American Legion Child Welfare Foundation Funds National Distribution
Randolph, Mass. – A newly updated version of the National Autism Center’s popular autism manual for educators – Evidence-based Practice and Autism in the Schools, 2nd Edition – is now available free of charge from the Center’s website at www.nationalautismcenter.org.
Since the manual was first published in 2010, tens of thousands of copies have been downloaded or purchased by teachers and front-line interventionists from across the country and throughout the world. Responses to a national survey indicate that the first edition of the manual made a significant impact on improving educators’ knowledge about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and providing effective interventions for students on the spectrum.
The updated manual features results of the National Standards Project*, Phase 2, including information about the 14 Established Interventions for children and adolescents that have the most research support, produce beneficial outcomes, and are known to be effective.
In addition to providing information about recently published research findings, the manual includes case studies, practical tools, and reading recommendations to help special education teachers, administrators, and families.
[Download free pdf of the manual here.]
Generous funding of $50,000 provided by the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation enabled the National Autism Center to distribute the manual free of charge to thousands of special education programs in schools nationwide that have experienced staffing or funding cutbacks or are lacking in resources.
“Given the challenges of providing appropriate services to a diverse and increasingly numerous student population with ASD in this country, the need for evidence-based practice in our schools has never been so urgent,” said Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP, President and CEO of May Institute, which houses the National Autism Center. “We must provide our educators with the tools and resources they need to give children and adolescents the greatest chance for success.”
*The National Standards Project
The National Autism Center’s National Standards Project is the only systematic review of ASD interventions for individuals across the lifespan based on all available, published studies. Through a rigorous process utilizing tools and strategies designed and vetted by a team of national experts, the Project’s goal was to analyze the research that was conducted and the impact on participants, and to determine the strength and scientific rigor of that research. The National Standards Project, Phase 2, was released in April of 2015.
About the National Autism Center
The National Autism Center at May Institute is a dedicated to serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing reliable information, promoting best practices, and offering comprehensive resources for families, practitioners, and communities. For more information about the National Autism Center at May Institute, please visit www.nationalautismcenter.org.
