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Teaching and Education for Autism and
Elevating the science — and lived experiences — of Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Elevating the science — and lived experiences — of Autism and Developmental Disabilities
We are Teaching and Education for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Management (TEAM), experts in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Disability (DD) research and health providers who specialize in equitable care for autistic people and those with developmental disabilities. Our mission is two-fold. We aim to educate health care providers about ASD/DD, highlighting the diverse needs of individuals so providers can offer the highest level of care possible for their patients as they grow up. We are also dedicated to increasing self-efficacy and autonomy for autistic and developmentally disabled individuals, making practical resources freely-available to them and their families.
In the United States, 1 in 6 children are diagnosed with a developmental disability, and 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD. Over the next decade, nearly half a million autistic youth will enter adulthood. Already, there is limited access to quality care for autistic children as they reach adulthood. 40% of post-high school autistic youth do not receive any medical health care, mental health care, case management services or speech therapy. Care is even harder to access for African American youth and youth from low-income families.
We want to help. To bridge these growing gaps, we are building an online toolkit that reflects TEAM's collective expertise and knowledge about ASD/DD and covers a wide variety of topics of interest to those in these communities. Using this toolkit, we will train providers throughout the state of Michigan to support their autistic and developmentally disabled patients throughout all stages of life. Though we dive deep into the science and evidence-based practices around these conditions, we know research facts and figures can't tell the whole story. Our toolkit also shares real stories about the experience of living with autism and developmental disability, spoken directly from individuals and their families.
What are developmental disabilities?
What are developmental disabilities?
Developmental disabilities are not one single diagnosis. Instead, they a group of conditions that recognize an impairment in a child's physical, learning, language, or behavioral development. These conditions begin to show up during a child's early development stages, and they may impact their day-to-day functioning. Unlike temporary developmental delays in which children may eventually "catch up" with their peers over time, developmental disabilities usually last throughout a person’s lifetime and may require life-long support.
In the U.S., one in six children are diagnosed with a developmental disability. Some examples of these conditions include:
ADHD
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Cerebral Palsy
Fragile X Syndrome
Intellectual Disability
Language Disorders
Learning Disorders
Tourette Syndrome
What is Autism?
What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can impact how a person learns, behaves, communicates, and interacts with other people. It is caused by differences in the brain. Sometimes the cause is known, like a genetic condition. Other times, the cause is unknown. The impacts of ASD on a person's life varies from person to person. Some autistic people need a lot of support in their daily lives while others can learn, live and work with little or no help.
Symptoms of ASD begin in early childhood and are often first recognized as gaps in developmental milestones. Symptoms may improve as a child grows, or symptoms may follow a person throughout their life. Diagnosis can be challenging as there are no medical tests that doctors can order to definitively diagnose ASD. In order to make a diagnosis, doctors must look carefully at a child's development and their behavior. Once a diagnosis is made, treatments are focused on helping to reduce symptoms that impact a person's day-to-day functioning so they can live a full life. This care extends for as long as the person needs it whether only in early childhood or for their entire lives.
1 in 6 children are diagnosed with a developmental disability
(includes ADHD and others)
1 in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD
ASD/DD occurs in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups
ASD is four times more common in boys than girls
Language matters
Language matters
TEAM recognizes that the voices within Autism and Developmental Disability communities are diverse, and the manner in which individuals choose to identify can be as varied as each person. Words have power, and we respect the autonomy of individuals to choose the language they prefer when speaking about themselves and their experience.
For example, some people prefer the use of person-first language (e.g., person with autism). Individuals who prefer person-first language do so because they feel it focuses on their humanity first and foremost—they are a person with autism or a developmental disability, and ASD/DD is simply one part of who they are. That said, within the scientific community, and in our own experience speaking with autistic and developmentally disabled people, there is also a growing movement toward widespread use of identity-first language (e.g., autistic person). People who avoid person-first language do so because they feel it contributes to the stigma they already face. For them, identity-first language asserts that ASD/DD—as with many other disabilities—is a central part of their identity and cannot, or should not, be separated from them as a person.
Throughout this site, our toolkit and our supplemental materials, you will find references to both identity-first and person-first language to reflect this diversity of experience within these communities. We will continue to listen to the voices of autistic and disabled people to guide how we speak, and we encourage you to do the same, always respecting the preferences of individuals to self-identity as they see fit. If you aren't sure which language an individual prefers, ask!
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