Autism Speaks, in partnership with the Ad Council, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched an educational tool kit, Talking to Parents About Autism, designed to promote early intervention and encourage educators to speak to a child's parents if they suspect a developmental delay. This is the first program to provide teachers with tools to prepare to begin this critical dialogue.
The new kit includes a Talking to Parents About Autism training DVD that features information and advice about how educators can best broach the topic of a potential developmental delay. Also included in the tool kit is an Early Childhood Milestone Map, which can be printed and distributed to parents so that they can more easily track their child's progress against the typical, age-specific developmental milestones. Research has shown that early detection and intervention can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism. Educators, who interact with and observe children on a daily basis, are in the ideal position to know if a child's development seems delayed. The entire kit, available in both English and Spanish, is available at http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/talking_to_parents_action_kit.php. |
The National Academy for State Health Policy's Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD) Initiative recently released a series of briefs summarizing the myriad of accomplishments of the ABCD Screening Academy members regarding the identification of children at risk for developmental delays, supporting practice changes, and establishment of an evaluation plan. The 3 briefings were produced with the support of The Commonwealth Fund and can be accessed at:
1. State Policy Improvements that Support Effective Identification of Children at Risk for Developmental Delay: http://www.nashp.org/files/Policy_Improvements.pdf
2. State Strategies to Support Practice Changes that Improve Identification of Children at Risk for or with Developmental Delays: http://www.nashp.org/files/State_Strategies.pdf
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