Governor David A. Paterson signed a bill this week that will require the Department of Health (DOH) to update the guidelines used by pediatricians to identify children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and refer them for appropriate services.

“This legislation will help pediatricians across the state quickly and comprehensively identify kids with ASDs, so that they can receive the support they need at an early age,” said Governor Paterson. “Coupled with other efforts recently announced by the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, this bill will not only ensure our children have access to appropriate services, but will help educate the public on these often overlooked disorders.”

ASDs are developmental disabilities usually evident and typically diagnosed within the first years of life and often associated with mental retardation. Individuals with ASDs often have difficulty relating and responding to persons, events or objects, and engage in repetitive behaviors or exhibit preoccupation with narrow interests. The severity of these challenging behaviors varies considerably, resulting in multiple diagnoses along the autism spectrum. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ASDs affect one in every 150 children in some communities.

The bill (A.9512-A/S6527-B) requires DOH to establish best practice protocols for early screening of children for ASDs by pediatric primary care providers. These protocols would incorporate standards and guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics and must include: (1) the routine employment of objective ASD screening tools at regular intervals during critical childhood developmental stages; (2) facilitation of a dialogue between service provider and parents for purposes of educating the parents about ASDs, using a modified checklist for ASDs in toddlers; and (3) an appropriate referral mechanism for children who, based upon results of the screening process, require further evaluation. The bill also requires DOH to make the modified checklist for ASD available to the public on its website.

New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., said: “To give children the best start, we should do everything we can to make sure that children receive intervention services as soon as possible when it appears that an ASD is present. The Department of Health is committed to updating the autism screening protocols to make sure that practitioners and families have the tools they need to help identify children with ASDs.”

New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) Commissioner Diana Jones Ritter, said: “OMRDD’s Autism Platform will go a long way towards promoting research and education that will be translated into practical assistance for both children and adults with ASDs. OMRDD’s mission is to help individuals with developmental disabilities live richer lives. This bill will help ensure that more children are referred for important intervention services at an early age, enhancing the foundation for lifelong supports.”

New York’s Early Intervention (EI) program, administered by DOH, seeks to identify and evaluate as early as possible those infants and toddlers with a disability or developmental delay and provide appropriate intervention. The best practice protocols that will be established by DOH in accordance with this bill will help practitioners identify children with ASDs for referral to the EI program.

(YWN Desk – NYC)