National Standards Project: a resource for parents and professionals
by Patricia
The other day I did a Google search on the word “autism.” The search resulted in more than 15 MILLION hits. With that plethora of information, it can be incredibly difficult for families and professionals to discern an appropriate treatment path.
The National Autism Center has released a great resource to help parents and service providers. It’s called the National Standards Project, and it provides critical information about which treatments have been shown to be effective for individuals with ASD.
The project looked at the core characteristics of ASD in children, adolescents, and young adults (those below 22 years of age) and examined and quantified the level of research supporting interventions. Eleven treatments were found to have significant evidence.
The National Autism Center launched the National Standards Project in 2005. The project benefited from the support and guidance of an expert panel composed of nationally recognized scholars, researchers, and other leaders. The culmination of this rigorous multi-year project is the National Standards Report, the most comprehensive analysis available to date about treatments for children and adolescents with ASD.
The National Standards Project will provide guidance, encourage families and service providers to make informed decisions, and promote the use of evidence-based treatments. And with the implementation of these standards, our outcome will be citizens with autism who move into adulthood with increased skills and the ability to contribute their talents to our diverse communities.
Visit the National Autism Center Web site to access a copy of the report.