Overview of the National Standards Project

What is the Purpose?

The National Standards Project serves three primary purposes:

1. To identify the level of research support currently available for educational and behavioral interventions used with individuals (below 22 years of age)1 with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These interventions address the core characteristics of these neurological disorders. Knowing levels of research support is an important component in selecting treatments that are appropriate for individuals on the autism spectrum.
2. To help parents, caregivers, educators, and service providers understand how to integrate critical information in making treatment decisions. Specifically, evidencebased practice involves the integration of research findings with {a} professional judgment and data-based clinical decision-making, {b} values and preferences of families, and {c} assessing and improving the capacity of the system to implement the intervention with a high degree of accuracy.
3. To identify limitations of the existing treatment research involving individuals with ASD.

We hope that the National Standards Project will help individuals with ASD, their families, caregivers, educators, and service providers to select treatments that support people on the autism spectrum in reaching their full potential.

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