Photo by Linda Comins/ Leaders for a new informative series on autism spectrum disorders, from left, are Shelby Haines, director of special programs for Marshall County Schools; Marc Ellison, executive director of the West Virginia Autism Training Center; Dr. Judy Romano, director of Wheeling Hospital's Center for Pediatrics; and Sheila Archer, Wheeling Hospital's director of speech and outpatient pediatric rehabilitation.

WHEELING — A free series is being offered to help parents navigate and understand their children’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

The new monthly series is being presented by Wheeling Hospital’s Center for Pediatrics Rehabilitation Services, Marshall County Schools and the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University.

A team of therapists, physicians and educators will lead sessions on a range of topics at the Regional Educational Service Agency 6 office at 30 GC&P Road, Wheeling.

Five programs will be offered on Sept. 14, Oct. 26, Nov. 16, Dec. 14 and Jan. 11. Each session will be conducted from 1-2:30 p.m. and 5-6:30 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of parents and caregivers.

Leading the series will be Marc Ellison, executive director of the West Virginia Autism Training Center; Shelby Haines, director of special programs, Marshall County Schools; Sheila Archer, Wheeling Hospital’s director of speech and outpatient pediatric rehabilitation; and Dr. Judy Romano, director of Wheeling Hospital’s Center for Pediatrics.

Haines said the sessions are open to anyone in West Virginia and Ohio. Registration is required by calling Marshall County Schools’ office of special programs at 304-843-4400, ext. 318.

Romano said, “When a family receives a diagnosis of autism for their child, it is a life-altering event.”

Parents are likely to have many questions and may feel confused upon learning that their child has an autism spectrum disorder. Haines said, “We need to have reliable people available to give these parents the support they need.”

Ellison said the West Virginia Autism Training Center has more than 4,000 registered clients across the state. He said, “When a child receives a diagnosis of autism, it is a diagnosis for the family. The family is a step behind in finding resources and service providers.”

An apparent surge in autism spectrum disorders a few years ago is now understood to be the result of better diagnosis and a change in the diagnostic criteria, Romano said. Ellison agreed, saying the number of new cases is flattening in West Virginia and across the country.

In recent years at the Center for Pediatrics, Romano said, “Our numbers have stayed pretty flat. What we do have, and are terribly proud of, is we have lowered the age of diagnosis.”

Previously, the average age of diagnosis was 8 years old, but it now has dropped to 30 months, according to Romano.

“Early intervention makes a difference for these children and these families,” she said.

Romano said, “We’ve had buy-in from the entire pediatric community for developmental surveillance and developmental screening. At the Center for Pediatrics, particular screens are done in all of our offices and all of our sites.”

The pediatrician emphasized the importance of listening to parents. When parents suspect their child may have a problem, “sometimes the child needs a full battery of tests for autism. Sometimes it’s a developmental issue that can be addressed,” she said.

Archer said it’s common for siblings also to have autism spectrum disorders.

“Lots of times, parents realize they have the criteria (for a disorder),” Ellison added. “I don’t think it’s terribly uncommon.”