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Our Mission
First Signs is
dedicated to the early identification of and intervention for
children with autism and other related disorders.
With developmental, behavioral, and
learning disabilities on
the rise, there is much that remains poorly understood, from
cause to cure. However, there is one widely-accepted fact: Early
and intensive intervention can have a profound impact on the
quality of life for both children at risk and their families.
The key is
early detection. But recognizing the
first
signs of a developmental delay or disorder, such as autism,
can be a challenge for parents and healthcare professionals
alike.
Our organization aims to educate
parents, healthcare providers, early childhood educators, and
other professionals in order to ensure the best developmental
outcome for every child. Our goals are to improve screening
and referral practices and to lower the age at which young
children are identified with autism and other related
disorders.
The First Signs Web site provides a
wealth of vital resources, covering a range of issues: from
healthy development, to
concerns
about a child; from the
screening and referral process, to
treatments for autism spectrum disorders. We invite you to
explore our site in your search for answers.
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What's new and worth knowing
about...
Special offer extended by popular demand.
- Order a
First Signs Screening Kit before
January 15 and receive a 20% discount. Screening kits are now offering the DVD
On the Spectrum: Children and Autism. For more information,
click here.
Special offer extended by popular demand.
Order a First Signs Fundraising Bracelet before
January
15 and receive a 20% discount. For more information,
click here.
Special offer.
Order one or more packages of First Signs Parent Brochures and receive 1/3 off! Each parent brochure
includes a pullout, wallet-size copy of the Hallmark
Developmental Milestones and Red Flags. For more information,
click here.
For parents or
professionals concerned about a child:
Could it Be Autism? A Parent’s Guide to the
First Signs and Next Steps (Broadway Books, 2006), by
founder and president, Nancy D. Wiseman. To read reviews,
click here. To read an
excerpt from this book,
click here. To order online, click here.
Coming in March:
The First Year: Autism Spectrum Disorders:
An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed Child by
founder and president, Nancy D. Wiseman (Da Capo Lifelong Books,
2009). To pre-order online, click here.
AAP Urges Early
Autism Screening. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is
urging early screening for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for
all children. View their reports:
“Identification and Evaluation
of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders” and
“Management of
Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.” To view related press,
click here.
Promote developmental screening
in your state by airing First Signs public service announcement (PSA). Click here to view the 30-second PSA.
Please contact First Signs if your organization is interested in airing this PSA in your
community with your organization's name or logo in the last few
seconds, please contact First Signs.
NOTE: the PSA requires the Windows Media plug-in to play.
Click here to download the Windows Media plugin.
For the most complete listing of
upcoming autism-related conferences and events, visit the
Schafer Autism Report.
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