About the Project
About | ASD Project Commitees | Logic Model | Project Organization
Background
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in California. Present estimates suggest that one out of every 150 children has some form of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Between December 1998 and December 2002, the population of persons with autism in California’s Developmental Services System nearly doubled—from 10,360 persons to 20,377 persons. Additionally, the California Department of Education (CDE) reports the number of students with autism enrolled in grades K-12 increased from 1,982 in 1992 to 21,066 in 2002.
Over the past several years, the ASD Collaborative and families of persons with autistic spectrum disorders have worked together to improve practices related to ASD screening, diagnosis and assessment. This activity was stimulated, in part, by the publication by DDS of a consensus document, ASD Best Practice Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis and Assessment (2002).
The call for improved services for persons with ASD has expanded to include the desire to address the quality of ASD interventions. Specifically, families and professionals are interested in better understanding interventions for persons with ASD supported by empirical evidence and interventions based on speculation.
Recently, the CA Department of Developmental Services (DDS) began a process to produce a document on evidence-based interventions using a consensus-building process similar to the one used to produce the Screening, Diagnosis and Assessment Guidelines.
To facilitate the consensus-building process, an Advisory Committee (AC) has been established. It is composed of representatives of key stakeholder groups with a specific interest in and commitment to developing guidelines for effective interventions. These stakeholder groups include the following: regional centers, public policy developers, direct service providers, public service institutions, advocacy groups, parent groups, school districts/SELPAs, and managed care. The AC co-chairs are professionals with extensive knowledge of ASD-- Patrick Maher, MD and Sandee Kludt, EdD.
Project Goal, Scope and Related Methodology
The project’s overarching goal is to produce a document that describes effective evidence-based interventions for persons with ASD as well as the processes that contribute to effective interventions. The content of the document will follow an evidence-based approach for determining the present levels of scientific merit for interventions typically used for children and young adults diagnosed with ASD. The scope of the document will include review of interventions for children and young adults diagnosed with ASD from birth to 22 years of age, and will include examination of psychological/educational and medical/bio-behavioral interventions.
The document is intended to serve as a practical guide and source of information for parents and professionals. The publication will be drafted and formatted in an easy-to-utilize and user-friendly manner. Based on the content, guidelines will be formulated and highlighted in the text. A process will be recommended to update the document regularly.
The review of psychological/educational interventions will be conducted in collaboration with the National Standards Project (NSP), sponsored by the National Autism Center. The medical/bio-behavioral review will be led by a research team from Stanford University School of Medicine.
Sam Odom, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, has been selected to advise the project’s Advisory committee, staff, and expert consultants on the evidence-based approach selected for this project. In addition, Dr. Odom has been invited to serve as Expert Panelist for the NSP. He and his team of colleagues will be integrally involved in conducting the evidence-based review with the NSP. The Stanford University team selected to undertake the review of medical/biomedical/health-related interventions is comprised of Lynne Huffman, M.D., Heidi Feldman, M.D., Ph.D., and Trenna Sutcliffe, M.D.
Public Input
An on-going process of public input has been developed. Advisory Committee members communicate regularly with key stakeholder groups about the progress of the project. The public is encouraged to provide comments directly to members of the Advisory Committee and project staff through email and other electronic and in person means.
Timeline and Dissemination
The project is planned to be completed by the Fall of 2008. The document will be disseminated widely in a variety of formats including print and electronic forms.
Additional Questions or Information
If you have questions about the project or suggestions to improve it, please contact:
JoEllen Fletcher, M.S.
Chief, Health and Wellness Section
DDS
1600 9th Street, Room 330, M.S. 3-8
Sacramento, CA 95814
jfletche@dds.ca.gov
Steve Lohrer, Ph.D.
ASD Project Director
Napa County Office of Education
2121 Imola Avenue
Napa, CA 94559
steve@asdguidelines.org
(707) 570.5208