News
Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
Find recent newsletters here.
2024
2023
- Hear about UWAC directly from our staff! — Our 2023 Benefit Dinner Video:
- Autism Weekly podcast on Sleep in Autism with our Director, Annette Estes
- New test for autism uses a single strand of hair
2022
- UWAC research collaboration identifies enlargement of key brain structure in babies who later develop autism
- See the video of our 6th Annual Benefit & Auction!
2021
- See the video of “Illuminating Autism: Building Resilience“, our 5th Annual Benefit & Auction!
2020
- “Studying Baby Brains”, video about Research at the UW Autism Center
- UW News features UWAC: Sleep difficulties in the first year of life linked to altered brain development in infants who later develop autism
- UWAC research into sleep problems was featured in Spectrum News!
- UWAC research was included in the Top 10 Autism Studies of 2019! Congratulations to our Early Steps team!
2019
- The UW Autism Center is delighted to announce that the UW, as part of a multicenter research collaboration, has been awarded a five-year NIH grant to fund a replication of our Infant Brain Imaging Study and confirm the scientific validity of imaging-based early prediction of autism at 6 months of age!
-
The Access to On-Time Intervention project is a collaborative effort between the UW Autism Center and the Haring Center for Inclusive Education, bringing together the expertise of these two organizations to improve children’s access to clinical resources when autism symptoms first emerge.
2018
- UWAC goes to China!
- “Teen’s song honors brother with autism”, proceeds to go to UWAC, read the story and watch the video here!
- The latest installment of UW Autism Stories is now available for listeners! Everyone has an important story to share. Enjoy Autism Stories 3: Tracey and Andrew!
2017
- We were featured on the Emmy-award winning news magazine show UW 360! Click here to go to the whole show, or watch just our clip below!
- UWAC Researchers awarded funding to track brain development and behavior as ASD progresses Its official! UWAC researchers Steve Dager, Annette Estes, and Tanya St. John have been awarded funding by NIH for another 5 years to continue their longitudinal research on younger siblings of children with autism.
- UWAC Lunch & Learn — “Get the Ball Rolling: Early Identification and Intervention in Autism”, a conversation and lunch with UW Autism Center clinician-researchers, Thursday 6/15/17, 11:30 AM – 1 PM, UW Medicine at South Lake Union.
- CHDD Outlook — Apex Summer Camp – A Camp for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Related Disorders
- With autism diagnoses on the rise, UW establishes clinic for babies — To new parents, a baby’s every gurgle and glance are fascinating, from a smile at mom or dad to a reach for a colorful toy. But when a baby doesn’t look at parents and caregivers, imitate gestures and sounds, or engage in play, parents have questions. And a growing number are bringing their babies to the University of Washington Autism Center for answers… read the rest of the article here
- The Latest in Early Intervention Research — Highlighted in UW Today, our Director Annette Estes Ph.D. is the lead author of Long-Term Outcomes of Early Intervention in 6-Year-Old Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study will be published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Hear Dr. Estes’ interview about the lasting benefits of early intervention!
- UW Autism Center Open House 2017 — in April, we celebrated our community connections and Autism Awareness Month at our annual open house.
- Town Hall Seattle Event, “Unpacking the Mysteries of Autism” — in February, we co-hosted this stop in the national book tour for the highly acclaimed history of autism in the US, In A Different Key: The Story of Autism with ABC News authors John Donvan & Caren Zucker, with shared Q&A session with UW Autism Center Director Dr. Annette Estes.
- UWAC Benefit Dinner & Lightning Talks: Illuminating Autism. We had a wonderful time in January at the Seattle Yacht Club. Hope to see you next year!
- Winter 2017 Newsletter
2016
- December 2016 Holiday Tips Newsletter
- October-November 2016 Newsletter
- August-September 2016 Newsletter
- June-July 2016 Newsletter
- April-May 2016 Newsletter
- February-March 2016 Newsletter
- December 2015 January 2016 Newsletter
2015
- October 2015 Newsletter
- The latest developments in autism research- Baby sibs show hints of autism before symptoms surface. This story was published in September in Spectrum, the leading source of news and expert opinion on autism research.
- August 2015 Newsletter
- June 2015 Newsletter
- April 2015 Newsletter
- February 2015 Newsletter
- New Early Intervention Research Highlighted in UW Today, our Director Annette Estes Ph.D. is the lead author of Long-Term Outcomes of Early Intervention in 6-Year-Old Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study was published the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Hear Dr. Estes’ interview about the lasting benefits of early intervention!
- Interview on Microsoft Autism Hiring Initiative Marcie Sillman, of KUOW’s The Record spoke with our Director Annette Estes Ph.D. about the advantages of employing people with autism. Listen to the story here!
