Autism Spectrum Disorder

Preparation and flexibility are essential strategies when navigating the holiday season with children with autism, says Brittney Rick-Betancourt, director of Little Leaves Behavioral Services in Weston.

The report finds 109 children with autism drowned in Florida between January 2012 and April 2024.

The Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida introduced its groundbreaking SEA STAR program dedicated to patients and families affected by autism.

A new program aims to alert law enforcement that an occupant within a home or a vehicle has autism. Police departments have increased training on how to interact with individuals on the spectrum.

Some of the measures Cooper City took include setting aside low-sensory areas for outdoor events with loud noises, and adding signs in offices to tell visitors what to expect.

The increasing rate of ASD diagnoses has driven a growing demand for education, therapy and other services for neurodivergent kids, their families and their support networks.

While screening techniques for ASD have improved, diagnosis and cause are still far from straightforward. On WGCU's Gulf Coast Life, a discussion about the early detection.

Some advocates are also concerned that 988 could incidentally increase the Baker Acting of children with autism and developmental disabilities.

Roughly 2% of adults in the nation have autism spectrum disorder – that’s about 5.4 million people over 18. And a lot of them go through life masking, which is any attempt or strategy “to hide your disability.”

Despite increased awareness, research advances and wider insurance coverage for therapies, children often wait months to get an autism diagnosis and begin intervention services.