Celebrating 60 years, looking back at FPG’s impact within the field of autism research
The UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and so to help recognize this milestone, we will be looking back at stories that highlight FPG’s history, its people, and some of the incredible work accomplished within the Institute.
April is World Autism Month, so in this installment, we are sharing a look back at three news pieces that illustrate the impact our research, practice, and policy focused work has made within the field of autism research.
From September 2015
FPG's Autism Team Offers Free Online Learning
FPG has launched Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM) to teach the step-by-step process of planning for, using, and monitoring each of several evidence-based practices with learners with autism from birth to age 22.
Each free learning module includes engaging case examples that demonstrate the behavior or practice in use, audio and video clips, and interactive assessments that provide feedback based on responses. In addition, supplemental materials and handouts are available to download. Users learn key components of each evidence-based practice, including the various approaches that can address specific behaviors and skills of learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
From October 2015
FPG Report Helps Guide Law to Expand Health Insurance for Children with Autism
North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory has signed the Autism Health Insurance Coverage Act, broadening coverage for birth to 18-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A seminal report that FPG scientists prepared last year for the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC) helped shape the legislation.
“We are very pleased that the NPDC has been able to contribute to the important policy decisions about service that should be covered by insurance for children and youth with ASD,” said FPG Director Sam Odom, who also served as principal investigator of the NPDC. “This could set a precedent in the nation for a more expanded view of evidence-based services that could be funded by insurance.”
ASD incurs an additional average lifetime cost of $1.4-$2.4 million per diagnosis, depending on the level of severity. However, research suggests early diagnosis and effective interventions can reduce that cost by two-thirds.
Under the new law, qualifying health benefit plans must cover screening and treatment of ASD. This includes “Adaptive Behavioral Treatment” therapies, which the legislation defines as research-based “behavioral and developmental interventions that systematically manage instructional and environmental factors or the consequences of behavior.”
From September 2016
Intervention Shows Value for Elementary School Use with Children with Severe Autism
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) funded a one-year FPG study of the "Advancing Social-Communication and Play" (ASAP) intervention, a program designed to improve the social-communication and engagement skills of children who have been "severely affected" by autism spectrum disorder, and earlier this month the OAR announced the findings.
FPG's Jessica Dykstra Steinbrenner headed the study, testing the program in North Carolina elementary school classrooms on four kindergartners and first graders. Her team sought answers about ASAP's effectiveness with regard to improving social-communication skills and engagement, as well as whether ASAP was a feasible intervention for elementary school classroom settings. Each student in the study received 10 weeks of ASAP treatment for at least 40 minutes per day.
