Back in 2005, traversing the terrain to diagnose an autism spectrum disorder was different than it is today.

With money from the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, surveys were sent out to map this landscape. Of the 524 returned (about half from service providers and half from parents of children with autism), the picture that emerged wasn’t pretty.

Parents who were concerned about their kids often couldn’t receive a diagnosis for a year or more. And that wasn’t all.

“A common concern was that people didn’t have access to reliable diagnoses for parents who were concerned about kids on the autism spectrum,” said Kate Green, a developmental specialist.

So, in 2006, a new way to bring parents and service providers together was built.

The University Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment team was formed. UCAN is made of psychologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, developmental specialists and speech pathologists who all work together to help children, from 3 to 18, get a diagnosis and a plan for services or more evaluations.

At first, the Reno-based team saw one child a month, but now the program has evolved to support a social worker and three teams who are able to see three children a month. Another side of that evolution contributes to service providers. UCAN teams also include psychology doctorate fellows and graduate students from speech pathology.

“It has turned into a training venue,” said Green, who works with UCAN.

Of all the children who are referred, Green said about 43-46% leave with a ASD diagnosis. But everyone, regardless of diagnosis, leaves with a plan mapping further tests, services or both.

Need help with acronyms?
Check out NCED’s list of definitions at Alphabet Soup

UCAN has also partnered with the Lili Claire Foundation and Renown Hospital to present a lecture series on ASD. Read more at:
Event: Lecture Series on Autism Spectrum Disorders