Funding for a nonprofit foundation allows for more autism awareness

The Northfield Bank Foundation recently announced that it present a grant to The Institute for Basic Research (IBR), Developmental Disabilities and the New York State Academy of Family Physicians to help fund autism awareness, The Staten Island Advance reports.

IBR will receive a $15,000 grant, which will go toward the purchase of new equipment for research on autism. Officials told the news source that the goal of the studies will be to help doctors detect the condition earlier.

Meanwhile, the New York State Academy of Family will be given $22,500, which will be used toward creating a tool kit for primary care physicians that will help them recognize the early symptoms of autism and obtain a definitive diagnosis. Furthermore, the funding will help in the development of a treatment protocol for the patient.

Therapeutic boarding schools can help children who suffer from autism by providing cognitive therapy. Studies show that early diagnosis coupled with immediate intervention may help ease symptoms associated with the condition.

A 2008 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that nearly 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism each year.