INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana residents whose lives are touched by autism spectrum disorder are being sought for a short survey to guide the direction of services available to Hoosiers.
HANDS in Autism at the Indiana University School of Medicine is conducting the Indiana Comprehensive Autism Needs Assessment. This analysis will assess current resources and services available to families, caregivers, educators, medical providers and others, as well as individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Anyone who interacts with or cares for someone with autism spectrum disorder, has the disorder, or who is interested in the topic is welcome to share their viewpoints through spring 2015 by completing the 10-minute survey.
At the conclusion of this survey, participants will be asked to indicate their willingness to participate in telephone interviews, Web-based conference calls or live forums with interest groups from regions across the state to gather additional information regarding services available for autism spectrum disorder.
“Each part of the process is essential to collecting comprehensive feedback that will be provided to the state along with recommendations derived from such data regarding areas of success and need regionally and statewide,” said Naomi B. Swiezy, Ph.D., professor of clinical psychology in clinical psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine and director of HANDS in Autism Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center. Dr. Swiezy also is program director at the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.
The survey is being conducted on behalf of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Questions about the survey or the HANDS in Autism program can be addressed to hands@iupui.edu or 317-274-2675.
HANDS in Autism
The HANDS in Autism Interdisciplinary Training and Resource Center was founded in 2004 to extend the outreach and training offered by the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center at Riley Hospital at IU Health and the Indiana University School of Medicine. The center provides unique learning opportunities designed to improve understanding of the process and ability of working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and a range of other developmental and behavioral challenges through hands-on and coaching experiences and building bridges of information, resources and collaboration across family, educational, medical and community systems.