Learn the Signs. Act Early.

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About Act Early Wisconsin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), in collaboration with a number of national partners, launched a public awareness campaign called “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” The campaign aims to educate parents about childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, and encourages developmental screening and intervention.

Key Objectives

  1. Educate parents about key developmental milestones.
  2. Increase health care and childcare provider awareness of the importance of early intervention in diagnosing and treating developmental disorders such as autism.
  3. Increase parent-provider dialogue on the topic of child development and developmental disorders.
  4. Increase early action on childhood development disorders. Specifically, seek to increase screenings and early intervention among children with potential developmental disorders.

Act Early Wisconsin aims to support state and regional systemic efforts to promote the early identification and intervention for children with signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilities (DD). The state campaign was launched by the Wisconsin partnerships include Connections Community of Practice on Early Identification, with support of from the Wisconsin Surveillance of Autism and other Developmental Disabilities System, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program, and the Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program.

CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. program aims to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the services and support they need. The program is made up of three components: