Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Autism spectrum disorders, or ASD, is an umbrella term commonly used to describe several developmental disorders in which individuals have substantial differences in the nature of their social development and communication skills, as well as unusual behaviors and interests. ASD is not a diagnostic category, but is widely used to refer to three of the five diagnoses under the category of pervasive developmental disorders. Those three diagnoses are Autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research (2009). Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. (posted May 29, 2009)

Knowledge Path on Autism Spectrum Disorders (Updated April 2009). The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Library. (posted May 29, 2009)

Autism Spectrum Disorders: State Part C and Part B Initiatives to Serve a Growing Population. (2009, April). Henderson, Kelly. Project Forum. (PDF: 146kb) (posted May 4, 2009)

Queries: Screening and Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders. (2009). Shaw, E. & Hatton, D. (Eds.). NECTAC. (PDF: 233kb)