In an effort to improve statistics in Utah—and increase the chances of success for children with autism—the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice is offering a new ECHO training project focused on autism.

When it comes to early detection of autism, Utah lags behind all other states in the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM). Data from 2020 show that only 10 out of 1,000 children are diagnosed with autism within 48 months, while the network average is more than 21 out of 1,000.

However, the number of children diagnosed with autism in Utah has nearly doubled by age eight, demonstrating that while autism is prevalence, many children are not diagnosed with the condition before they start school.

A delay in identification means that autistic children often wait years in school before receiving services.

The Institute for Disability’s Project ECHO is part of the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University.

Autism ECHO sessions begin September 25 and are available to educators, healthcare providers, special services providers, case managers, administrators, and families. Registration is free and the Autism Council of Utah has provided funding.

The ECHO sessions will expand autism early detection training throughout Utah, including the state’s rural and border areas, said Janel Preston of IDRPP, who leads Project ECHO, including the latest training designed to help participants improve early detection.

Preston has seen the impact of training on early detection since 2008, when she began working with IDRPP as an ambassador for Utah’s Act Early. Without training, she says, it was harder for professionals to broach the subject with parents. But as knowledge increased, those conversations became easier.

“I always think that knowledge is power,” she said.

Project ECHO is a model of lifelong learning and guided practice that provides professional development and best practices. IDRPP currently has five ECHO projects that provide professional development to Utah practitioners on topics such as early intervention, mental health, substance abuse, and autism. More than one-third of IDRPP’s ECHO participants come from rural areas.

The ECHO model uses hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing networks led by teams of experts who deliver training on evidence-based practices via videoconferencing. It is particularly helpful for service providers located far from a population center.

For more information, visit the IDRPP Autism ECHO page.

The ADDM is a network that spans 11 states, including Utah, and is “the only collaborative network tracking the number and characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in multiple communities across the United States.”