The video glossary for autism now freely available through the internet has been developed to help parents see early symptoms that may indicate autism or that their child is at risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder, to promote earlier professional evaluations, diagnosis, and effective early intervention services.

Recognizing early signs of autism in very young children can be difficult for parents who may sense that their son or daughter has behaviors or ways of doing things that they have not seen in the child's cousins or the children of friends or neighbors.

Recent press and television coverage about the significant increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism has brought greater awareness to the public about what to look for and where to go for help when families suspect that an older preschooler or young child may have an autism spectrum disorder.

Early intervention, accommodations and support for very young children has been shown to have a significant benefit for those whose initial symptoms might have been overlooked just a few years ago.

While advocacy organizations and medical professionals have been working together to educate the general population about the early symptoms or signs of autism in young children, it has been difficult for those who have never known a child with autism to know what these symptoms might look like in their baby or toddler.

The new 'video glossary' that has been developed and made available via the internet contains actual video clips of children with autism spectrum disorders illustrating terms that parents may have never heard, or heard about but did not understood how they related to their own children's play, movements or sensitivities.

Some video glossary clips contain side by side comparisons of a child diagnosed with autism with a mainstream peer who demonstrates typical behavior.

This resource can be a valuable aid for advocates as well as medical and education professionals who can learn and demonstrate to parents, early intervention professionals, childcare workers, caregivers and others what to look for from the children in their care. Referrals to experts for evaluation at the first symptoms of autism will help more children find early intervention services and support.

This free web based video glossary for early signs of autism spectrum disorders was developed through a partnership between the organizations Autism Speaks, First Signs, and Florida State University.



Mother Warriors by Jenny McCarthy

Florida State University joins forces - with Autism Speaks and First Signs - to launch new Web-based tool to help parents spot autism
http://www.fsu.com/pages/2007/10/16/autism_video.html

Autism Speaks Video Glossary
http://www.autismspeaks.org/video/glossary.php

First Signs
http://www.firstsigns.org
Hallmark Developmental Milestones
http://www.firstsigns.org/healthydev/milestones.htm
Diagnosis and Treatment
http://www.firstsigns.org/treatment/index.htm

First Signs offers brochures, public service announcements to promote developmental screening that features local organization information, wallet copies of "hallmark developmental milestones and red flags" cards, early identification, referral, and intervention for children with autism, developmental delays and disorders.

Browse at your local bookstore, public library or online retailer for books like:
Could It Be Autism? A Parent’s Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps, a book promoting earlier diagnosis and early intervention planning by First Sign's founder, Nancy Wiseman.