Tools and Resources for Pediatricians

The AAP offers resources, tools, and trainings to assist pediatric clinicians – including primary care pediatricians and subspecialists - in the care for children and youth with ASD and their families. Resources include free PediaLink educational modules, ASD resource toolkit, quality improvement EQIPP course, resources from the Screening Technical Assistance and Resource Center (STAR), and comprehensive and supporting literature and research focused on ASD.

PediaLink Course: Autism Identification and Collaborative Care
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Developed with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this updated PediaLink course will increase knowledge among pediatric clinicians on evidence-based practices for screening, evaluation, referral and management of autistic children and youth and their families. Course faculty include general pediatricians, subspecialists, and individuals with lived expertise including a families/caregiver and a self-advocate. This course consists of six modules that can be taken in any order. The modules do not have to be completed in sequential order, however, all six must be completed and the post assessment passed in order to obtain CME and MOC credits.

Modules are outlined below:

• Neurodiversity, Social, and Medical Models
• Characteristics, Surveillance, Screening
• Definition and Diagnosis
• Co-occurring Conditions
• Caring for Patients
• Partnering with Patients and Families

Developmental Surveillance and Screening Patient Care
Given the prevalence of developmental delays and disabilities, all pediatric primary care clinicians should be prepared to screen, identify, and care for children and youth with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.

Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Resource Toolkit for Clinicians, 3rd Edition
Completely updated and revised, this toolkit provides practical guidance and fillable forms to facilitate optimal care for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in the medical home. The toolkit was edited by members of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities Autism Subcommittee.

Screening Technical Assistance & Resource Center
The goal of the Screening in Practices Initiative is to improve the health, wellness, and development of children through practice and system-based interventions to increase rates of early childhood screening, referral and follow up. The center includes information about screening, referral, and follow up for developmental disabilities such as ASD.

Pediatric Collection: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children with Disabilities Autism Subcommittee in collaboration with the Academy's Pediatrics team, this comprehensive collection of literature summarizes progress in awareness and research about autism spectrum disorder over the last 15 years. The collection includes peer-reviewed studies and expert recommendations on the following topics: Prevalence; Surveillance, screening, and diagnosis; Disparities; Management of co-occurring conditions; Interventions; Family partnerships; Inclusion and neurodiversity; and Anticipatory guidance. This collection is grounded in the recently co-authored COCWD and SODBP clinical report, "Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder" and includes introductions written by members of the COCWD Autism Subcommittee.