Story by: Julie Acres
Last July, we reported that this project was entering phase III. Being that April is Autism Awareness Month, I reached out to Dr. Pat Mirenda for an update on this significant study.
The Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorder study, originally funded by CIHR and others in 2004, has now been funded for a third cycle – until 2021. This means that the research team will be able to continue to follow over 300 individuals with autism and their families from across Canada as they grow and develop into young adulthood.
The aim of this phase of the study to use multiple strategies to examine the child, family, and service factors that influence healthy development in children with ASD. The research team also plans to document how youth with ASD (and their parents) understand their lives, what their goals and aspirations are, and what a “good” outcome means to them.
The information gained from this study has the potential to positively affect lives of youth with ASD and their families.
Join the conversation: #autismawareness & #worldautismawarenessday
