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Autism and ‘optimal outcomes’… to rethink what we mean by “optimal outcomes” For years, we’ve been using this term to describe a relatively small group of people with autism who, with therapy and support, experience such a marked decrease in autism symptoms that they no longer meet the criteria we use to diagnose the … re-defining “optimal outcome” as the best possible outcome based on each child’s personal characteristics and available supports . We find this as a much more suitable concept for developing autism services and setting goals for each child, …

Meet Miles W.… showing signs of delays, my initial thoughts were of worry and fear. At the time, I wasn’t sure what I should be doing to support him, but I prayed a lot and asked the Lord to order my steps. I sought out speech and group speech therapies, as well as occupational therapy in school. Outside of school, I enrolled Miles in Tae Kwon Do, … be a greater focus on transition services for teens and young adults who have aged out of educational programs or community supports. Organizations like Autism Speaks need to continue to build relationships with companies to provide employment …

Meet Jeffrey W.… to cry on. One of my biggest confidants is the mother of a child who also has an autistic son the same age as my son. The support system often extends beyond the immediate family and once you learn to embrace it, you realize how much easier … as important as making sure Jeffrey is successful. What is your connection to Autism Speaks and how have we provided support to you and your family? When we first started Birth to Three, we started talking about therapies and who would test Jeffrey. We found the group we used, Creative Interventions, through the Autism Speaks website. When we moved from preschool to kindergarten, the …