Latest Data from Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Show INCREASE in Autism Rate – Now at 1 in 68 Children

FORT LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla.– March 28,2014-

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new findings (March 2014) related to the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States – now, the number stands at 1 in 68. Look a little deeper at that number and 1 in 42 boys will have ASD.

To bring additional focus and attention on ASD, April is National Autism Awareness Month, and there’s a special focus on April 2^nd as World Autism Awareness Day.

For media working stories related to autism, National Autism Awareness Month, World Autism Awareness Day or the release of new data by the CDC, Nova Southeastern University is a leader in providing research and services to individuals with autism and is home to a nationally recognized Subject Matter Expert.

Susan S. Kabot, Ed.D., CCC-SLP is executive director of The Autism Institute at NSU’s Mailman Segal Center for Human Development. She is currently responsible for Starting Right, an early intervention parent-child program; the Baudhuin Preschool, a partnership with the School Board of Broward County, Florida to provide a specialized preschool program to 135 students with autism or related disabilities; the Autism Consortium, which provides training and technical assistance to school districts around the country; the Unicorn Children’s Foundation Autism Diagnostic and Assessment Clinic and NSU’s Interdisciplinary Council for the Study of Autism. She is also responsible for two new programs that opened on NSU’s main campus: a private preschool to grade 1 program for children with ASD and a college support program, Access Plus, for students with autism who meet the admissions requirements for NSU. Kabot currently serves as the Special Needs Coordinator of Camp Yofi, a family camp for families of children with autism.

Kabot is the author of Setting up Classroom Spaces that Support Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders andBuilding Independence: Structured Work Systems for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, both published by Autism Asperger Publishing Company (AAPC).

She has graduate degrees in special education and speech-language pathology, and a doctoral degree in the management of programs for children and youth. Kabot is a Florida licensed speech-language pathologist and holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech/Language/Hearing Association.

She has been an active participant in autism-related organizations and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Broward County chapter of the Autism Society, The Broward Autism Foundation, and the constituency board of the Miami Center for Autism and Related Disorders. Currently, she is on the Advisory Committee of JAFCO’s Children’s Abilities Center. She is a member of the Autism Society’s Panel of Professional Advisors.

In 2009, Susan received an appointment from Governor Crist to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Program Planning and Evaluation Committee and is a member of the Health Care and Prevention and Self-Advocacy-Leadership Task Forces. She is an elected member of the Executive Committee.

Her commitment to the field of autism is fueled by Michael, her adult son who has autism.

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About Nova Southeastern University: Situated on 314 beautiful acres in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic, fully accredited research institution dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs at all levels.  NSU is a not-for-profit independent institution with an enrollment of 27,000 students. NSU awards associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields.  NSU is classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of only 37 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification.  For more information, please visit www.nova.edu. Celebrating 50 years of academic excellence!

Media Contact:

Joe Donzelli | Office of Public Affairs
954-262-2159 (office)
954-661-4571 (cell)
jdonzelli@nova.edu