What is the purpose of this study? The Autism Treatment Network (ATN) is a nation wide network developed with a mission to create a standard of care in medical treatment dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with autism and their families. In order to achieve this standard of care, participating institutions, such as the University of Washington, are using open research collaboration to find better ways to identify and manage the health conditions of individuals with autism. Please see the Autism Treatment Network website for more information: http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/programs/atn/

How can I participate? What are the criteria?

Your family can participate if:

• You have a child between the ages of 3 and 18 years old that you suspect has autistic disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS), or Asperger’s Disorder.

AND

• Your child is coming to the UW Autism Center for a diagnostic evaluation.

What does participation in the study mean? Participation in the study simply means that you agree to have the information collected during your child’s diagnostic visit to the UW Autism Center recorded in our research database. All information is kept strictly confidential and all collected medical information is kept separate from identifying information in our highly secure, encrypted, and protected database.

What is the time commitment for participation in the study?There is no additional time required for participation in this study.

What will my family get out of the study? By participating in this study you will be helping to advance our understanding of the medical conditions associated with autism. This will aid research in developing a standard of care for identifying and treating these conditions.

What are the risks to participating in this study and what safeguards are in place to minimize any risks? All information collected as part of this study is kept strictly confidential and all collected medical information is kept separate from identifying information in our highly secure, encrypted, and protected database.

Who are the investigators involved in this project? The members of the University of Washington Autism Treatment Network research team involved in this project are: Geraldine Dawson, PhD, Bryan King, MD, and Raphael Bernier, PhD. Additionally, the network involves treatment facilities and researchers at Columbia University, Baylor College of Medicine, Oregon Health & Sciences University, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Whom should I contact to get involved? When you schedule your diagnostic appointment at the University of Washington Autism Center, you will be asked if you wish to have the information collected as part of your standard diagnostic evaluation recorded in the Autism Treatment Network data repository. The UW Autism Center’s scheduling office number is: 206.221.6806.