- Run-2-Pieces Was a Great Success! A giant thank you to Aikido Kokikai South Everett & the Shevitz Family and all of the generous sponsors, volunteers and runners who showed their support for the 1st Run-2-Pieces! The sun was bright, spirits were high, and we had a great time generating $5,000 for the UW Autism Center Family Scholarship Fund! We hope you can join us next year on World Autism Day, Saturday, April 2nd!
2014
- October 2014 Newsletter
- August 2014 Newsletter
- June 2014 Newsletter
- February 2014 Newsletter
- Announcing the Tacoma Clinic Re-Opening! We are delighted re-open the satellite clinic in our new location on the UW Tacoma campus. UW Autism Center- Tacoma offers diagnostic, treatment, and training services to children and adolescents from birth through adulthood and their families.
- Innovative New Scientist Award: Congratulations to Dr. Natalia Kleinhans who received a Biobehavioral Research Award for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS)! Her project will examine how neurobiological mechanisms contribute to atypical brain habituation in individuals with ASD. Children between 8-12 years of age with and without ASD will participate in the study.
2013
- December 2013 Newsletter
- September 2013 Newsletter
- July 2013 Newsletter
- May 2013 Newsletter
- February 2013 Newsletter
- New UW Autism Center Director! We are delighted to announce Dr. Annette Estes has assumed the Director role for the UW Autism Center. Dr. Estes has been with the UW Autism Center since it was founded by Dr. Geraldine Dawson in 2000. She is a licensed child clinical psychologist and is a Research Associate Professor with the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and an Adjunct Research Associate Professor with the Department of Psychology. Dr. Estes’ research interests include early intervention, early recognition, and examining the role of the family in supporting positive outcomes for people with ASD.
- Announcing a new UWAC program: In August we will launch our new “ABA Boot Camp,” an intensive 3-day training for people who wish to do home-based therapy for young children on the autism spectrum.
- New website for the South Sound: The South Puget Sound Autism Partnership (SSAP) has a Facebook page, be sure to check them out!
- Looking for a Family Fun Activity? The first Saturday of each month the Seattle Children’s Museum opens early for their sensory sensitive hours. For more information please see their flyer.
- My Next Step video now online with Spanish subtitles.
Visit the Resources tab above then select the Resource DVD for more information. - UWAC Clinicians in the news: UW Autism Center clinicians Julie George, M.Ed. and Kelly Johnson, Ph.D. were quoted in a recent ParentMap article, “Parenting Children with Special Needs.” Click here to see the full story.
2012
- December 2012 Newsletter
- October 2012 Newsletter
- August 2012 Newsletter
- April 2012 Newsletter
- Former UW Autism Center Director of Clinical Services, Raphael Bernier, Ph.D., is interviewed in a Q13 Fox TV news report about Autism and Bullying. Broadcast September 6, 2012.
- Brain differences found at 6 months in infants who later develop autism
Two UW Autism Center researchers, Stephen Dager, MD, and Annette Estes, PhD, are co-authors on a multisite study of brain development in 92 infants who have older siblings with autism. The study used brain imaging to identify white matter fiber tracts (connections) throughout the brain in this group of infants at high genetic risk for autism. Results revealed that infants who developed autism had different patterns of white matter development relative to those who did not. These results have potential implications for identifying early biomarkers for autism, and also suggest that autism affects the whole brain (rather than a specific region) at this young age. This study was conducted by the IBIS Network and is published in the most recent edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
2011
- Survey from the South Sound Partnership: In order to meet the needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families located within the South Puget Sound, a coalition of service providers, advocates, and community members have formed the South Sound Autism Partnership. The South Sound Autism Partnership would like to receive community feedback on the current issues and barriers facing persons with ASD and their families and what activities the Partnership could provide that would be most beneficial. Please take our short survey here. Thank you for taking an interest in improving the lives of people with ASD living in the South Puget Sound.
- UWAC Offers Training in the Early Start Denver Model: The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is an intervention developed by Drs. Sally Rogers and Geraldine Dawson, and is based on the principles of child development and appliedbehavior analysis. A recent randomized clinical trial foundthat ESDM improved outcomes for very young children with ASD. UWAC is delighted to sponsor an ESDMtraining workshop this summer. The Introductory Workshop will be held on August 16, and the Advanced Workshop will be held from August 17-19. These workshops are intended for professionals, but parents and family members are welcome to register for the introductory workshop. CEUs are available.
UW Autism Center Beginnings
- UW Today 6/6/2000 — UW Center on Human Development and Disability Receives Record Donation to Fund New Autism Center
- CHDD Outlook Winter 2001 — New Autism Center will emphasize early diagnosis, treatment