Supporting Young Adults
with Special Needs
Autism:
Post-High School Transition Guidance
Daily Living Coaching • Academic Coaching
Tutoring • Vocational Coaching
Career Counseling • Workshops
Peer Mentoring • Career Mentoring
Early Identification is Crucial
Contact us!
AccessibleAcademics.org • 716-492-8656
Empower
Ability
Inspire Advocate
Special A
Needs
Potential Thri
Growth Strategies
Center & Home-Based
Educational, Therapeutic &
Evaluation Services for
Developmentally Disabled
Young Children
Integrated Toddler &
Pre-School Classes in
Collaboration with Head Start
Specialized Services for
Autism Spectrum Disorders
& Early Intervention
393 North Street
Springville, NY 14141
716-592-9331
Visit us online at http://tclny.org
Serving Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua
& Wyoming Counties
32 WNY Family April 2019
pril is World Autism
Month, an opportunity for
a dedicated conversation
about autism spectrum disorder and
those it touches — more than 70 million
people globally.
With an estimated 1 in 59 children
in the U.S. diagnosed with autism, this
month also serves as a reminder that
early intervention often leads to the best
outcomes. Learning the signs and know-
ing the steps to take following diagnosis
are crucial.
For parents, the first step can be as
simple as knowing what developmental
milestones to look out for in their chil-
dren. According to Autism Speaks, a
global research and advocacy organiza-
tion, the average age of diagnosis is 4,
but autism can be reliably diagnosed by
18 months in many cases.
“Early identification is so crucial
because we know that delivering early
intensive interventions can dramatically
improve the developmental trajectory
of children with autism,” says Autism
Speaks Chief Science Officer Thomas
Frazier. “Even when dramatic gains are
not made, early intensive intervention
can reduce challenging or interfering
behaviors and permit the child to make
positive gains in daily living skills.”
After an autism diagnosis, parents
often have mixed emotions and an ava-
lanche of questions: What will my child’s
future hold? How can I help, and where
do I start? The Autism Speaks 100-Day
Tool Kit can help answer many of those
questions during this critical time.
What are the signs of autism?
The timing and severity of autism’s
early signs vary widely. Some infants
show hints in their first months. In oth-
ers, symptoms become obvious as late as
age 2 or 3. Not all children with autism
show obvious signs. Many children who
don’t have autism show a few. That’s
why professional evaluation is so impor-
tant.
The following behaviors may indi-
cate your child is at risk for autism spec-
trum disorder. If your child exhibits any
of the following, consult your pediatri-
cian or family doctor about an evaluation:
By 6 months
Few or no big smiles or other
warm, joyful and engaging expres-
sions
Limited or no eye contact or
unusual staring at objects
By 9 months
Little or no back-and-forth
sharing of sounds, smiles or other
facial expressions
By 12 months
Little or no babbling
Little or no back-and-forth
gestures such as pointing, showing,
reaching or waving