The second of four segments ("Integrating Supports in the Classroom") in Understanding Autism: A Guide for Secondary Teachers. The DVD is designed to provide general education teachers with strategies for supporting their middle and high school students with autism. At the end of this segment, viewers will be able to: (1) Match interventions to learner strengths, skills, and interests; (2) Describe how priming can be used in a classroom setting; (3) Discuss the types of academic supports that a learner might need to be successful in a general education setting; (4) Create a home base for a student with autism; (5) Provide examples of visual supports to enhance the skills acquisition of learners with autism; and (6) Integrate reinforcement into the daily schedule of the student with autism. The DVD was produced by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) in collaboration with Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools, and made possible by grants from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. To provide feedback or inquire about using this resource in your school district, please visit www.researchautism.org or send an e-mail to programs@researchautism.org.

Visit http://bit.ly/2K7YCJO for more info about our campaign with Julia from Sesame Street. To read more about Autism Speaks' awareness, fundraising, science, and advocacy efforts, or to read about some of our other exciting initiatives, please visit: www.autismspeaks.org. Though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 18 months, most children aren’t diagnosed until between 4 and 5 years old—and studies indicate that age is even higher for low-income and minority children. The new bilingual awareness campaign featuring Julia, a four-year-old Sesame Street Muppet with autism, promotes early screening and diagnosis, which can open a world of possibilities for the estimated 1 in 59 children with autism. The multimedia campaign, including new video public service announcements, grew out of a partnership between the Ad Council, Autism Speaks and Sesame Workshop. The campaign stars Julia and her Sesame Street friends and family, helping parents to learn the signs of autism and understand the importance of early screening and diagnosis, ultimately making a meaningful difference in the lives of children with autism. Visit www.screenforautism.org for more info about the campaign. Special thanks to BBDO New York, the long-time volunteer agency for Autism Speaks.

Autism Speaks joined the Ad Council and BBDO New York, the long-time volunteer agency for Autism Speaks, to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to help parents recognize the early signs of autism and take immediate action. For the first time in the campaign’s history, the new PSAs feature an imaginative world, created using 3D and stop-motion animation, inspired by stories of real children with autism and told from the perspective of a child with autism. The PSAs are an extension of the award-winning “Learn the Signs” campaign, created by BBDO, which has helped significantly increase the percentage of parents who recognize the early warning signs of autism. To read more about Autism Speaks' awareness, fundraising, science, and advocacy efforts, or to read about some of our other exciting initiatives, please visit: www.autismspeaks.org.

On March 26, 2020, the CDC estimate on autism prevalence increased by nearly 10 percent, to 1 in 54 children in the U.S. Andy Shih, PhD, senior vice president of public health and inclusion, offers insight on the report’s findings and what they mean for people with autism and their families. To read more about Autism Speaks' science, advocacy and awareness & acceptance efforts, or to read about some of our other exciting initiatives, please visit: www.autismspeaks.org.

We asked some autistic adults, what kindness means to them. We want to make 2020 the "Year of Kindness!" Join us by taking the #KindnessCounts pledge at autismspeaks.org/kindness To read more about Autism Speaks' science, advocacy and awareness & acceptance efforts, or to read about some of our other exciting initiatives, please visit: www.autismspeaks.org.