Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

A utism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. Because it affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014), the chances are likely that allied health professionals will encounter someone affected by autism. Among the supports NSU offers to those affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is an array of services provided by the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), which is a statewide, university-based network that serves more than 37,000 families across Florida. NSU participates in this network as the flagship satellite program for the main center for South Florida at the University of Miami (UM). UM-NSU CARD serves almost 10,000 families in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. Housed within the Department of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), the NSU CARD Satellite supports 8,900 families affected by ASD. CARD provides a range of services to the commu- nity, addressing the needs of individuals with these disabilities, their families, service providers, schools, and community organizations. All CARD services are free. Throughout Florida, CARD provides direct services, resources, and information; trains families, teachers, caregivers, and employers; and prepares children, adolescents, and adults to become successfully employed, productive citizens. In addition to people who have a diagnosis of autism, UM-NSU CARD serves people with related disabili- ties. These include children with developmental delay and individuals of any age with disorders such as Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and deaf-blindness. Along with partners at UM, the NSU CARD Satellite works to help families become more self-sufficient in managing their child’s care, reducing the burden on other state-funded agencies. The program assists schools in the implementation of evidence-based practices and improving student outcomes. Addition- ally, the program supports constituents who are leaving school, reducing unemployment and under- employment with programs such as the annual Employment Bootcamp. In the previous year, the NSU CARD Satellite supported Broward County residents in numerous ways. Staff members logged more than 7,000 contacts with families who needed assistance and more than 4,300 contacts with professionals and community members. They also hosted 54 educational events and 32 webinars and participated in 25 community events reaching more than 26,000 people. In addition to family assistance and trainings, the NSU CARD Satellite offers a number of groups for individuals to join. These include • Teen Time for Broward County high school students • Gals Group for girls of any age and ability level • behavior support groups (English and Spanish) • Language Links, which is a support group for augmentative and alternative communication • Social GAINN Adult Group • general support groups (English and Spanish) • Together You and I Toddler Group • Communication and Autism Network (CAN) for SLPs The activities of these groups are diverse and based on the needs of the participants. For example, the Gals Group is a community-based, social-opportunity group that meets monthly to help girls with ASD participate in fun, unique activities. Recently, the COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 37