Autism New Jersey Joins Forces With Pediatricians

We are pleased to announce that Autism New Jersey has joined the New Jersey Chapter of the Academy of American Pediatrics (NJAAP) as a Nonprofit Corporate Member.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is the largest professional association of pediatric providers and a global leader in publishing on pediatric medical issues. Autism New Jersey is proud to support the New Jersey chapter’s mission of achieving optimal health, safety and well-being of New Jersey’s infants, children, adolescents, young adults and promoting highly qualified healthcare professionals. Our dedication to supporting NJAAP’s members is evident in several recently published newsletter articles on diagnosing autism in primary care settings and a peer-reviewed article in their quarterly journal, Pediatrics, entitled “Support in Creating a Medical Home for your Autistic Patients.”

“With such aligned missions, this is a remarkable opportunity to collaborate with and champion healthcare providers who want to provide high-quality and effective healthcare for pediatric patients with autism. There is no better organization than the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics with whom to create a stronger support system for pediatricians and children with autism and their families across New Jersey,” Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Executive Director of Autism New Jersey

Aimee LaRiviere, MD, FAAP, Secretary of the New Jersey Chapter of American Academy Pediatrics echoes the value of greater collaboration and the organizations’ aligned missions.

“NJAAP is pleased to enhance our ability to collaborate with pediatricians across New Jersey to promote autism-friendly healthcare practices and improve access to care for families navigating autism spectrum disorder. Their work in raising awareness, offering resources to educators and healthcare providers, and fostering inclusive environments aligns seamlessly with NJAAP’s mission to ensure the health and well-being of all children in our state. Together, we can make meaningful strides in creating a more inclusive and supportive healthcare landscape for children with autism.”

New Jersey Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics: Leaders in Quality Healthcare

The NJAAP has nearly 2,000 members across the state, including pediatricians, advanced nurse practitioners, and other pediatric subspecialists. These pediatric healthcare providers serve a vital role in the health and well-being of individuals with autism and their families. From noting early developmental concerns to transitioning to adult medical care, the pediatric medical home can provide early and compassionate access to quality healthcare that truly sets in motion the support necessary for optimal quality of life outcomes.

“We are pleased to welcome Autism New Jersey as our newest Corporate Member of NJAAP. Our goal is to further educate our pediatric community about the importance of autism-friendly healthcare throughout the state,” Felicia K. Taylor, MBA, CAE, CEO of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Enhancing Autism New Jersey’s Expertise in Healthcare

In addition to this formal connection to NJAAP, we’ve recently added Dr. Audrey Mars, a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician and Medical Director of Hunterdon Health’s Child Development Center as our Timely Diagnosis Advisor. As a long-time member of our Professional Advisory Board, Dr. Mars’ expertise and insights have been invaluable to our work focused on the diagnosis and medical care of children with autism. Moving forward, she will be taking a more active role in reviewing and supporting our outreach and education on autism diagnosis and ongoing care to pediatricians throughout the state.

More than two years ago, we announced our Advancing Healthcare Initiative, focused on helping improve healthcare access and health outcomes for New Jerseyans with autism. Efforts so far have resulted in successes such as establishing the Healthcare Consortium, a one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary group of leaders, opening our 2023 Annual Conference with our Keynote Panel “How Can We Achieve Healthcare Equity for Individuals with Autism?,” launching an innovative Medical Equipment Lending Library, and publishing our web-based Pediatrician Resource Hub.

Dr. Mars’ expertise as an advisor and our NJAAP membership are a continuation of this work and will allow Autism New Jersey greater visibility and reach throughout the pediatric healthcare community. By connecting with pediatricians throughout the state, we will be able to help decrease wait times to autism diagnostic evaluations, enhance our promotion of autism-friendly practices, and provide important education to pediatricians who are tasked with helping families who come to them for care and support for their child with autism.