In this month's Monthly Mission Spotlight, read how Autism Speaks continues to increase knowledge and services to people with autism and their families. With your support, we have funded community programs in 54 organizations across the country and expanded resources for caregivers of autistic children in underserved areas. Thank you for your continued support in fueling our mission to promote solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

Increasing global understanding and acceptance of people with autism

Autism Speaks announces 2021 Local Impact Grant recipients
Autism Speaks is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Local Impact Grants. Our Local Impact Grants fund non-profit programs that provide autistic people with social and educational experiences to enhance their lives and further their potential. This year, 54 organizations across 28 states will receive grant funding, serving an estimated 20,000 people with autism across the lifespan. Read more.

Increasing early childhood screening and timely interventions

WHO Caregiver Skills Training (CST) improves parent and child outcomes in urban India
Research published recently in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders shows that the WHO CST program, supported in part by Autism Speaks, improved outcomes among families in urban India. Children whose parents completed the training showed improved communication, social skills and daily living skills, while parents showed reduced stress and stronger caregiver skills and knowledge. Read more.

Autism Speaks partners with The Color of Autism Foundation to support caregivers of autistic children in Detroit
Families and caregivers in underserved, minority communities often struggle to access quality care, education and services for their autistic children. The World Health Organization (WHO) Caregiver Skills Training (CST) program is designed to support these families by giving them the skills and knowledge they need to support their child's unique needs and challenges. Now, Autism Speaks is partnering with The Color of Autism Foundation to deliver the CST program to families in Detroit, MI. Read more.

Q&A: Reimagining autism assessments
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected medical professionals’ ability to assess and diagnose people with autism. To keep people safe, many autism centers have had to adapt their diagnostic practices from in-person to online. The transition to telehealth has had some benefits, but it has also created new challenges. In this Q&A, Dr. Judith S. Miller discusses how autism assessment practices have changed—and what to expect in the future. Read more.

Ensuring access to reliable information and services throughout the lifespan

Q&A: Coping with COVID-19
As Omicron cases rose early this year, children with autism and their families continued to feel the impact of the pandemic. School closures and staff shortages are affecting many people’s access to needed services, while mask mandates are creating challenges for those with sensory issues. In this Q&A, licensed psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst Dr. Brenna Cavanaugh offers some guidance about staying safe through the pandemic. Read more.

Two years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the autism community shares how life has changed
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the way we live, work, socialize and even spend time with family. For some people with autism and their families, these uncertain times have magnified challenges and added stress to daily routines. For others, the pandemic has created opportunities that may not have existed before. In this blog, you’ll hear from two people in the autism community as they discuss their personal experiences over the last two years and ways they’ve adapted to their new world. Read more.

Autism Speaks works towards greater diversity, equity, access and inclusion (DEAI)