Disclaimer
Professional Organizations for Practitioners
The organizations that follow represent health
care professionals and child development
researchers.
American Academy
of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
The AACAP is
composed of
child
and adolescent psychiatrists and other
physicians. Its members actively participate in
research, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of
psychiatric disorders in an effort to address the
health care needs of children and their families. Go
to AACAP’s
webpage for physicians and allied professionals,
which includes information about practice parameters
and continuing education.
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
The AAFP
represents family physicians, family practice
residents, and medical students. Its mission is to
improve the health of patients, families, and
communities by serving the needs of members with
professionalism and creativity. Check out the
web-based video
CME program on autism.
American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP) is committed to the
attainment of optimal health and well-being for all
infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Its website provides general information,
guidelines, and recommendations on pediatric issues
from the nation’s leading child health experts. AAP
has many
materials about autism for practitioners.
American
Neurological Association
The American
Neurological Association is devoted to advancing
the goals of academic neurology; to training and
educating neurologists and other physicians in the
neurologic sciences; and to expanding understanding
of diseases of the nervous system and the ability to
treat them.
American Occupational Therapy Association
The American
Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) offers
information on the occupational therapy needs of
individuals with various diseases, including autism.
Resources include fact sheets, journal articles,
evidence briefs, books, and online courses about
autism for families and occupational therapists.
American
Psychiatric Association
The
American Psychiatric Association promotes the
highest quality care for individuals with mental
disorders and their families; promotes psychiatric
education and research; advances and represents the
profession of psychiatry; and serves the
professional needs of its membership. Check out the
psychiatric practice webpage, which has links to
practice guidelines and discussions of clinical
issues.
American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association
The American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association promotes the
interests of and provides the highest quality
services for professionals in audiology,
speech-language pathology, and speech and hearing
science, and it advocates for people with
communication disabilities. Search the association’s
website for position statements, reports, and
program and conference information about ASDs.
Association for Behavior Analysis
International
ABA
International is a nonprofit professional
membership organization with the mission to develop,
enhance, and support the growth and vitality of
behavior analysis through research, education, and
practice. The association has an
autism special interest group.
Child Neurology Society
Child Neurology Society fosters the discipline
of child neurology and promotes the optimal care and
welfare of children with neurological and
neurodevelopmental disorders. View the society’s
report on screening and diagnosis of autism.
National Association of Pediatric Nurse
Practitioners (NAPNAP)
NAPNAP is a
nonprofit nursing organization that advocates for
children and provides leadership for pediatric nurse
practitioners who deliver primary health care in a
variety of settings.
Society for Research on Child Development
The Society for
Research on Child Development promotes
multidisciplinary research in the field of human
development to foster the exchange of information
and to encourage application of research
findings. Its website includes resources and
information on conferences.
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Additional Resources of Interest
Association of
University Centers on Disabilities
The Association of
University Centers on Disabilities is network of
interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and
practice for and with individuals with developmental
and other disabilities, their families, and
communities.
Autism A.L.A.R.M.
Autism A.L.A.R.M. is a project funded through a
cooperative agreement between the American Academy
of Pediatrics and CDC’s National Center on Birth
Defects and Developmental Disabilities. It is a tool
being used by organized medicine to teach primary
caregivers and medical personnel how to spot autism
in young children. The
Autism A.L.A.R.M. fact sheet for health
professionals outlines general guidelines on
developmental screening for children, the prevalence
of autism, the importance of listening to parents,
and tips about identification and intervention.
Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics Online
Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics Online is for
professionals interested in child development and
behavior in a medical setting. The website focuses
on primary care development and behavior, including
early intervention and screening, and provides
articles, handouts, and materials about
developmental disabilities developed for
professionals and parents. It also offers a practice
section with information to support primary and
specialty health care practice.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders
The Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM), published by the American Psychiatric
Association, is the standard classification of
mental disorders used by mental health professionals
in the United States. It applies for clinicians and
researchers from many different fields and contains
diagnostic codes (taken from ICD-9-CM) that are
useful in record keeping and medical billing. DSM-IV
(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition), published in 1994, was
the last major revision of the DSM.
The International Classification of Diseases
The
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth
Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) is
the official system of codes for diagnoses and
procedures in the United States. The
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth
Revision (ICD-10) is used internationally.
National Center of Medical Home Initiatives
for Children with Special Needs
The
National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for
Children with Special Needs works with federal
agencies to ensure that children with special needs
have access to a medical home. Its website has
resources, information, and tools on providing
medical homes for children and youth with special
health care needs.
Disclaimer: We have provided a link to
these sites because they have information that may be of interest to you. CDC does not necessarily endorse the views or information presented on
these sites. Furthermore, CDC does not endorse any commercial products or information that may be presented or advertised on these sites.
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Date:
February 14, 2007
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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