In one of medicine’s puzzling wonders in terms of diagnosis and treatment, autism has landed front and center on many radar screens across the nation, regionally and also here at the University of New Mexico’s Center for Development and Disability.
Photo: Dr. Cate McClain (left) and Pat Osbourn among the many library resources at the center. A large collection of Autism Spectrum Disorder related material is available for loan to parents, students, providers and state agencies.
Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is defined as an impairment in communication, social interaction and behavior, is a spectrum disorder because it affects people to different degrees.
“We really spearheaded the local and state initiative with great success through the state legislature, by working closely with parents and advocates” said Dr. Cate McClain, director of the CDD. “UNM did research on what is known about the disorder and services, and provided that information to an advisory group. All the work we’ve done has been in response to the national trends which reflect statewide trends and issues – they go hand-in-hand.”
However, ASD has been at the forefront of the Center’s mission since the early 90s, when it developed the SouthWest Autism Network (SWAN) to provide technical assistance, training and parent support to the state’s ASD population. Since that time, the diagnosis of the disorder increased many times over. In the 90s, approximately 1-2 in 10,000 people nationwide were diagnosed with the disorder. Today, the disorder affects as many as 1 in 150, estimates McClain. Awareness about the disorder is one explanation about the increase in cases.
“Every 20 minutes someone is diagnosed with autism,” said McClain. “The diagnostic criteria has changed and broadened over the years so that many more children fit under this rubric than before. The million-dollar question is ‘what causes autism?’ You can have autism with a low IQ, a normal IQ or a high IQ. You can imagine the differences in various individuals diagnosed with autism.”
In 2004, the Center received a one-year grant from the Center for Health Care Strategies to create a plan for how managed care systems, parents, the Department of Health, the Human Services Department and the Public Education Department could address the increasing demand for autism services. Federal guidance for best practices and national recommendations were followed by the Center. This plan was used as the basis for the most recent legislative initiative.
McClain and Pat Osbourn, who is the director of Neurodevelopmental Services Division at the Center, have been instrumental over the past decade in getting many services to the level they are now. Still, more needs to be done.
“Issues that need to be continually addressed include training for all levels of providers and enhancing family support networks, ” said Osbourn. “We want to be a resource to families of children with ASD and to our state partners. There’s a great opportunity for UNM to take a leadership role in providing excellence in training, service and research in this area.”
The CDD is working towards those means. Money from the State Legislature during the most recent session helped immensely with services. “It will make a pretty good dent for services this year,” said McClain.
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu