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With our partner, the Connecticut Health Foundation, Connecticut Public Radio's Health Equity and Access Project strives to create awareness about Health Access and advance Health Equity among Connecticut residents, businesses, the educational community, the health care sector, community leaders, and policymakers.As the only statewide public radio station, Connecticut Public Radio has the flexibility and resources to educate Connecticut residents about health disparities through in-depth reporting, hour-long programs, and community events.Visit the Connecticut Health Foundation at cthealth.org.

Seeing Things Differently: Early Identification Of Autism And Early Intervention

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New federal data find that about one in 59 children has autism spectrum disorder.

Connecticut Public Radio’s four-part series, Seeing Things Differently, explores delays in diagnosis, and why there are additional delays for children of color. We hear from moms raising kids with ASD, and learn where concerned families can turn for help.

Here are highlights from our first conversation:

Dr. Thyde Dumont-Mathieu on early identification

“The average [age] of diagnosis currently is four, but we can actually reliably diagnose autism between 18 and 24 months.

“Some children seem to be developing fine, then all of sudden they either stop progressing or actually start losing some of what they had gained. They may lose words they were using, or social engagement activities, like playing social games or waving or saying ‘hi.’ Parents also report their children may stop looking at them or making eye contact. And for some kids, they start having certain mannerisms”.

Dr. Holly Frost on Modified Checklist For Autism in Toddlers, or M-CHAT

“I screen everyone in my practice, not just at-risk children. All the children in the practice get M-CHAT.”

Jenn Hudson on learning that her son has autism spectrum disorder

“His occupational therapist told me one time, ‘It’s like you’re taking a trip and you think you’re going to Florida and you end up in Alaska.’ Things just change and you just have to roll with it.”

Dr. Dumont-Mathieu on early intervention

“Time is of the essence in this case. The earlier the kids are identified, the more they are able to receive services and the better their outcome will be.”

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public. She is a reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Here and Now; and The World from PRX. She spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.