MA Act Early Publications
The following publications were written by the MA Act Early state team and/or its members:
Gabovitch, E., Lauer, E. & Dutra, C. (2016). UMass Medical School-E.K. Shriver Center Report: Massachusetts Healthy People 2020 Autism Roadmap for Children & Youth with ASD/DD: Understanding Needs & Measuring Outcomes.
The Massachusetts Healthy People 2020 Autism Roadmap Report shares needs assessment findings to assist the Massachusetts Autism Commission in developing a blueprint for better data collection across the system of care that serves children and youth with autism spectrum and other developmental disabilities and their families in Massachusetts. The report provides potential sources of and recommendations for both public and private data collection within the state that can be considered by the Commission and its subcommittees and built upon and monitored by appropriate stakeholder entities. It also offers future possibilities that may need more development and surveillance and resources that may help. This information may also be useful for a variety of audiences – from research to public health to education to family advocacy groups and more.
The report's objectives:
The Massachusetts Healthy People 2020 Autism Roadmap Report shares needs assessment findings to assist the Massachusetts Autism Commission in developing a blueprint for better data collection across the system of care that serves children and youth with autism spectrum and other developmental disabilities and their families in Massachusetts. The report provides potential sources of and recommendations for both public and private data collection within the state that can be considered by the Commission and its subcommittees and built upon and monitored by appropriate stakeholder entities. It also offers future possibilities that may need more development and surveillance and resources that may help. This information may also be useful for a variety of audiences – from research to public health to education to family advocacy groups and more.
The report's objectives:
- Assess and quantify baseline data for the state needs of children and youth with autism and developmental disabilities aligned with six MCHB core outcome indicators;
- Make recommendations to address needs identified from the needs assessment; and
- Offer comprehensive and strategic surveillance recommendations to monitor and report on future state autism/DD activities and outcomes.
- Early Identification and Screening
- Medical Home
- Accessible Community-based Service System
- Family Involvement
- Transition to Adult Health Care, Work & Independence
- Adequate Private &/or Public Insurance to Pay for Services
| ma_hp2020_autism_roadmap_report_final_tagged.pdf |
Whyte, J., & Gabovitch, E. (2015) Massachusetts Act Early State Team 2015 Spring Summit Report: Considering Culture in Autism Screening & Systems of Care
For the second of its biannual state team summit meetings, the MA Act Early Steering Committee planned a day focused on the theme of cultural and linguistic competence in early identification of ASD/DD. The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) partnered with MA Act Early to expand its Spring 2015 Summit meeting into a two-day event about Considering Culture in Autism Screening and Systems of Care held at the Boston Children’s Museum on June 16 and 17, 2015 in coordination with its own annual SPHARC grantee Peer-to-Peer Exchange meeting. The Peer-to-Peer Exchange was designed to develop skills and build the capacity of State Autism Grantees to be prepared to address emerging MCH issues as they apply to Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). The two-day joint Peer-to-Peer Exchange focused on the sharing of programs, strategies and lessons learned to address cultural and linguistic gaps in screening, evaluation, and referral to intervention services. The following report will focus on the initial details of the Summit portion of the two days and will provide the results of break-out group discussions that explored cultural and linguistic barriers and identified potential solutions for addressing them.
For the second of its biannual state team summit meetings, the MA Act Early Steering Committee planned a day focused on the theme of cultural and linguistic competence in early identification of ASD/DD. The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) partnered with MA Act Early to expand its Spring 2015 Summit meeting into a two-day event about Considering Culture in Autism Screening and Systems of Care held at the Boston Children’s Museum on June 16 and 17, 2015 in coordination with its own annual SPHARC grantee Peer-to-Peer Exchange meeting. The Peer-to-Peer Exchange was designed to develop skills and build the capacity of State Autism Grantees to be prepared to address emerging MCH issues as they apply to Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). The two-day joint Peer-to-Peer Exchange focused on the sharing of programs, strategies and lessons learned to address cultural and linguistic gaps in screening, evaluation, and referral to intervention services. The following report will focus on the initial details of the Summit portion of the two days and will provide the results of break-out group discussions that explored cultural and linguistic barriers and identified potential solutions for addressing them.
| MA Act Early 2015 Spring Summit Final Report.pdf |
Blenner, S., Braden, K., Choueiri, R., Gabovitch, E., Helm, D., Osbahr, T., Prudent, N., Schonwald, A. & Travers, J. (2012). Considering Culture in Autism Screening. Massachusetts Act Early Coalition.
