ASA’s full range of family support, children’s programming, public outreach and autism awareness campaigns are available to all interested in the betterment of life for not only individuals and families with autism, but to the community of South Florida as a whole. 

History...

The Broward Chapter of the Autism Society of America was founded in 1992.  It is dedicated to the education and welfare of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.   

Locally, the Broward Chapter has had many accomplishments in the areas of advocacy, information and referral, and parent support.  Broward ASA has been the impetus to initiate many educational programs for autistic students in Broward County.  We have been involved in the advisory process of initiating programs on the preschool and elementary level, the Program for Autistic Secondary Students (PASS) in 1995, and a middle school program in 1996.  We continue to work with the school system to dispense information and support through ACE, an autism subcommittee of Exceptional Student Education.

Family and Community Support Services

 Parent Education

• Monthly Meetings with Guest Speakers specializing in the area of Autism

• Monthly Parent Support Group

• Adult Services Work Group

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Financial subsidizing of special programs in ice skating, horse back riding and gymnastics

• Scholarships for summer camp programs 

Education and the Community

• Autism Awareness Campaigning

• Actively participate in research based organizations such as the National Alliance of Autism Research (NAAR)

• Legislation Advocacy

• Support of organizations such as the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), YMCA, Family Network on Disabilities (parent advocacy) and Easter Seals

• Conduct Community Presentations:

  • Early Intervention Training for Pediatricians

  • Law Enforcement and the Autistic Person

   

• Co-Sponsorship in many local Autism Conferences and ESE Parent Trainings

• Maintain active collaboration with local public and private schools to educate in autism

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What is Autism?

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 500 individuals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1997). Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence.

Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resistance to changes in routines. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

Over one half million people in the U.S. today have autism or some form of pervasive developmental disorder. Its prevalence rate makes autism one of the most common developmental disabilities. Yet most of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism.

Several related disorders are grouped under the broad heading "Pervasive Developmental Disorder" or PDD-a general category of disorders which are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development (American Psychiatric Association 1994). A standard reference is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), a diagnostic handbook now in its fourth edition. The DSM-IV lists criteria to be met for a specific diagnosis under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Diagnosis is made when a specified number of characteristics listed in the DSM-IV are present. Diagnostic evaluations are based on the presence of specific behaviors indicated by observation and through parent consultation, and should be made by an experienced, highly trained team. Thus, when professionals or parents are referring to different types of autism, often they are distinguishing autism from one of the other pervasive developmental disorders.