ECHO autism

Abstract

Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have significant healthcare needs, from timely and accurate diagnosis, through ongoing care and support. However, shortages of healthcare providers with training in ASD, limited capacity at specialty centers, and geographic and socioeconomic barriers contribute to diagnostic delays and gaps in healthcare delivery. The ECHO Autism program seeks to address these challenges by leveraging videoconferencing technology to provide interdisciplinary training and mentorship to community-based providers in best-practice care for children and adults with ASD. This chapter provides an overview of the healthcare needs and barriers experienced by individuals with ASD, and describes applications and evidence supporting the use of the ECHO Autism model for increasing local expertise in best-practice autism care.