As prevalence of autism spectrum disorder continues to increase, so too does the need for timely, accessible diagnostic consultation. The present work extends from a previous study which provided preliminary evidence for the feasibility of expert clinicians to utilize telemedicine to triage autism spectrum disorder risk in young children. However,…

Parents who report motor difficulties as their primary concern receive autism intervention services earlier than those first concerned with communication. This study revealed that parent perceptions of their child's social responsiveness correlated with standardized scores of motor proficiency. Promoting awareness of this relationship could lead…

Autism affects over 2% of the school population in England. Education has proven to be an effective intervention strategy that improves the quality of life of children with autism and their families. However, governmental austerity policies have increased disadvantage in coastal areas of England with a detrimental impact on people with…

Objectives: Explore the usage of tele-health to conduct diagnostic assessments and interventions for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Methods: A Pubmed search was conducted using the words tele-health, telemedicine, video conferencing and telepyschiatry in conjunction with the words ASD, Autism, Asperger's, and Developmental…

Families with individuals with special needs face many different struggles such as identifying needs and/or appropriate supports, accessing those supports, and then locating providers to help implement those supports (Boehm & Carter, 2016). These individuals may need continuous support to live meaningful and productive lives outside of the…

Objective: This report examines the prevalence of developmental disabilities among children in both rural and urban areas as well as service utilization among children with developmental issues in both areas. Methods: Data from the 2015-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used to examine the prevalence of 10 parent- or…

Children living in rural and underserved areas experience decreased access to health care services and are often diagnosed with autism at a later age compared to those living in urban or suburban areas. This study examines the utility and validity of an ASD assessment protocol conducted via video conferencing (VC). Participants (n = 17) included…

This study compared service use for families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who live in rural vs. non-rural areas. Participants were 415 caregivers of children with ASD, of whom 101 (23.7%) lived in rural areas of a southeastern state. Participants completed an online survey regarding access and quality of different services. For…

Individuals with autism often face barriers to social interaction. Residing in a rural environment can compound these difficulties for individuals diagnosed with autism. Some of the reasons include transportation problems and small social networks, in addition to the characteristics of autism. This article discusses a promising practice for…

Early diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders followed by timely research-based intervention is associated with better long-term outcomes such as the improvement of social skills, communication, and increased IQ (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001). Characteristics of children with autism and their families, including limited financial resources…

Little is known about services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) living in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine parent report of access to and satisfaction with services for children with ASD in rural areas and compare results to parents from urban areas. Parents in both groups reported children were diagnosed…

The present study examines urbanicity-related differences in help-seeking process among preschool children with autism and investigates the factors associated with utilization of autism-related services within the year of diagnosis. Using the 1997-2004 National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan, we identified a total of 3495…

This study examined the impact of children with autism on their families. Twenty-one parents who were the primary caregivers were interviewed about (a) recognition and diagnosis of autism in their child, (b) intervention services accessed, and (c) the impact of having a child with autism on their family. The results suggest that families who have…