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What Do We Do? Facts About Autism & Related Disabilities - By the Numbers

Components for Caring The Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida (CARD-USF) is one of five regional, university-based CARD centers in Florida. CARD-USF, led by executive director Glen Dunlap, Ph.D. and director Richard Schutz, Ph.D., develops programs offering training and support for individuals, families, professionals, and peers of people with autism and related disabilities throughout eighteen counties in west, central, and southwest Florida. CARD support and services are provided through the following components: Direct Service is the main focus of CARD-USF. This component involves direct assistance for a person with autism or related disability and his or her family and is typically provided in natural community settings such as home, school, and work sites. CARD-USF staff provide this assistance in a variety of ways including problem solving with families, developing behavior support plans, providing training and support to parents, and supplying families with referrals to additional service and support providers. Technical Assistance & Consultation are activities undertaken on behalf of a program (e.g., a classroom, supported living, supported employment) that serves people with autism and related disabilities as opposed to focusing on a specific individual. The foundation of effective technical assistance is based on developing collaborative relationships between families, service providers, and CARD-USF staff. Professional Training focused on various aspects of autism and related disabilities is provided through workshops, conferences, in-service training, and college courses. CARD-USF staff presentations have emphasized many topics including adult services, young children, deaf-blindness, behavioral support, communication, and curricula. Trainings have been conducted for school districts, adult service agencies, college and university courses, and others. Public Education & Awareness focuses on developing and disseminating accurate information about people with autism and related disabilities. A major goal involves accumulating a more actual count of the number of people who are eligible for CARD services. CARD-USF also houses a library which includes various materials focusing on autism and related disabilities. Return to Top Facts about Autism & Related Disabilities Autism is a lifelong neurological disability that affects a person's ability to communicate, understand language, play, and interact with others. There are diagnoses closely related to autism such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder--;Not Otherwise Specified (PDD--;NOS), Asperger's Syndrome, and Rett's Syndrome that are included in the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Every person with autism or a related disability is different. No two people with these disorders experience the world or behave in the same way. The impairment of social skills, communication skills, and cognitive skills can range from mild to severe. Scientists believe there are biological explanations for autism spectrum disorder, but no specific cause has been identified. There are no parenting styles that cause autism. Autism spectrum disorder occurs in about 15 out of every 10,000 births, and it's four times more likely to occur in boys than girls. Families of all cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds are affected by autism. Coping with autism and related disabilities can be complex and frightening for families. At the CARD centers, we provide intervention and services, free of charge, that can help individuals with autism make progress and fulfill their potential to achieve a higher quality of life. Return to Top