That promotes awareness of:
- healthy developmental milestones in early childhood
- the importance of tracking each child’s development
- the importance of acting early if there are concerns
About
Act Early Indiana promotes awareness of healthy child development, teaches parents the appropriate developmental milestones and helps promote early detection for autism awareness.
Learn the Signs. Act Early.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) "Learn the Signs. Act Early." program aims to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the services and support they need as early as possible.
The CDC works with the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs and other partners in the delivery of this program.
Find out more
The Act Early Indiana program is made up of three components:
About 1 in 68 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Source: Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) NetworkResources and Materials
CDC's Free Milestone Tracker App
Milestones matter! Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.
From birth to age 5, your child should reach milestones in how he or she plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves. Photos and videos in this app illustrate each milestone and make tracking them for your child easy and fun!
Early Intervention Connection
First Steps is Indiana's early intervention program that provides services to infants and toddlers from birth to their third birthday who have developmental delays or disabilities. First Steps brings families together with a local network of professionals from education, health and social service agencies.
Telephone: (800) 545-7763
Roadmap to Services Brochure
This brochure provides information on the early signs of autism in the areas of communication, social skills, and restrictive or repetitive interests, steps for obtaining a diagnosis, and where to find additional services and supports. The resources in this brochure empower families to take the next step they believe will help their child now. English and Spanish versions available at no charge.
How and Where to Obtain a Diagnosis/Assessment in Indiana
This article outlines the process of obtaining a diagnosis/assessment when an individual is suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder. Includes a listing of resources for obtaining a diagnosis/assessment for children and adults in Indiana and surrounding states.
Autism Speaks - First 100 Day Kit
The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit for Newly Diagnosed Families of Young Children was created specifically for families of children ages 4 and under to make the best possible use of the 100 days following their child's diagnosis of autism.
CDC/Act Early Materials
View, print or order materials designed for families and professionals. All materials are available in English and Spanish unless otherwise indicated. Certain materials are available in other languages as well. Materials are available at no charge. Also, includes directions for organizations to customize materials with contact information.
"After the Diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder" booklet
This publication is designed to provide Indiana families a place to start to navigate systems and service delivery options after their child receives an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Includes information on what it means to have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, what services and supports are available, funding, and a state resource list. English and Spanish versions available at no charge.
Where and How to Find ABA Providers in Indiana
The information provided in this article may help you think through some issues that may be important as you explore ABA options for your child and family. Includes a listing of providers for ABA services.
Parent Support Groups
Click the button below to get to a listing of support groups across Indiana for parents of children across the autism spectrum. This information is provided to help those families trying to locate a group for support.You can also use the "Search" function at the top of this page to find parent support group listings from other state agencies.
The Library at IIDC
The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community’s full-service lending library has a wide variety of resources about disabilities across the lifespan, available online and for checkout. Regardless of where you live we are happy to lend our materials through the mail or in person.
Search All Resources
This search function will provide results from state and national resources. If your search does not provide the information you need, please contact a staff member from the organizations in the "Contact Us" area of this website.
Training
- Watch Me Training (designed for early care and education providers)
This 3-hour, 4 module course features:
- Why monitoring children’s development is important
- Why you have a unique and important role in developmental monitoring
- How to easily monitor each child’s developmental milestones
- How to talk with parents about their child’s development
Learning objectives for the training include:
- List three developmental concerns that early care and educators should monitor
- Identify at least three developmental milestones for class’s age group
- Describe how to use “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” resources in early care and education work with parents
- Describe two communication strategies to use when talking with families about their child’s development
- Autism Case Training (ACT) (designed for healthcare providers)
Autism Case Training (ACT) is a web-based continuing education course.
This free introductory course is designed to help primary health care providers gain knowledge and skills to improve early identification of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The three modules in this course will help you better:
- identify autism spectrum disorder
- assist a family through the diagnostic process
- and care for patients with Autism spectrum disorder
You can select the modules most relevant to you - take one, two or all three. Each module contains two or three case studies based on real-life situations. You may complete all cases within a module at once or at different times.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
Source: CDC.govWHO
Meet Indiana’s Act Early Ambassador
Stephan Viehweg, LCSW, IMH-E (IV) is Associate Director of the Riley Child Development Center – Indiana LEND, a nationally recognized interdisciplinary leadership training program supported by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and faculty member of the IU School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and the IU School of Social Work. He is Associate Director of the IUPUI Center for Translating Research Into Practice. He currently serves as the CDC’s Learn the Signs Ambassador to Indiana. He is founding chair of Infancy Onward and founding president of Family Voices Indiana. He is co-author of Tackling the Tough Stuff: A Home Visitor’s Guide to Supporting Families At Risk.
Contact Stephen:
Phone: (317) 944-8167 | Email: sviehweg@iu.edu
Riley Child Development Center
705 Riley Hospital Drive, Rm 5837
Indianapolis, IN 46202
State Partners
INDIANA RESOURCE CENTER FOR AUTISM
Dr. Cathy Pratt, BCBA-D
Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University, Bloomington
Contact information:
Phone: (812) 855-6508
Email: prattc@indiana.edu
Indiana Resource Center for Autism
1905 N. Range Road
Bloomington, IN 47408
Website: www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca
AUTISM SOCIETY OF INDIANA
Contact information:
Phone: (800) 609-8449
Email: info@inautism.org
1800 N. Meridian Street, STE 600
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Website: www.autismsocietyofindiana.org
Contact Us
Cristy James
Resource and Data Coordinator, Riley Child Development Center
crjames@iu.edu | (317) 944-8167
Marci Wheeler
Social Worker, Indiana Resource Center for Autism
mwheeler@indiana.edu | (812) 855-6508
Jill Smith
Grant Officer, The Arc of Indiana
jsmith@arcind.org | (317) 977-2375 or toll free (800) 382-9100
