Autism Information

Autism is one of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASDs are developmental disabilities that cause impairments in social interaction and communication, and marked by the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary-from gifted to severely challenged. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person's life.

There is no medical test for ASDs (see text box on the right). Doctors look at behavioral symptoms to make a diagnosis. These symptoms may show up within the first few months of life or may appear at any time before the age of 3. Screening and diagnosis procedures have been developed to identify children who should receive more intensive assessment or diagnosis, for potential developmental delays.

Information for Families
Vaccine Information
Treatment Programs and Other Resources

Information for Families

CDC - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a comprehensive section dedicated to providing information on autism.

Tools for Parents - Set of interactive milestone checks provided by the CDC. 

NIH - National Institutes of Mental Health produced the Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) document. This document is available for download in PDF format or may be ordered over the phone.

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Vaccine Information

There is much debate regarding the correlation of childhood vaccines and the occurrence of autism in children. The weight of currently available scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that vaccines cause autism. We recognize there is considerable public interest in this issue.

FDA - The FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) protects and enhances the public health through the regulation of biological and related products including blood, vaccines, allergenics, tissues, and cellular and gene therapies. The Center has information on Thimerosal in vaccines.

The CDC also has information on Mercury and Vaccines (Thimerosal).

Autism and the Vaccine Injury Program - Statement of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

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Treatment Programs and Other Resources

U.S. Department of Education funds the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), a central source of information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth. They have a list of resources available in each state.

ACF - Administration for Children and Families has a listing of State Councils on Developmental Disabilities

DisabilityInfo.gov is managed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), in partnership with 21 other federal agencies. DisabilityInfo.gov is the federal government's one-stop Web site for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans and service members, workforce professionals and many others. DisabilityInfo.gov connects people with disabilities to the information and resources they need to actively participate in the workforce and in their communities.

ClinicalTrials.gov - The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Library of Medicine (NLM), has developed this site in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration. ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov provides information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details.

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism spectrum disorder. Through its inclusion of both Federal and public members, the IACC helps to ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are represented and discussed in a public forum.  Its site provides access to yearly reports on research advances in autism spectrum disorder.

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