This is a data set for 70 children who were diagnosed with ASD before the age of three. They were followed up at school age (7-12 years old) by contacting parents and having them fill out an extensive set of questionnaires about their child. Early data about the child is obtained from early intervention (EI) charts and contain developmental levels, Vineland and Childhood Autism Rating Scale scores, gender, and age starting early intervention. Currently data is being collected from their county early intervention charts to document every hour or every intervention the children received (i.e., ABA, speech and occupational therapy). Time 2 data is obtained from the parent questionnaires. Through a defined process, each child is put in an outcome category of ASD with Moderate-Severe Disability, ASD with Mild Disability, and No ASD (but learning disabilities can be present). At this point three major papers have been produced that have been descriptive in nature and address the differences in many features of functioning across these three levels of disability outcome (e.g., school placement, medication use, adaptive behavior, feeding problems). The next paper will focus on the prediction from the Time 1 variables to Time 2 outcomes. The Time 1 predictor variables will be developmental level, age of starting EI, and amount, type, and intensity of EI and preschool therapies. Data collection is ongoing. Dr. Patty Towle, LEND psychology faculty, leads a LEND trainee research team each year in a project related to this cohort. This project has resulted in a number of national presentations and peer-reviewed publications involving trainees.
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database (AFD)
