We aim to create a digital platform to provide awareness, accessibility, and affordability through digital screening, diagnosis, training, and therapeutic tools to address the autism challenge.
The challenge of early detection and early intervention of ASD is exacerbated by limited expertise, including limited diagnostic and treatment resources. ASD is often diagnosed late or undiagnosed in parts of the world. Given the scale of this challenge, we have introduced a remote diagnosis tool to address the accessibility challenge. In the future, we hope to build Artificial Intelligence capabilities to out our diagnosis
We aim to build increased expertise and capacity through accredited online training. Content will be aimed at parents/caregivers, teachers, and autism specialists.
- About one in 100 children has autism. It is estimated that worldwide about one in 100 children has autism(1). This estimate represents an average figure, and reported prevalence varies substantially across studies. Some well-controlled studies have, however, reported figures that are substantially higher. The prevalence of autism in many low- and middle-income countries is unknown. (WHO)
- WHO Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2030 and World Health Assembly Resolution WHA73.10 for “global actions on epilepsy and other neurological disorders” calls on countries to address the current significant gaps in early detection, care, treatment, and rehabilitation for mental and neurodevelopmental conditions, which include autism. It also calls for counties to address the social, economic, educational, and inclusion needs of people living with mental and neurological disorders, and their families, and to improve surveillance and relevant research.
- Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. (CDC 2008).
- ASD is underdiagnosed in parts of the world, with individuals going undetected and without intervention and therapy.
- Researchers conclude that it is possible for people from different cultures to view challenging behaviors differently and this would affect ASD’s incidence, prevalence, diagnosis and impact from country to country.
- The number of children known to have autism has increased dramatically due to changes in diagnostic practice, yet many people still remain undiagnosed and without support.
- The best measure of incidence and impact of autism is perhaps in the U.S.A. The most documented stats come from the U.S.A given it’s one of the few markets which closely tracks this condition.
- To give some context of the scale of the challenge, for example, in 1975 ASD was 1 in 5000, in 2009 it was 1 in 110 and the latest statics show this as 1 in 45.
- The U.S. cost of autism over the lifespan is about $2.4 million for a person with an intellectual disability, or $1.4 million for a person without intellectual disability. Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236-262 billion annually.
- Statistics indicate that cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention.
- In June 2014, only 19.3 percent of people with disabilities in the U.S. were participating in the labor force – working or seeking work. Of those, 12.9 percent were unemployed, meaning only 16.8 percent of the population with disabilities was employed
- According to research, factors known to account for the rise in prevalence include the increase in community awareness and public health response globally, changes in case definition that have broadened diagnostic boundaries over time, increased diagnosis of milder forms, and an increase in the identification of autism in previously under-diagnosed populations defined by sex, geography, or race/ethnicity.
- We don’t know the extent of the situation in most parts of the world. So the journey to any solution is first identifying and labelling the condition. Hence our digital journey has started with offering free screening to caregivers which can be done from the comfort of their home. This allows them to take the first step towards identifying the condition. The screening is indicative of the autism condition which naturally leads to the next step of diagnosis. We have designed a tool that allows for early diagnosis and intervention.
