![Learn the Signs. Act Early.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081020230410im_/http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/ActEarly/graphics/mast_actearly.jpg)
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Wendy Nilsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of
Rochester Medical Center
Director of Children's Center in Monroe County, New York
Dr.
Wendy Nilsen, an active campaign champion and child
psychologist, often spends time with children in the New
York family court system. Aware of the importance of
social, emotional, and cognitive development, Wendy
wants to make sure families are informed of all the
signs that mark a child’s growth. “Every major court
across the nation has a child care center. In my area,
these child care centers are called the Children’s
Center, and that’s where I talk with families regarding
not only their child’s physical growth, but their
child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development as
well,” said Wendy.
The Children’s Center has a three-part mission to help
families at risk: provide children with a safe place
while their families are in court, provide resources and
training to the court concerning children’s needs, and
conduct outreach to families regarding their children’s
development. Wendy says, “I use the ‘Learn the Signs.
Act Early.’ campaign materials to help inform parents.”
Read more...
Sofía Quezada
Campaign Champion, California
“When
parents from my Latino-based community come to me
with concerns about their child’s development, I
tell them do not wait and see if your child gets
better. If you suspect something, as I did, talk
with your doctor,” says Sofía Quezada, a dedicated
campaign champion and mother of a son with autism,
Julian.
Sofía knew Julian was having problems with his
development at a very young age. “I noticed he was
not developing properly. It was a struggle every day
for him to do things children his age were easily
doing.” After taking him to his pediatrician several
times, Sofía decided it was time to get a second
opinion. She was referred to a school psychologist,
who told her Julian might have autism. By that time,
he was almost 4 years old.
Read more...
Ron Oberleitner
CEO of Caring Technologies/ TalkAutism, Idaho
Ron Oberleitner and his family trusted their
instincts about his son Robby. At around 15 months
of age, Robby gradually started to lose skills he
once had. He began avoiding eye contact, preferred
to lie under his crib, and lost just about all his
speech. “Over the next 22 months, we took Robby to
many different doctors and specialists. They ruled
out numerous disorders and diseases, but only after
enduring sleepless nights, tantrums, and overall
confusion in our family, it was a reluctant
psychologist who finally helped us confirm Robby had
autism,” said Ron.
Read more...
Christine Breunig
Project Coordinator for the National Medical Home
Autism Initiative, Wisconsin
As
the project coordinator for the National Medical Home
Autism Initiative (NMHAI), Christine Breunig knows the
importance of early intervention. Throughout her
professional career, she has dedicated her life to
children, first as an educator and an elementary school
principal, then as an executive director at a Child Care
Resource Referral Agency. “It was clear when working
with young children that early identification and
intervention provide those children experiencing
developmental challenges the best opportunity for
developing to their full potential,” said Christine.
Read more...
Heidi Fernandez
Campaign Champion, Georgia
Campaign Champion Heidi Fernandez knows the
importance and benefits of early detection of a
developmental delay. Heidi’s son Andrew was
diagnosed with autism at 2½ years of age. But before
his official diagnosis, Heidi and her husband began
to see signs of developmental delays and took action
right away. Once they learned of Andrew’s diagnosis,
they took steps to help him develop to his full
potential.
Read more...
Michael McKee
Executive Director of Virginia Institute of Autism
As executive director of the Virginia Institute of
Autism (VIA), Michael McKee feels like he has the
most rewarding job of his entire career. In the two
years he has been in the position, Michael has been
motivated by what he has seen in the world of autism
and is determined to connect children with autism
with their families. At the Virginia Institute of
Autism (VIA), Michael and his staff help hundreds of
families who are seeking services, training,
information, and evidence-based interventions.
Read more...
Dianne Burdette
Child Care Health Consultant Coordinator for The
Children’s Home Society of New Jersey
Dianne Burdette understands the importance of
educating child care providers about early
intervention when a developmental delay is
suspected. As a child care health consultant
coordinator for The Children’s Home Society of New
Jersey, Ocean County’s child care resource and
referral agency, she receives requests from child
care providers and early care and childhood
education professionals for technical assistance and
recommendations on strategies to deal with children
with autism and other developmental delays.
Read more...
Donna
Ross Jones, Campaign Champion
Special Needs Network Inc., California
Donna Ross Jones knows firsthand the importance of
tracking a child’s development. Her son, Nicholas, is an
example of the difference that early detection of
developmental delays can make.
“Nicholas was 20 months old when he suddenly stopped
talking and began to lose interest in things around
him,” explained Donna. Suspecting that something was
wrong, she contacted his pediatrician who then referred
her to a neurologist and a developmental pediatrician.
After several visits to the doctors’ offices, Nicky was
diagnosed with autism. Read more...
Theresa
Diaz, Campaign Champion
Texas
As a mother of two and former teacher, Theresa Diaz is
familiar with children’s developmental milestones.
Before her son was a year old, Theresa began to notice
signs of developmental delay.
“I knew something was wrong with Merced. After the first
10 months, he lost language progression,” said Theresa.
“Even though I suspected a problem, Merced was
2½-years-old before he was officially diagnosed with
autism.”
Read more...
Barbara
Tames , Campaign Champion
Special Education Teacher, Virginia Public Schools
“Identifying early warning signs is paramount for
supporting children with developmental delays, and
nothing is more important than children receiving early
intervention,” said Barbara Tames, a special education
teacher of nearly 25 years.
Barbara sees the importance of early intervention every
day in her work with children diagnosed with autism and
other developmental delays; therefore, she strives to
increase awareness of developmental milestones and early
intervention throughout her community. Read more...
Barbara
Becker-Cottrill, Ed. D., Executive Director, West
Virginia Autism Training Center, Marshall University
As executive director of Marshall University’s West
Virginia Autism Training Center, Dr. Barbara Becker-Cottrill
has dedicated her professional life to children with
autism. During her 15 years in this position, she and
her team have worked to equip hundreds of families,
educators, and other care providers with the training
they need to help children with autism reach their full
potential. Read
more...
Kate Curry, Campaign Champion
Brenden is like many other 9-year-olds—he’s obsessed
with sports, delights in antagonizing his little
sister sometimes and enjoys being with his friends
at school. Brenden is also very different—he worries
constantly, has trouble putting words together and
has not developed social skills like other kids his
age. Brenden’s mom, Kate Curry, knew that he was
special from a very young age. When Brenden was
finally diagnosed with autism at age 6, she felt
some relief that they could begin to get him the
help and intervention he needed to succeed.
Read more...
NYFAC Helps Raise Awareness
for Moms
As president and CEO of New York Families for
Autistic Children (NYFAC), Andrew Baumann speaks
straight from the heart to parents who face each day
with the challenges of having a child with a
developmental disorder. Baumann’s 11-year-old son,
Anthony, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3,
so he knows from experience what parents are going
through. That is why, when he learned about the
“Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign, he knew
NYFAC needed to get involved.
Read the full story.
CARE Alliance Engages Local
Communities
Connecticut Autism Research and Education Alliance
(CARE Alliance) founder Margaret Jordan and her
volunteers are helping to spread the word about the
"Learn the Signs. Act Early." campaign to parents and
professionals in Connecticut.
Read the full story to find out about CARE's
success.
One Person Can Make a
Difference
Kim Hoffner had a feeling that her son, Colin, was
not developing social and cognitive skills at the
same rate as other children. His lack of language
made this evident from the age of 15 months. At age
3, he was diagnosed with an autism spectrum
disorder. Find out how Kim became involved in
"Learn the Signs. Act Early." and is making a
difference.
Return to Current Partner Spotlights page
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Date:
July 03, 2008
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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