The Big Day | Autism Speaks

Identifying the early signs of autism can make a lifetime of difference in helping a child access resources and thrive later in life. Though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 18 months, most children aren’t diagnosed until between 4 and 5 years old—and studies indicate that age is even higher for low-income and minority children. What’s more, as COVID-19 prevents many families from regular well-visits to assess progress toward developmental milestones, experts believe that even more children have gone undiagnosed in recent months.

The new bilingual awareness campaign from the Ad Council and Autism Speaks encourages parents and caregivers of young children to spot the signs early and seek support when they need it. The campaign prompts parents and families to provide early support by visiting ScreenForAutism.org or DeteccionDeAutismo.org, to access both English and Spanish resources to identify the signs of autism, take part in a screening questionnaire, and request information from the Autism Speaks Autism Response Team before, during and after a child’s diagnosis. In addition, the site features free, bilingual materials such as the 100 Day Kit, providing families pivotal information and advice for making the best possible use of the first 100 days following a diagnosis.

Visit ScreenForAutism.org or DeteccionDeAutismo.org to learn more.