Background: Although the prevalence of Autism, a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, increased significantly in the last decade, the autism topic remains contentious. It encompasses issues such as what to call it, and how to describe, identify, assess, and differentiate it from other neurodevelopmental disorders. Because of shared symptomology, differentiation among neurodevelopmental disorders is crucial as it impacts treatment, educational choices, and performance trajectory of these children. Recent concerns are the under-identification of ASD in girls, and the insufficient consideration of cultural factors in evaluating ASD in children. ASD Issues directly impact Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) who often see these children as the second contact, after pediatric medical practitioners. SLPs may not be readily equipped with the necessary information and knowledge of resources to be effective practitioners with these children and their families.
Presentation Goals: 1. to review the noted issues, and 2. to encourage and empower SLPs in their practice with children and adolescent with ASD by suggesting the development of a universal and culture specific toolkit based on transcultural principals of psychiatry- a multidisciplinary field which acknowledge that culture and ethnic identity are embedded in the awareness of and interpretation of disease so that these must be taken into account when examining individuals, AND a bioecological model where family factors, services, school, and community resources are considered since they are significant in determining the developmental trajectories of children with ASD. The Universal Resource Toolkit suggested models are those adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Autism Speak Canada, and Autism Canada. The toolkit should contain research based observation and screening tools for caregivers and educators, parent questionnaires including guidelines for sharing narratives that portray the child’s function in the family, cultural community, and educational setting, Questions & Answers information sheets, and resource directories with local and global resources for all stakeholders.
