The Autism Blog

Autism 201: The State of Autism in 2021 – Advocating for Supports and Services in WA State

A call to action!

2020 was a tough year: Kids lost access to vital therapies; online learning mostly left behind students with disabilities; and the state floated cuts to long-term supports that would affect job coaching, residential support, respite and more for youths and adults with disabilities and their families. Individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities were left isolated, frustrated, and cut off from meaningful life activities. So what’s ahead for 2021 and the state legislature? You can make a difference! How to get involved to influence what happens next.

Panelists:

Stacy Dym, The Arc of Washington State
Jeremy Norden-Paul, The Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC)
Adana Protonentis, Sr. consultant Kindred Leaders, mom of autistic son, member of DDC
Ramona Hattendorf, Advocacy Director, The Arc of King County

This month’s Autism 200 lecture will be available through Facebook Live on Seattle Children’s and Seattle Children’s Autism Center’s Facebook pages.             

                      
Date: January 21, 2021
Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Pacific time

Time will be reserved for audience questions and discussion at the end of the lecture. Questions can be submitted through the comments on the Facebook Live.

Due to the reasonable caution surrounding reducing the spread of COVID-19, this month’s Autism 200 lecture will be only available online through Facebook Live. Please note that there will be no in-person attendance and anyone coming to the hospital will not be permitted entrance to this class. Thanks to everyone for your understanding. Further announcements regarding future Autism 200 lectures will be forthcoming.

The full Autism 200 Series will be released in the coming weeks. Learn more about and view Seattle Children’s Autism 200 Series: Autism 200 Series

For some families, the end of a typical year brings celebrations, gatherings, and beloved traditions. But, like many other things during 2020, the holiday season will be very different for many people this year.

Below, we’ve collected a set of resources that may help – you’ll find a social story to explain how holidays will be different Read full post »

Welcome to our series on research. We continue with information about the WONDER study.

Seattle Children’s researchers want to better understand social brain development in infants during the first three years of life. Drs. Fred Shic and Sara Jane Webb, Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, are the coinvestigators of this study.

Who can join the study? Families with an infant under the age of 14 months with an older biological sibling (whole or half) with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and who use English as a primary language.

What will the study involve? Over the course of 3 years, there will be 4-5 in-person study visits at our West 8th research lab in Seattle. During the visits, researchers will record brain activity and eye movement while showing your child pictures and videos and engage your child in play-based activities to monitor their development. Feedback about your child’s performance on developmental assessments will be provided. One caregiver will be asked to complete questionnaires around the same time as the study visits, and 3-4 phone interviews over the course of the study.

How long will it take? Study visits will vary in length from 1- 2 ½ hours. Phone interviews and questionnaires will last approximately 1-2 hours. Appointments will be scheduled at a time that works well for your family.

What is the compensation? Families may receive up to $410-$425 by the end of the study for completing all the study activities. Children will receive a small toy at each visit. Parking validation is provided.

Interested of have questions? Contact the study team at wonder@seattlechildrens.org, (206) 884-WNDR or through the Wonder Contact form here.

Seattle Children’s Autism Center is partnered with the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) to create the nation’s largest online autism study. We want to speed up research and advance our understanding of autism to help improve lives.

• Individuals with autism (including adults), biological parents and siblings are encouraged to participate.
  Registration is easy and can be done entirely online.
• Participants provide a saliva sample using a collection kit shipped to their home, complete surveys, and may be invited to participate in other studies that are relevant to them.
• Participants will receive a gift card code, valued at up to $50, once they’ve completed registration and returned samples.
• Thank you to Seattle Children’s Autism Center for your support of SPARK. 3738 patients at SCAC are participants in SPARK. 23 providers have helped refer participants to SPARK.

www.SPARKforAutism.org/UW

Please join us for Autism 210: A Panel Discussion: Multicultural Perspectives on Autism Spectrum Disorder on November 19, 2020

Moderator: Jim Mancini, MS, CCC-SLP, Seattle Children’s Autism Center Read full post »