Regional Autism Center
Regional Autism Center (RAC) is a multidisciplinary center for assessment, management and research related to children and adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders. The core team includes developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, nurse practitioners, speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists and social workers. Patients are seen for diagnostic evaluation and second opinion regarding diagnosis, recommendations for services and treatments, and consultation for treatment program design. Staff provides case- and program-centered consultations, in-service workshops for community-based service providers, and community-based treatment programs (e.g., social skills training for young children with Asperger’s disorder). The RAC and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing recently were selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be one of four new sites designated as Centers for Excellence for Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology.