Georgia Pushes for Early Detection of Autism through New Partnership

A partnership between an autism research center and the state of Georgia is working to boost early detection and diagnosis of the disorder, according to WCTV.

Research shows that 1 in 88 children in the U.S. have autism spectrum disorder, which includes developmental disabilities that affect ability to communicate, understand language and relate to others. In Georgia, state and contract employees are being trained to work with day care operators and pre-K providers to identify early warning signs and support parents.

Research shows that symptoms can be detected as early as the first two years of life, and early intervention is key. The center hopes to expand the partnership to other states and is working with the U.S. Department of Education to bring its work to Head Start programs nationwide.

The partnership is aimed at training a small group of state and contract employees to work with day care operators and pre-K providers throughout Georgia to identify the early warning signs of autism and to support parents.

Those involved in the effort point to research that shows that symptoms of the autism spectrum disorder, which affects about one in 88 children nationwide, can be detected as early as the first two years of life and that early intervention is key.

"Today, if I get a phone call and someone says they've got an 8-year-old who is unable to speak and is in need of our help, I know we can help that child. But we cannot help that child nearly as much as we could have if we got that same phone call when that child was 2," said Don Mueller, executive director of the Marcus Autism Center. "The associated disabilities of autism are not inevitable. They don't have to happen in many kids. We can intervene and change the course."