autistic. These Medicaid changes will benefit …
National survey of parents identifies 1 in 40 children with autism … published analysis of the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health . The national survey, led by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, involved questionnaires completed by more than 50,000 parents of children (birth to 17 years … higher than the c urrent official estimate of 1 in 59 , published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this year. The difference in prevalence rates is likely due to differences in methods, says Autism Speaks Chief … review of medical and school records for 8-year-olds at sampling sites across the country. It can miss children with autism who aren’t receiving services. It also reflects differences in record keeping among states. Persistent obstacles to care …
Autism Speaks celebrates advancement of Autism CARES Act of 2024… Today, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024 … of Health ( NIH ), Health Resources and Services Administration ( HRSA ) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). Despite the tremendous progress in autism understanding, health care, and evidence-based services and supports that … would all have not been possible without the leadership of Autism Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Chris Smith and Henry Cuellar, who not only introduced this legislation but worked hard to ensure that vital enhancements were included in the bill. We …
Autism Speaks applauds reintroduction of Autism Family Caregivers Act… training pilot sites in at least 15 states. These sites may include nonprofit organizations, community health centers and/or hospital systems that would provide caregivers with evidence-based strategies to improve social communication and … with autism and other developmental disabilities in underserved communities while also supporting the wellbeing of those who care for them." This legislation comes just a month after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update on autism prevalence in the United States, reporting an increase in prevalence to 1 in 36 children, …
COVID-19: Tips and resources for autistic people and families… Among the many challenges brought on by COVID-19, there are unique obstacles for people on the spectrum to remain safe and healthy. Since the pandemic hit our communities in the U.S., more than 1,600 people have reached out to our Autism … one is not wearing a mask, explain that you or your child have autism. Show your ID card and explain that this exception to CDC guidelines is an accommodation for a disability. For autistic adults, we recommend you prepare to self-advocate about … a script, or pre-record an audio message that you can play from your phone or other device when interacting with someone who questions you. Social distancing: Guidelines for social distancing will vary depending on your location and local …