Autism and Young Children: Painting a Picture for Nevada

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that can cause social, communication, and behavioral difficulties in those impacted (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Often people with ASD experience difficulties in social situations and applying skills to new situations. Many young children with ASD show delays in developing language skills and it is estimated that 30-50 percent of people diagnosed with autism will not develop an adequate communication system (National Research Council, 2001). Early intervention is key to increasing quality of life for children and families impacted by autism. Not only does early intervention help to improve skills, it also decreases costs associated with autism by up to 66 percent over the course of a child’s life (Järbrink, 2007). As the cost of autism treatment is estimated to be between $40,000 and $60,000 per year, investment in early learning and behavioral intervention programs is critical (Autism Speaks, 2018)