The Massachusetts Act Early State Autism Team, along with pediatric developmental specialists, primary care clinicians practicing in neighborhood health centers with diverse populations, and community members, collaborated to learn the challenges and provide clinicians who screen with tips for promoting the identification of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities for children from immigrant families or from families whose primary language is not English. Our team interviewed a variety of experienced clinicians and community members who shared their thoughts about what works well in ASD screening for children from families from these diverse backgrounds.
The Massachusetts Act Early State Autism Team, along with pediatric developmental specialists, primary care clinicians practicing in neighborhood health centers with diverse populations, and community members, collaborated to learn the challenges and provide clinicians who screen with tips for promoting the identification of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities for children from immigrant families or from families whose primary language is not English. Our team interviewed a variety of experienced clinicians and community members who shared their thoughts about what works well in ASD screening for children from families from these diverse backgrounds.
| Considering Culture in Autism Screening.pdf |
Travers, J.C., Krezmien, M.P., Mulcahy, C. & Tincani, M. (2012). Racial Disparity in Administrative Autism Identification Across the United States During 2000 and 2007. The Journal of Special Education.
This important study examined trends in state-level administrative identification of autism under IDEA. Prevalence rates and odds ratios were calculated for each state using enrollment counts for years 2000 and 2007. Results indicated increases in administrative prevalence of autism for all racial groups from 2000 to 2007, but increasing under-identification of Black and Hispanic students in 2007 compared with White students.
This important study examined trends in state-level administrative identification of autism under IDEA. Prevalence rates and odds ratios were calculated for each state using enrollment counts for years 2000 and 2007. Results indicated increases in administrative prevalence of autism for all racial groups from 2000 to 2007, but increasing under-identification of Black and Hispanic students in 2007 compared with White students.
| Racial Disparity in Administrative Autism Identification.pdf |
Travers, J.C., Tincani, M. & Krezmien, M.P. (2011). A Multi-year National Profile of Racial Disparity in Autism Identification. The Journal of Special Education.
This study examined disproportionate representation of racially diverse students with autism by determining risk and logistical odds ratios among racially diverse and White students from the national population between 1998 and 2006. Although overall risk of autism increased for all racial groups every year, White students were twice as likely to be identified with autism as Hispanic and American Indian/Alaskan Native students during most years of the sample. Although initially overrepresented, the odds ratios for Asian/Pacific Islander and Black students with autism continuously declined in recent years. Hispanic and American Indian/Alaskan Native students were significantly underrepresented every year in the analysis. Potential cause and implications of underrepresentation are described, along with directions for research.
This study examined disproportionate representation of racially diverse students with autism by determining risk and logistical odds ratios among racially diverse and White students from the national population between 1998 and 2006. Although overall risk of autism increased for all racial groups every year, White students were twice as likely to be identified with autism as Hispanic and American Indian/Alaskan Native students during most years of the sample. Although initially overrepresented, the odds ratios for Asian/Pacific Islander and Black students with autism continuously declined in recent years. Hispanic and American Indian/Alaskan Native students were significantly underrepresented every year in the analysis. Potential cause and implications of underrepresentation are described, along with directions for research.
| A Multi-year National Profile of Racial Disparity in Autism Identification.pdf |
Manning, S. E., Davin, C.A., Barfield, W.A., Kotelchuck, M., Clements, K., Diop, H., Osbahr, T. & Smith, L.A. (2011). Early Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Massachusetts Birth Cohorts, 2001 - 2005. Pediatrics.
A total of 1 in 129 children in Massachusetts born between 2001 and 2005 were enrolled in early intervention with an autism spectrum disorder by the age of 36 months. Early autism spectrum disorder diagnoses increased between 2001 and 2005, reflecting the national trend observed among older children. Linkage of early-intervention program data with population-based vital statistics is valuable for monitoring autism spectrum disorder trends and planning developmental and educational service needs.
A total of 1 in 129 children in Massachusetts born between 2001 and 2005 were enrolled in early intervention with an autism spectrum disorder by the age of 36 months. Early autism spectrum disorder diagnoses increased between 2001 and 2005, reflecting the national trend observed among older children. Linkage of early-intervention program data with population-based vital statistics is valuable for monitoring autism spectrum disorder trends and planning developmental and educational service needs.
| Early Diagnoses of ASD in Massachusetts.pdf |
Last Update: October 30, 2012.
