Over the last few weeks we celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. Thanks to your generous support, we provided free access to our growing number of Spanish language resources to further support the Hispanic autism community. Monthly highlights also featured two Autism Speaks-supported published research studies of important significance regarding restrictive and repetitive behaviors and sleep challenges; passage of milestone legislation in Nebraska to lower the age of transition planning for students with autism; and the yearlong accomplishments of the newly named Autism Care Network published in their 2021 annual report. You can read more below.

Being a catalyst for life-enhancing research breakthroughs

Research finds patterns in restrictive and repetitive behaviors based
on individual characteristics
A study published recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry and supported by Autism Speaks found differences
in restrictive and repetitive behaviors in children with autism based
on individual characteristics like age, sex, cognitive functioning,
language level and socio-communicative impairments. These findings can
help researchers better assess these behaviors and develop more
targeted and effective interventions that improve quality of life for
people with autism: [link removed]

New study improves criteria to identify sleep problems in autistic
children and adolescents

A study published this September in Sleep Medicine and supported by Autism Speaks has developed and validated a new cut-off value for the Children's Sleep Habits
Questionnaire for autism (CSHQ-autism), a common tool used to screen
for sleep difficulties in autistic children and adolescents up to 17
years of age. This discovery will cement the CSHQ-autism as a valid
tool to evaluate sleep difficulties in autistic children: [link removed]


Increasing global understanding and acceptance of people with autism

Autism Speaks shares stories that make an impact

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Autism Speaks shared the stories
of two Hispanic women and their passionate support of the autistic
community. Elfy A. ([link removed] )
is a volunteer advocacy ambassador who finds inspiration from her
autistic son to help protect the rights, services and supports of
people with autism in their community. Anabel V. ([link removed] )
is a member of our Autism Response Team (ART) and is dedicated to
providing Spanish-speaking constituents with the real-time support,
reliable information, resources and services they need.

Increasing early childhood screening and timely interventions

Guide to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) launches in Spanish

Autism Speaks' interactive, mobile-friendly resource for
families in the autism community is now available in Spanish! The IEP
guide, which has become one of our most popular resources, has been
fully digitized and translated to Spanish and provides critical advocacy tools to help families navigate the school system and develop an IEP tailored to their child's
unique strengths and challenges: [link removed]

"The Big Day" helps raise awareness and identify the
signs of autism for Spanish-speaking families

Autism Speaks, in collaboration with the Ad Council, supports parents
and caregivers in accessing early screening to help young children
reach their full potential. The campaign prompts parents and families
to visit autismspeaks.org/screen-autism
to access both English and Spanish language resources to identity the
signs of autism, take part in a screening questionnaire and request
information from the Autism Speaks Autism Response Team before, during
and after a child's diagnosis: [link removed]

[link removed]

Improving the transition to adulthood

Nebraska celebrates lowering the age to begin transition planning for
students with autism and other disabilities

Autism Speaks recognized Speaker Mike Hilgers, Senator Lynne Walz and
Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt for their
leadership in passing milestone legislation to lower the required age by which high school students with a developmental disability, including autism, begin planning for their
transition to adulthood. Before this law, educators in Nebraska were
not required to begin the transition planning process until age 16,
which is often too late for students with autism. Now, transition
planning can begin at age 14: [link removed]

Ensuring access to reliable information and services throughout the
lifespan

The ATN/AIR-P Annual Report highlights the Network's top
accomplishments

This autumn, the Autism Treatment Network (ATN, now the Autism Care
Network) published its 2021 Annual Report outlining the Network's major accomplishments over the past year. The Network is the first of its kind focused on connecting the dots between families, researchers and healthcare teams to
continuously improve autism care. Autism Speaks is proud to support
its efforts to improve the health and quality of life of people with
autism and their families: [link removed]

Find an Autism Speaks Walk near you: [link removed]




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