Funded Projects

Goals and Objectives:

The Autism Consortium of Texas LEND (ACT LEND) will increase the capacity of the workforce in Texas to better serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD). Texas is the second largest state in the United States based on area and population with over 29 million people. Texas is one of the most diverse states in the country with over 50% of the population comprised of Latinos or Black Americans. National survey estimates for Texas suggest that approximately 17.4% of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) reside in Texas, equating to approximately 1.3 million Texan children. Approximately 74,000 children receive educational supports through Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and 69% of these are from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds with Latino children comprising the majority. The ACT LEND program will focus on the needs of underserved racial, ethnic, and rural populations in Texas. ACT LEND will implement the following goals: 1) conduct interdisciplinary leadership training; 2) promote health equity in screening, diagnosis, and service delivery; 3) provide continuing education for practicing professionals in Texas; and 4) disseminate evidence-based knowledge to key stakeholders. Through these goals, ACT LEND will encourage partnerships to support families, and implement evidence-based practices to improve the health and lifespan outcomes for individuals with ASD and other DDs.