Focus Group Findings Short

Community-Based Needs

Assessment Findings

Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Project

1. There are limited local public awareness efforts related to early identification of developmental disorders.
2. There is agreement that developmental screening, including for autism, is important.
3. Many medical practices do surveillance.
4. Very few medical practices do standardized screening.
5. No one is doing routine screening for all children. Three-Star Step Up to Quality Child Care Settings, Help Me Grow, and Head Start screen their clients.
6. Diagnosis of autism is currently being done at academic pediatric centers with long waits
7. Resources for children and families affected by autism are available, but fragmented and not well known, even in the local community.
8. Knowledge of the work of the Ohio Autism Task Force is extremely limited outside the Columbus area.
9. Successful efforts for systems change on behalf of children have been marked by passionate leadership, broad-based community support that includes parents, and financial backing.