CDS’s Powers chosen as Delaware’s ambassador in national autism campaign
On Feb. 1, the Association of University Centers on Disability (AUCD) selected Brittany Powers, CDS’s Early Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Projects Coordinator, as Delaware’s ambassador to a national ASD early identification and intervention campaign. The position, Act Early Ambassador, provides the opportunity to network with ASD specialists across the country.
Act Early Ambassadors are part of the “Learn the Signs. Act Early” campaign spearheaded by the AUCD and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with support from other federal agencies. Their mandate is to educate families about indications their child might be at risk of developing ASD, enabling them to pursue health care options that are right for them.
“This is an urgent need,” says Powers, “because early identification and intervention lead to stronger outcomes for children with developmental challenges.” Yet research shows that, while parents usually notice signs of developmental delays before their child’s first birthday, most children don’t receive a diagnosis for three more years.
To reverse that trend, Powers says she plans to “create and spread family-friendly tools to monitor a child’s development. That way, families become partners in their child’s care.” One of her first steps will be working with health care clinics to distribute the CDC’s milestone checklists, which are also available as an app.
This will be an easy task, as Powers is already working with primary and pediatric health care providers to incorporate ASD screenings into their regular checkup routine. Her trainings are part of Building Bridges, one of several initiatives being undertaken by the Center in collaboration with state agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care clinics and other organizations to support people with ASD and their families.
CDS Associate Director Brian Freedman says that Powers’s new role compliments these projects, which also include the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, by giving them still more ways to connect directly with families.
“It is an honor to be trusted by both national and state leaders to continue our role in supporting Delaware families and professionals,” he says.