Autism Community Network

THE GOAL OF ACN'S CLINICAL SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY AND TIMELY AUTISMDIAGNOSES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. In 2023, Autism Community Network (ACN) received 1,087 referrals from pediatricians or primary care physicians. Of the 1,087 children referred for services, 111 were over the age of services and 125 were unable to be scheduled or declined services.352 were under 36 months at the time of referral and thus placed into Earliest Connections Clinic (ECC) Diagnostic program. ECC was initiated in 2019 to serve infants at an increased risk for an autism diagnosis to afford these children earlier access to diagnosis and crucial early intervention services. Of the remaining children, ACN conducted 294 (78% attrition rate) screeners which are focused examinations meant to look for markers of developmental differences in communication, social reciprocity, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. 74% were recommended to return for a diagnostic appointment. 126 full interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluations were scheduled in 2023, and 110 were completed. 67% received a positive diagnosis with a 87% attendance rate. 54 children were placed on the expedited diagnostic track and 48 were completed. 56% received a positive diagnosis for autism. 257 Earliest Connections Clinic (ECC) appointments were scheduled and 213 were completed (83% attendance rate). 60% of those evaluated were positively diagnosed. A new diagnostic track was added in 2022 which is called MD only. This evaluation requires the physician only to medically evaluate the child, mostly because there is a wealth of medical history, along with public school eligibility (most often), and the presentation is usually very clear cut. Out of 85 scheduled appointments, 71 were completed with a diagnostic rate of 87%. ACNs Caregiver Empowerment Program had a number of successes and new initiatives come on board in 2023. When ACN shifted into lockdown in March 2020, ACN began providing virtual programming to support caregivers during this unprecedented time. Within four weeks of shutdown, ACN launched an online weekly education and support program called Coffee & Connection for two reasons. First, it would take the place of Family Empowerment Classes which were hosted at ACN for many years. Second, connection could be maintained with families and professionals, as most were navigating uncharted waters, especially with children who were now relegated to virtual learning, essentially putting special education support services in question. ACN intends to hold these classes in perpetuity and continue to invite speakers from collective impact group members such as Special Reach, Respite Care, and Any Baby Can, as well as speakers sought out to target specific, underserved subsets of our demographic. Furthermore, ACN can offer professional speakers from all over the United States, Canada, the UK, and now Australia, through existing relationships ACN clinic staff have. In 2023, Autism Community Network conducted 131 classes through Coffee & Connections, Off-site Trainings, and On-Demand Trainings. "Fam Jams" were introduced on ACN's new campus in 2023. The inaugural event, "Friendsgiving" was held two weeks before Thanksgiving. 9 families attended the event where they were greeted and served by ACN staff and volunteers while receiving information from an occupational therapist about feeding, eating, and socializing around food with loved ones.PACT ACN is proud to be the first in the US to use Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy or PACT. In 2023, 42 caregivers of 28 children participated in PACT.PACT is a theory based, parent-mediated, and video-aided intervention designed to improve social communications competencies in children with ASD. The principles of PACT derive from research on pre-linguistic, pragmatic, and language development. The approach is based on interventions developed for children with developmental language delays and targets core impairments in shared attention, understanding, and intentional communication. The rationale for PACT intervention is based on findings that children with ASD require a style of adapted interaction that is specifically matched to their individual level of social communication, (Green et al., 2010). PACT intervention occurs through child-led, naturalistic play, which is supported by the childs caregiver and filmed for retrospective reflective analysis. PACT intervention occurs through child-led, naturalistic play, which is supported by the childs caregiver and filmed for retrospective reflective analysis. Researched and developed in the UK, PACT has only recently become available in the US. ACN offers PACT training assuring primary caregivers of young children with autism, their parents, their teachers, and their early interventionists access to state of the art, evidence based, parent-mediated intervention shown to help caregivers understand and adapt to their young childs cues to promote the optimal developmental trajectory of children impacted by autism. Camp AUSOME! In 2023 ACN hosted the second STEM/Technology/Coding summer camp for autistic children called Camp AUSOME! WE:Code, in partnership with Youth Code Jam and The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. All participants were given full scholarships for the weeklong camp. Additionally, Autism Community Network hosted a camp called WE:Go at Camp Aranzazu in Rockport, TX. 5 children attended and were all fully scholarshipped. This camp is for neurotypical siblings of autistic children and was born out of a new program called "Sibships." "Sibshops" is a recreational support group for neurotypical siblings of autistic children.

THE GOAL OF THE ACN'S AWARENESS, OUTREACH, AND COLLABORATIONPROGRAM IS TO CULTIVATE A HIGH LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF AUTISM IN THE SANANTONIO AREA, CREATE SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS FOR FAMILIES THAT ARESAFE FOR CHILDREN AND ALLOW PARENTS/CAREGIVERS TO CONNECT, AND GENERATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCED PROGRAM AND SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.2023 ACN COLLABORATIONS Local agencies/school district collaborations: Bexar County, SAISD, NISD, Voices for our Children, YMCA, DHS Early Head Start Program, Youth Code Jam, AACOG, EISD, Early Head Start, Camp Aranzazu, Autism Lifeline Links, COSA, Brighton ECI, Kinetic Kids, Easter Seals ECI, KLRN, SAPD, and Any Baby Can. National/International agencies/programs collaborations: Star Institute, Denver CO, Profectum Foundation, PACT UK, Queens University, and UC Davis MIND Institute. Mentorship/Training with area universities: UT Health OTD Program, UTSA Citymester Program, University of the Incarnate Word; School of Osteopathic Medicine, St. Augustine University, and University of the Incarnate Word; School of Professional Studies.ACN hosted the 20th Annual Le Brunch des Chapeaux in April 2023. The luncheon netted over $290,000 and hosted over 530 attendees. The annual golf tournament, All Teed up for Autism, was hosted at Canyon Spring Golf Course in October 2023 and netted $20,000.

The goal of acn's training and education services is toprovide high quality, best practices training and education for autismservice providers and parents/primary caregivers of children with Autism.