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Click here to register for this webinar Why Neurodiversity and Inclusion? A vital discussion about youth and adults living with autism, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), or related disabilities--particularly for direct support professionals, service providers, special educators, parents, advocates and self-advocates. What: Ari Ne'eman is the Founding President of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), a national advocacy organization run by and for Autistic adults and youth. Ne'eman was recently appointed by President Obama as the first Autistic person to serve on the National Council on Disability. This webinar will focus on the topic of "Neurodiversity and Inclusion", discussing the growing "neurological diversity" movement, its perspectives and relationship with the broader disability rights movement and its implications on inclusive educational practice. Topics covered will include: the impact of passing demands the appropriate and inappropriate identification of "problem behaviors" other aspects of neurodiversity's implications for inclusive education." When: January 7, 2011 11am-1pm MT

Zac Browser is a totally free software package. It is the first Internet browser developed specifically for children living with variants of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, PDD not otherwise specified and PDD-NOS, also called atypical autism. Zac Browser was designed to offer a pleasant, rewarding and secure experience. Children sing, play and discover the best that the Internet has to offer with only a few clicks of the mouse.

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through its inclusion of both Federal and public members, the IACC helps to ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are represented and discussed in a public forum.

New 2010 IACC Strategic Plan Emphasizes Research Infrastructure, Non-Verbal People with ASD and the Full Spectrum from Young Children to Adults

We receive many questions from parents, teachers, and health care providers about special education services for children with autism. If you are a parent, you need to educate yourself about your child's disability, effective educational methods and medical treatments, and how to present your child's problems and needs to school staff so they want to help. On the Autism, PDD & Asperger Syndrome page, you will find FAQs, articles, legal resources, recommended books, free publications, and a short list of information and support groups.

the 2011 Plan has been updated by the IACC to reflect important new scientific advances in the field over the past year, emerging areas of opportunity, and areas where more research is necessary. Input from the ASD community, advocacy groups, research funding organizations, and the scientific community has continued to be a critical aspect of the updating process.

RCT Demonstrates the Efficacy of the LEAP Model of Early Intervention for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the development of interventions for children with autism have expanded greatly in recent years, though most comprehensive interventions have not received systematic, scientific evaluation. One of the few exceptions is LEAP (Learning Experiences�An Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Parents), a comprehensive intervention for preschool children with autism, developed by Phillip Strain in 1981, that uses a variety of science-based learning techniques. Although LEAP had been shown to improve child outcomes in a prior evaluation, the developers recently implemented a new experimental evaluation comparing full LEAP implementation to a reduced model based only on access to materials. With funding from the National Center for Special Education Research, principal investigator Phillip Strain and his research team conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing classroom implementation of LEAP with training and mentoring by LEAP staff to classrooms in which teachers were only provided with the usual LEAP training manuals and materials. They found that providing preschool teachers with LEAP training and mentoring resulted in greater fidelity of implementation and more positive child outcomes when compared to teachers who were only given the training manuals and materials.

Many families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are faced with the option of using medicines to help treat their child’s challenging behaviors. This is a tough medical decision and there is no one right answer.  Though many children with autism may benefit from medications that ease challenging behaviors, families often struggle with making the decision of whether medication use is right for their child. This is why the Autism Speaks’ Autism Treatment Network (ATN) created the Medication Decision Aid. It includes a family decision aid and answers to frequently asked questions—all designed to help you clarify your values and goals and then talk with your healthcare provider about the options, benefits, and possible downsides of medications. This tool kit can be used at any point in your decision-making process, including the re-evaluation of medications your child is now taking.     

The National Autism Center is pleased to announce the completion of the National Standards Project and the publication of the National Standards Report.

The National Standards Project answers one of the most pressing public health questions of our time — how do we effectively treat individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

The National Institutes of Health has awarded more than 50 autism research grants, totaling more than $65 million, which will be supported with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. These grants are the result of the largest funding opportunity for research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to date

Schools today face the challenge of providing appropriate services to a diverse and increasingly numerous student population diagnosed with ASD. In order to achieve this goal, evidence-based practice is essential in the schools. To assist school professionals as they strive to help these students reach their potential, the National Autism Center has produced a comprehensive 245-page manual, Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools. The manual outlines relevant topics, including the current state of research findings, professional judgment and data-based clinical decision making, values and preferences of families, and capacity building. Each chapter sets a course for advancing the efforts of school systems to engage in evidence-based practice for their students on the autism spectrum.

The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC on ASD) has identified 24 evidence-based practices for working effectively with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and is in the process of developing free online modules for each of these practices. Evidence-based practice (EBP) briefs for these 24 practices have also been developed. These include an overview of the practice, directions for implementation, an implementation checklist, the evidence base for the practice, and supplemental materials. Autism Internet Modules (AIM) - http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/ Evidence-based Practice Briefs - http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/content/briefs Additionally, the IDEA Partnership has added new resources to its Collection on Autism Spectrum Disorder, including: an updated Glossary, Resource Guide, new Dialogue Guides, and a new PowerPoint with Presenter Guide on Functional Behavioral Assessment. To learn more, go to http://ideapartnership.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1493

Autism NOW: The National Autism Resource and Information Center will be a dynamic and interactive, highly visible and effective central point of quality resources and information for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, their families, and other targeted key stakeholders.

Researchers at the National Autism Center at May Institute today released the results of the largest systematic review to date of interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their findings identify 14 “Established Interventions” for children and adolescents that have the most research support, produce beneficial outcomes, and are known to be effective, and one Established Intervention for adults on the autism spectrum.