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 are 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. Doctors look at behavioral symptoms to make a diagnosis. These symptoms may appear within the first few months of life or 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.

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. HHS issued a statement on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims decision in the Omnibus Autism Proceeding.

Information for Families

• Autism Information Center – Comprehensive section dedicated to providing information on autism. (CDC)
• Tools for Parents – Set of interactive milestone checks to learn the signs and act early. (CDC)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder – Information on the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children and adults.  (NIH)

Vaccine Information

• Vaccines and immunizations –Recommendations and guidelines, vaccine preventable diseases and other resources.(CDC
•  General Vaccine Safety – Vaccine safety basics, public health activities, immunization schedules and other vaccine resources. (CDC)
• Vaccine Licensing and Surveillance – Vaccine licensing and post-marketing surveillance, reporting systems, and public health activities. (FDA)

Treatment Programs and Other Resources 

• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development – Autism Research from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.  (NIH)
• National Human Genome Institute – Learning about Autism from the National Human Genome Institute.  (NIH)
• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities – Information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth. They have a list of resources available in each state. (NICHCY)
• DisabilityInfo.gov – The federal government's one-stop Web site for people with disabilities, their families, employers, veterans and service members, workforce professionals and many others. (DOL)
• ClinicalTrials.gov – Regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers including the purpose of trials, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. (NIH, FDA)
• Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) – Coordinates and ensures 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. (HHS)