Resources for Autism

ASD (autism spectrum disorder) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that can significantly impact a person’s social skills, communication skills, and behavior. Whether you’re an administrator, friend, or family member of someone on the spectrum, we all need resources for autism from time to time. At the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning, we’re here to help children with autism, as well as those around them. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please contact us today and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions!

For Parents

If you’re looking to enroll your child in our inclusive autism programs, we have all the information you need. With a variety of ages we cater to, your child has a place at our autism center. Our Resources for Parents is a great introduction to what we have to offer and how we can help your child continue to succeed.

Parent Resources

What is Autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during early childhood. It results from a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Autism affects children and adults in many countries irrespective of gender, race or socioeconomic status.
Individuals with autism have restrictive or repetitive behaviors or interests. They also have difficulty with social interaction and communication.
About 1 in 46 or 2.2% of 8-year-old children were identified with ASD in a three-county area (Davis, Salt Lake, and Tooele Counties) in Utah by UT-ADDM in 2018
About 1 in 109 or 0.9% of 4-year-old children were identified with ASD in a three-county area (Davis, Salt Lake, and Tooele Counties) in Utah by UT-ADDM in 2018
The earlier a child is diagnosed, the more impact the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning can have on their future social and learning interactions.

Utah Autism Data

For Friends & Family

Understanding and navigating the autism spectrum can be tricky. If your loved one has been recently diagnosed, you probably have a lot of questions about what autism is and what it means for their future. To make it easier, here are a few tips to help a family member or friend who has a child with autism.

Top 5 Tips to Support Families of Children with Autism

Recognize that you cannot always tell if a child has autism, or other disabilities, just by looking at them.
Don’t judge others by their child’s behavior. It is important to be understanding and that there could be more going on than appears.
If a family member or friend has a child with autism, offer to help them. Ask, “Is there something I can do to help you?”
Educate yourself about autism and other disabilities, especially “invisible disabilities.”
If you do know a family with a child who has autism, find out what their interests are prior to scheduling an activity. Also, find out if there are certain things that are “triggers” and lead to disruptive behavior.

For more insights and information about autism, visit our blog!

Signs and Symptoms

A person with Autism Spectrum Disorder might:

Not respond to their name
Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
Have trouble relating to others or not have interest in other people
Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
Repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, at times over and over (echolalia)
Repeat actions over and over again, flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
Not play “pretend” games, for example not pretend to feed a doll
Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

For Administrators

At the Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning, we have studied and compiled the overlap between evidence-based practices identified by the National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on ASD and the National Standards Project (NSP). Download the file to keep on hand!

Download the File

Resources for Autism