Harford County educators describe autism, its early signs and why early identification matters

Sarah Sinclair, supervisor of student support services at Harford County Public Schools, said, “So autism spectrum disorder is a medical diagnosis. It's a neurodevelopmental condition which means it is present, developing within the brain, in utero and then present throughout, childhood and across the lifespan.”

Sinclair told viewers that the behaviors most commonly used to identify autism involve differences in social communication and restricted or repetitive interests and routines. “The 2 big ones are differences in social communication … and for changes in routine or being overly interested in certain topics or having some repetitive behaviors,” she said, adding that children with autism show a wide range of language and social profiles.

Shannon Holly, special education coordinator at Harford County Public Schools and a parent of a child with autism, illustrated how early markers sometimes look like unusual interests rather than obvious deficits: she recalled her son greeting people by the make and model of their car. Both guests emphasized that screening tools pick up many—but not all—presentations, so families who have concerns should describe observed behaviors to a pediatrician even when milestone delays are not obvious.

The guests said early identification is not about making a child look “typical” but about giving them tools to understand social expectations and avoiding classroom trial-and-error that can frustrate students. “Early intervention can help kids with autism to understand those things that they're not picking up on directly,” Sinclair said. They urged caregivers to seek evaluation and supports once concerns arise.