Wandering Off (Elopement)—Autism Toolkit

Research shows that about 1 in 3 young children with ASD has tried to wander off. This behavior may continue to happen in older children and even teenagers and adults with ASD. This is concerning since many people with ASD may not be able to share their names, addresses, or phone numbers if they get

Your Child and Medications—Autism Toolkit

While medications will not change your child’s autism spectrum disorder (ASD), they can be helpful when added to other treatments to help your child’s development and learning.

Visiting the Doctor—Autism Toolkit

Going to the doctor can be stressful for any child. For a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there may be extra challenges because of sensory, communication, and other symptoms. Here are some tips to help make visiting the doctor easier.

Vaccines—Autism Toolkit

Scientific studies show that many different genes work together with things in the environment to put a child at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Scientific studies do not show that vaccines cause ASD.

The Medical Home for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder—Autism Toolkit

Parents, pediatricians, and other health care professionals are encouraged to work together so that all of the needs of children and youths are met. This partnership is at the core of what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls a medical home. The medical home is not a physical place but rather

Toilet Training—Autism Toolkit

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have slowed development, may be stuck on their own routines, or may be nervous about learning a new skill. They may not understand how to copy the steps using the toilet, or they may not understand the words parents are using. Many children with ASD

Teaching Social Skills—Autism Toolkit

Having a hard time socializing is one of the key features in children witdh autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD can have difficulty with many social skills.

Talking About Sexuality for Parents of Teens With Autism Spectrum Disorder—Autism Toolkit

All children and teens, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have questions about physical changes in their bodies, emotions, and feelings during and after puberty. It is important to help children and teens understand these changes by talking with them early and often about puberty and

Sleep Problems—Autism Toolkit

Sleep problems are common in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One-half to one-third of children with ASD have sleep problems.

Seizures and Epilepsy—Autism Toolkit

About 1 in 4 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has seizures. Seizures usually start in early childhood or the early teen years. Children with ASD who have a lower IQ or cannot speak have the highest risk for seizures. Epilepsy is defined as 2 or more seizures when the child does not have a