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On Sunday, April 22, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Center for Autism Research will team up at Lincoln Financial Field to host the 3rd Annual Huddle Up for Autism. There will be special appearances by Eagles players and cheerleaders, field and locker room tours, games, and more! Kids will have the opportunity to speak with an Eagles statistician and learn about how the team calculates its stats! New this year, families have the opportunity to fundraise on behalf of the Center for Autism Research and earn awesome prizes, such as guaranteed autographs from current Eagles players and the opportunity to mingle with Eagles Cheerleaders at an MVP reception.

Fundraise for special Eagles prizes

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Research with a Community Focus

A number of research studies at the Center for Autism Research aim to understand how autism affects the greater community in terms of quality of life, availability of services, and treatment outcomes. These studies include:

ASERT Needs Assessment: David Mandell, Sc.D

The Autism Service, Education, Research & Training (ASERT) Needs Assessments were completed in 2009. A team led by David Mandell, Sc.D. at the ASERT Consortium for Eastern Pennsylvania distributed a comprehensive needs assessment survey to more than 20,000 individuals identified with autism by the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and of Public Welfare. The results, obtained from more than 3,500 respondents, provide the most detailed snapshot to date of the needs of Pennsylvanians and potentially complements the results of the Pennsylvania Autism Census (see above). We are now in the process of analyzing these results, with the goal of developing recommendations for researchers and policymakers regarding persons affected by ASD.

Autism Census: David Mandell, Sc.D

Through a partnership with Pennsylvania's Bureau of Autism Services, researchers at the Center for Autism Research conducted the first ever Autism Census in Pennsylvania. The goal of the census was to estimate the number of individuals living in the Commonwealth with autism spectrum disorders as well as to learn about the demographic characteristics of the population. In total, 19,862 individuals with autism were identified in Pennsylvania in 2005. The projected number of individuals with ASD in Pennsylvania in 2010, not corrected for population growth (or decline) is approximately 25,000 individuals. The mean age of the population was 11.22 years, and 80.8% was male. The three counties in Pennsylvania with the highest number of individuals with autism are Allegheny (2,235), Philadelphia (2,142), and Montgomery (1,109). United States Census data for Pennsylvania indicate these three counties are also the most populous in the state. For more information about the Autism Census, visit the website for the Bureau of Autism Services.

Autism Instructional Methods Study: David Mandell, Sc.D.

The Philadelphia Autism Instructional Methods Study (AIMS) is the largest autism intervention study ever conducted anywhere in the world. Through AIMS, CAR researchers are partnering with the School District of Philadelphia and other Philadelphia agencies to try to determine the best ways to move evidence-based autism interventions into practice. The overall goal of the study is to improve services for children on the autism spectrum. AIMS provides training to over 120 participating teachers and assistants in Kindergarten through 2nd grade autism support classrooms. Diagnostic assessments are administered twice a year to every participating child (over 320 children thus far) and the results are given to parents to help with educational planning.

Interstate Variation in Healthcare Utilization Among Children with ASD: David Mandell, Sc.D.

Health care and related services for ASD are often intensive and expensive, with much controversy over what treatments work for which children under what circumstances. State Medicaid agencies have taken varied approaches to addressing the needs of children with ASD. The Interstate Variation in Healthcare Utilization Among Children with ASD study reviews nationwide medical claims to provide a full picture of this variation and the resulting access to and appropriateness of care associated with different state policy models.

Living with Autism: David Mandell, Sc.D.

This study uses parent interviews to try to understand the obstacles and stresses associated with raising a child with autism. Researchers are learning about how families use and access treatments, services, and supports. The goal of the study is to improve the process by which families receive care.

Parenting a Prepubescent Child with ASD: Margaret Souders, Ph.D., CRNP

This is a qualitative research study, which interviews parents of children ages 10 – 12 with an autism spectrum disorder. The goal of the study is to begin to comprehend the concerns, commitments, and practices of these families as their children are entering adolescence. From these insights, healthcare providers, social workers, teachers, and counselors can be empowered to provide more thoughtful anticipatory guidance and developmentally appropriate support and care.

Prevalence of Autism Among the Psychiatric Population: David Mandell, Sc.D.

This study works to determine the extent to which patients in state psychiatric hospitals meet criteria for an autism spectrum disorder. The study aims to improve the quality of life and treatment of the individuals living in the hospital and to evaluate the prevalence of misdiagnosis among the adult population. Another goal of the study is to learn more about psychiatric diagnoses, like schizophrenia, to determine similarities to and differences from autism. The results of this study will aid in efforts to determine the prevalence of ASD among institutionalized adults; increase understanding of the prevalence of ASD in adults; and guide policy and practice regarding diagnostic practices and service delivery to adults with ASD.

Prevalence of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in Multiple Areas of the United States: Susan Levy, M.D., Jennifer Pinto-Martin, Ph.D.

Researchers at the Center for Autism Research recently contributed to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's study of Prevalence of the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in Multiple Areas of the United States, 2004 and 2006. Autism prevalence refers to the number of autism cases among a defined group of people during a specific time period. In this study, our researchers estimated the prevalence of ASDs among 8-year-olds in 2006 living in Philadelphia, by counting all of the 8-year-olds in Philadelphia who were identified with an ASD, and then dividing that number by the total number of 8-year-olds in Philadelphia during 2006. Our data were combined with the data from ten other states to determine a national prevalence rate. The overall average ASD prevalence for the United States was calculated to be 9.0 per 1,000 children, or approximately 1 in 110 children. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the total prevalence of ASD among 8-year-olds is 8.4 per 1,000. View the full report.

Research with a Community Focus

Susan Levy, M.D., Jennifer Pinto-Martin, Ph.D.