OKLAHOMA CITY -- The CDC now estimates one in every 110 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD) and studies show they respond significantly to early intervention. You may not be able to tell that two-year-old Blaine Davis has autism. But his parents, Steve and Jennifer Davis, could tell something was wrong when he was 14 months old. Blaine didn't respond to his father calling his name.
"Actually coming up behind him, he's playing with a toy, sitting there, (I'm) clapping my hands as loud as I could," Steve says, "and (he's) not even responding."
"You wouldn't think that you'd have to teach your child how to point," Jennifer says.
So in December, Jennifer and Steve placed Blaine in a pilot project called the Autism Workforce Initiative.
Created by specialists at the OU Health Sciences Center, its goal is early identification of autism and intensive intervention in a program called Early Foundations.
The project is using federal and state funding to give autistic children 17 hours of treatment per week.
The result? One similar study showed an increase of 15 to 20 IQ points after receiving behavioral therapy.
"Trading toys, sharing toys with other kids, following classroom routines. All of the things other kids their age would be learning too," says Bonnie McBride, PhD and Principal Investigator of Early Foundations.
The program will also train pediatricians like Kathleen Combs to better identify the earliest warning signs of autism.
"I can get the kid diagnosed and get the kid into a program like Early Foundations where he can start learning," Combs says. "His family can start receiving the support that they need."
Early Foundations training has given Blaine the skills to better communicate with his parents.
Small steps that mean the World to them.
"Blaine is a completely different child now," Jennifer says.
Officials are applying for three federal grants to help expand the program throughout Oklahoma.
Two replication projects are already underway in Cleveland and Canadian Counties.
Enrollment in this project is free to families who qualify through the Department of Education's "Sooner Start" program.
"Actually coming up behind him, he's playing with a toy, sitting there, (I'm) clapping my hands as loud as I could," Steve says, "and (he's) not even responding."
"You wouldn't think that you'd have to teach your child how to point," Jennifer says.
So in December, Jennifer and Steve placed Blaine in a pilot project called the Autism Workforce Initiative.
Created by specialists at the OU Health Sciences Center, its goal is early identification of autism and intensive intervention in a program called Early Foundations.
The project is using federal and state funding to give autistic children 17 hours of treatment per week.
The result? One similar study showed an increase of 15 to 20 IQ points after receiving behavioral therapy.
"Trading toys, sharing toys with other kids, following classroom routines. All of the things other kids their age would be learning too," says Bonnie McBride, PhD and Principal Investigator of Early Foundations.
The program will also train pediatricians like Kathleen Combs to better identify the earliest warning signs of autism.
"I can get the kid diagnosed and get the kid into a program like Early Foundations where he can start learning," Combs says. "His family can start receiving the support that they need."
Early Foundations training has given Blaine the skills to better communicate with his parents.
Small steps that mean the World to them.
"Blaine is a completely different child now," Jennifer says.
Officials are applying for three federal grants to help expand the program throughout Oklahoma.
Two replication projects are already underway in Cleveland and Canadian Counties.
Enrollment in this project is free to families who qualify through the Department of Education's "Sooner Start" program.
