Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD) is a multidisciplinary team comprised of pediatric autism specialists, including clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, social workers and speech/language pathologists. These experts work together to provide the best possible care for autistic youth, and lead research to understand the underpinnings of autism and effective approaches to maximize autistic youth outcomes.

The Region’s Largest Autism Program

CASD is the largest multidisciplinary pediatric autism program in the Washington, D.C., region. Our specialists understand the unique needs of children as their brains and bodies develop. We offer:

• Evidence-based clinical care. Our experts lead national research studies on ASD with the goal of advancing assessment and treatment options. By studying autism’s genetic, neurocognitive, behavioral and social factors, we can identify and apply the most effective treatments for your child.
• Education, support and advocacy. We provide the latest information about ASD to everyone from families and patients to school personnel, physicians and agencies. Resources include seminars, workshops, the CASD Chat newsletter, training and consultations. Sign up to be added to our CASD Chat newsletter mailing list. You can also view details about upcoming Executive Function and Social Skills groups and learn about ECHO Autism for providers.  

We collaborate with the following departments/specialties:

• Developmental pediatrics
• Developmental/clinical psychology
• Genetics
• Gender and gender identity development
• Neurology
• Neuropsychology
• Psychiatry
• Speech and language pathology

CASD's mission is to excel in care, advocacy, research and education. We accomplish this by:

• Providing a quality health care experience for our patients and families through a coordinated program of state-of the-art clinical services
• Improving health outcomes for children regionally, nationally and internationally by educating the next generation of clinicians in best practices for autism evaluation, diagnosis and treatment
• Creating innovative solutions to pediatric health challenges by conducting research that includes and reflects the neuro-diverse population we serve
• Embracing neurodiversity and welcoming autistic individuals as collaborators, research trainees, students and staff members

CASD works every day to optimize trajectories for autistic youth with the goal of successful transition into adulthood. Our Stakeholder Advisory Board, comprised of parents whose children have received assistance from CASD, provides recommendations to CASD faculty and staff to improve care, research, education and advocacy efforts.

Contact Us

For questions about our intake process, call 301-765-5430.

If you are interested in participating in one of our research studies, call 301-765-5425.

Private support plays an important role in furthering our ability to provide the best care to our patients and families. To learn about how you can make a direct, philanthropic impact on the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, please contact Children’s Hospital Foundation at 301-565-4275.