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On the Spectrum: Children and Autism VHS & DVDAutism Society of America Presents 2002 Media Excellence in Video Award to First Signs for On the Spectrum: Children and Autism

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - (July 20, 2002) -- The Autism Society of America (ASA) awarded its Media Excellence in Video Award for 2002 to On the Spectrum: Children and Autism, produced by the non-profit organization First Signs, Inc. The award was presented to First Signs ’ president and founder, Nancy Wiseman, on July 20, 2002 at the ASA’s national conference in Indianapolis, IN.

On the Spectrum, a 20-minute educational video for primary care pediatric and family practitioners, serves as part of a national campaign by the Massachusetts-based non-profit organization, First Signs, Inc. The campaign is designed to promote early identification and intervention of children at risk for autism and other developmental disorders and to help physicians recognize their early warning signs. The video was created in collaboration with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community, Inc. (COSAC), and First Signs, Inc.

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On the Spectrum portrays autism spectrum disorders with well-organized, factual and clear content, excellent visuals, and informative interviews. The video outlines the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders, provides the guidelines for conducting a developmental screening, and describes how to relay developmental concerns to parents. Differences in development are vividly demonstrated through videotaped examples of typical and atypical behavior in children from four to thirty-six months of age.

On the Spectrum is filmed in a documentary style. Newswoman Lesley Stahl of CBS’s 60 Minutes narrates the video; it also features actor and autism advocate Anthony Edwards of E.R. and parents of children with autism, including football legend Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie Flutie. The video draws upon clinical expertise, with interviews of some of the nation’s top experts in the field, including Margaret Bauman, MD; Frances Page Glascoe, Ph.D.; Stanley Greenspan, MD; Rebecca Landa, Ph.D.; and Catherine Lord, Ph.D.

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On the Spectrum will help physicians and other healthcare providers learn the critical signs to look for during each stage of development. The video explains that physicians and others cannot afford to “wait and see” when parents report concerns about their child’s development. By offering this information in a brief 20-minute video, First Signs hopes to increase the likelihood that physicians will take time from their busy schedules to learn about this important topic.

The video is a component in the First Signs Screening Kit for physicians, which also includes a developmental milestones wall chart for physician’s offices, validated screening tools, screening guidelines and an Early Intervention Referral Guide.

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Funding for the New Jersey version of the video was contributed by the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Autism, Parents of Autistic Children (POAC) and Cure Autism Now (CAN).

Executive producers are Nancy D. Wiseman and Elaine M. Gabovitch, officers of First Signs, Inc., Merrimac, MA. Producer is Richard Sher, Pipit & Finch Productions, Inc., Waltham, MA. Editing, camera and sound by Sid Levin and Nancy Maurer, First Frame, Inc., Concord, MA.

On the Spectrum was produced in May 2001. First Signs plans to release the educational video to a national audience with proper funding in the future.

To order On the Spectrum, click here.

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