NEW YORK (Feb. 2, 2021) – Identifying the early signs of autism can make a lifetime of difference in helping a child access resources and thrive later in life. As part of their ongoing commitment to lowering the age of diagnosis and empowering more autistic children to reach their full potential, the Ad Council and Autism Speaks launched an all-new bilingual awareness campaign today encouraging parents and caregivers of young children to spot the signs early and seek support when they need it. Families can learn more and access a simple screening questionnaire at ScreenForAutism.org or DeteccionDeAutismo.org.
According to the CDC, autism effects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the U.S., and though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 18 months, the signs can begin to appear even earlier. Despite this, the average age of diagnosis is 4 years and 3 months, and even later in minority and low-income communities. This later diagnosis results in missing out on access to critical, life-enhancing resources and supports. As COVID-19 prevented many families from regular well-visits to assess progress toward developmental milestones, experts believe that even more children have gone undiagnosed in recent months.
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New Awareness Campaign Advocates for Early Autism Screening Tweet
The new campaign, which features three children on the spectrum and their families, centers on a series of birthday parties with select examples of how children with autism may respond differently to day-to-day situations and how parents can identify the signs and support their child’s healthy development. The spots resolve in the positive outcomes that are possible following a diagnosis – conveying how identifying a child’s unique needs can be a pivotal turning point to help them achieve better outcomes.
The awareness campaign prompts parents and families to provide early support by visiting ScreenForAutism.org or DeteccionDeAutismo.org, to access both English and Spanish resources to identify 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. In addition, the site features free, bilingual materials such as the 100 Day Kit, providing families pivotal information and advice for making the best possible use of the first 100 days following a diagnosis.
Autism Speaks also offers a virtual adaptation of the Caregiver Skills Training (CST) program, developed with support from the World Health Organization. CST is an evidence-based program that helps bring autism best practices to low-resource settings, and it has been successfully implemented in 33 countries around the world. This series of animated videos makes it easy for parents and caregivers to learn how to support their child’s development through everyday routines and activities, which is more important today than ever for the many families whose access to intervention has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Increasing early screening and timely interventions for kids on the spectrum is a crucial part of our mission, and our work with the Ad Council is so important to advancing this effort,” said Pamela Dixon, director of clinical services and inclusion at Autism Speaks. “The earlier a child can receive support – whatever their unique set of strengths and challenges are – the better their future outcomes can be. We believe in a world where all people with autism can reach their full potential, and early diagnosis is critical to making this a reality.”
By sharing the positive outcomes that can follow a diagnosis, the campaign aims to destigmatize autism screenings, by encouraging the dialogue that is essential to accessing support. Research shows that early intervention can improve learning, communication and social skills among young children with autism. The campaign urges parents to understand how learning the signs of autism, many of which are identifiable early in a child’s life, can afford the best opportunities to deliver benefits across the entire life span.
“It was important that the ultimate takeaway was one of hope and positivity. We chose to use a childhood birthday to underscore the message that it’s never too early to look for signs of autism, and reassure parents that a screening is not something to fear, but rather the first step to a better life for their child,” says David Povill, executive creative director at BBDO.
“Early detection and screening for autism continues to be an important issue for the Ad Council to communicate to families because diagnosis and early intervention improve outcomes for children. And COVID presents a particularly unique challenge for parents of young children right now, since they aren’t interacting with physicians or childcare workers as much as they normally would,” said Ad Council Chief Campaign Development Officer Heidi Arthur. “On the other hand, parents and caregivers are spending more time with their children than ever before. It’s critically important that those parents know what signs to look for and know where to go to learn more.”
To learn more about early screening for autism, visit ScreenforAutism.org or join the conversation with @AutismSpeaks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For personalized support and questions, contact Autism Speaks’ Autism Response Team at 1-888-AUTISM2, en Español at 1-888-772-9050 or email [email protected].
About autism
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges. A combination of genetic and environmental factors influence the development of autism, and autism often is accompanied by medical issues such as GI disorders, seizures and sleep disturbances.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. To find resources, join a fundraising walk or make a donation, go to www.AutismSpeaks.org.
About the Ad Council
The Ad Council brings together the most creative minds in advertising and media to address the most worthy causes. Its innovative, pro bono social good campaigns raise awareness. They inspire action. They save lives. To learn more, visit www.adcouncil.org, follow the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook and Twitter, and view our creative on YouTube.
Sean Williams
[email protected]
212-808-1519
