Research
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Welcome to the UC Davis MIND Institute and Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD) resource page for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Contact Brenda Shelton, Resource Center Manager, if you need additional resources or if you would like to visit the Resource Center. (916) 703-0336
What is Autism?
According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 110 children born today have or will eventually have autism. That means that an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families struggle with a neurodevelopmental disorder that can limit a child's lifelong potential for independence. Autism has no cure. Its symptoms and severity differ among individuals with the same diagnosis, yet all affected by the disorder have impaired communication skills, difficulties initiating and sustaining social interactions and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and/or interests.
One of the major roadblocks to understanding the causes of and finding effective treatments for autism is that it has diverse outcomes. Some individuals have seizures, but others do not. Some have troubling gastrointestinal problems, but others have none. Some have severe developmental delays, but others have normal or even enhanced IQs. This heterogeneity raises the possibility that there are several types of autism, with a variety of causes. This complexity limits both scientific progress and the development of effective treatments. Thus far, research on autism has not produced precise definitions of autism subtypes based on biomedical and behavioral characteristics.
Resources
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Asperger Syndrome Education Network
- Autism Internet Modules
- Autism Society Society of America
- Autism Speaks
- California Department of Developmental Services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FEAT – Families for Early Autism Treatment
- MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- My Child Without Limits
- National Autistic Society
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- National Institute of Mental Health
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Asperger Syndrome
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Autism
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Sacramento Asperger Syndrome Information & Support
- The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
- The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders
- UC Davis Extension Autism Spectrum Disorders
Fact Sheets
- Alta California Regional Center Guide for Parents of Children with Autism (PDF)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Handbook for Teachers (PDF)
- Autism Spectrum Disorders Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Bullying at School (PDF)
- Challenging Behaviors Tool Kit (PDF)
- Critical Information Families Need in the First 100 Days of an Autism Diagnosis (PDF)
- Emergency Information Form for Children with Autism (PDF)
- FEAT - Families for Early Autism Treatment (PDF)
- Immunization Safety and Autism (PDF)
- Improving Early Detection and Diagnosis of Autism (PDF)
- Learning the Signs of Autism and the Importance of Acting Early (PDF)
- Sacramento Asperger Syndrome Information & Support (PDF)
Videos
The websites listed are independent of the UC Davis MIND Institute and Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (CEDD). Resources are provided for information only and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of the UC Davis MIND Institute and Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
