From the Editor
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In Support of Autism Awareness Month

Dear Colleague:

April is National Autism Awareness Month and the first World Autism Awareness Day was celebrated on April 2, 2008. Here are a few critically important facts about autism:

• The incidence statistics are staggering—more children are diagnosed with autism than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined (autismspeaks.org)
• The incidence of autism is at an all time high: 1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with autism. Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with autism
• There is no known cause of autism.
• There is no known cure.

Early diagnosis and intervention are critical. Children with autism demonstrate expressive language dysfunction as well as difficulties with social interaction skills and often have cognitive issues. Early intervention in these areas can make a significant difference in the lives of those on the autism spectrum. Speech-language pathologists(SLPs) play an integral role in both the diagnosis and treatment of autism.

SpeechPathology.com is committed to assisting SLPs in their important roles as diagnosticians and intervention specialists for those with autism. In an effort to provide that support, our Expert Seminar Series will be dedicated to autism for the entire month of April and early May. Whether you work with this challenging group of individuals or have little formal contact, these lectures will provide an interesting orientation to the definitions and identification of autism and the diagnosis and management of related communication disorders….

See our new day times for Live events: 2:00 PM EST, 1:00 PM CST, 11:00 AM Pacific. As you know, the Live events are always recorded and then made available 24/7 in the eLearning library.

Here are the upcoming courses on autism:

April 16th
Social Skills Treatment Strategies for Children with Autism: Let’s Get Real
Teresa Cardon, M.A., Arizona State University
Special time: 4:00 PM EST

April 21st
Understanding Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism: Diagnosis and Intervention Strategies
Donna Murray, Ph.D., Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders

April 24th
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Early Communication Assessment
Moira Lewis, M.S., Yale Child Study Center

April 28th
Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Roadmap of Therapeutic Interventions—Part 1
Tina Veale, Ph.D., Eastern Illinois University

May 5th
Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Roadmap of Therapeutic Interventions—Part 2
Tina Veale, Ph.D., Eastern Illinois University

“Life long learning – a concept for the future, a promise to you!”

Best Regards,

Ann Glaser, CCC-SLP
Editor-in-Chief, SpeechPathology.com
aglaser@speechpathology.com