Rush University Medical Center has launched the Autism Resource Center, a comprehensive online and phone referral source for services ranging from therapy and after-school programs to dental practices that cater to children with autism.

The incidence of autism has increased dramatically, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  One in 150 children is now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication and unusual behavior and interests.

“There is no known cure for autism, but research has shown that the kinds of services we have included in our resource guide can have a tremendous positive impact on educational performance, socialization, language skills and sensory integration,” said Dr. Louis Kraus, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush “That’s why it is so important to help families find the right resources and learn where and how they can link up with these programs.”

Among other things, families can find where their children can get a haircut, learn how to swim, or get a cavity filled – experiences that can be especially difficult for kids with autism.

The online resource guide, at www.rush.edu/autism, provides referrals in Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, Will, Grundy and Kankakee counties.

It includes listings for a wide variety of services and programs, including:  neurological assessment and evaluation; behavioral management, case management and home-based interventions; education; respite care; recreation (with lists of appropriate toys, books and films, as well as summer camps and play groups); different kinds of therapy (for example, cognitive, art, and family therapies); research studies and clinical trials; and support groups.

Each listing includes information on fees, whether insurance is accepted, direct Web links to the resource, and information about wait lists.  Listings are reviewed and updated daily.  And, in an effort to continually improve the database, a brief voluntary online survey seeks feedback on whether families who used it were able to find what they were looking for and whether the listed services met their needs and were helpful.

Families who prefer can call the Resource Center at (312) 563-2272 instead of searching the database online.

“There is a wealth of services in the Chicago area, but finding the right programs for children, whatever their needs might be, can be extremely time-consuming and frustrating,”  Kraus said.  “Our resource guide makes the process so much easier.”