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Our Mission
First Signs is
dedicated to educating parents and professionals about autism and related disorders.
With developmental,
behavioral, and learning
disabilities on the rise,
there is much that remains
poorly understood, from
cause to cure. However,
there is one widely accepted
fact: early and intensive
intervention can have a
profound impact on the
quality of life for children
at risk and their families.
The key is
early detection. But
recognizing the
early signs can be a
challenge for parents and
healthcare professionals
alike.
First Signs aims to educate
parents, healthcare providers, early childhood educators, and
other professionals to ensure the best developmental outcome for
every child. Our goals are to improve
screening and referral
practices and to lower the age at which young children are
identified with developmental delays and disorders.
The First Signs website provides a
wealth of vital resources, covering a range of issues: from
monitoring development,
to concerns about a child; from
the screening and referral process,
to sharing concerns. We
invite you to explore our website in your search for answers.
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What's new and worth knowing
about...
First Signs is proud to announce we are now part of the Autism Institute at Florida State University's College of Medicine. Learn more about the FSU Autism Institute.
Introducing Autism Navigator, a unique collection of web-based tools and courses developed to bridge the gap between science and community practice. The most current research integrated into a highly interactive web platform with extensive video footage to illustrate effective evidence-based practice. Learn more.
Visit our sister site, The FIRST WORDS® Project. Their goal is to improve screening tools and early detection of communication problems by maximizing the role of the family and to help families support their child’s development and access intervention services sooner. Learn more.
The ASD Video Glossary has been updated — both in content based on the new DSM-5 diagnostic framework and in technology for accessibility on mobile devices. The Glossary is now part of the Autism Navigator collection of tools. Learn how to spot early red flags for autism by viewing side-by-side video clips of children with typical behaviors in comparison with children with autism. Enter the ASD Video Glossary
Recommended Reading: (1) Could it Be Autism? A Parent’s Guide to the First Signs and Next Steps, by founder, Nancy D. Rich Wiseman (Broadway Books, 2006). [Read more information and reviews | Order online | Read an excerpt] (2) The First Year®: Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed Child, by founder Nancy D. Rich Wiseman (Da Capo Press, 2009). [Read more information and reviews | Read an excerpt | Read the Table of Contents | Order online] |
