SARRC has introduced a new autism screening program aimed at parents of young children who have concerns with their child’s development. The Easy Access Autism Screening program is a project funded by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and is offered to families at no cost.
Typically, the only opportunity for parents to discuss concerns about their child is during a well-visit to their pediatrician. While SARRC still encourages parents to share concerns with their medical providers, it is now easier than ever to have their child’s developmental concerns addressed through the Easy Access Autism Screening program.
“If you notice that your child is not doing things other children are doing, or if you see behaviors that seem different, through this new program, our team can complete a developmental screening assessment by phone in as little as ten minutes,” says Vice President & Research Director Christopher Smith, Ph.D. “We know that early screening leads to early diagnosis, which leads to early intervention—the most important thing we can do to help people with autism reach their full potential.”
This program is best suited for parents of children aged 12-36 months and may have several advantages to the family:
- Early intervention is key when it comes to autism.
- A critical advantage of this new project is that families no longer have to wait for their next pediatrician visit to discuss what could be timely developmental concerns.
- The time spent on the phone with our staff will be focused on evaluating your concerns and guiding them through their results and next steps.
After completing the screening, SARRC’s team may recommend families seek a formal (autism) diagnostic evaluation for their child, or they may recommend that a formal evaluation is not needed. Please note: Participating in this screening does not result in an autism diagnosis.
“Ultimately, we hope this program helps bring peace of mind to families,” says Dr. Smith. “And we are extremely grateful for the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, which has allowed us to offer this integral resource to families across the state.”
To learn more about the Easy Access Autism Screening program, visit autismcenter.org/EZScreen or call 602.218.8204. Or learn more about Current Very Early Indicators of Autism »