In 1985, autism affected 1 in 2,500 children. In 1995, it was 1 in 500; in 2004, 1 in 166. According to estimates from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, today, autism affects 1 in 68 children. As shocking as these statistics are, what is more unsettling is that they represent autism alone—these numbers do not reflect the rise in PDD, Asperger’s, or other spectrum disorders.

With the increase in autism cases worldwide comes the growing need for parents to understand what is happening with their children. At Sunny Days, we strongly believe that the family is the most important piece of the development puzzle. By providing the following development resources, we  hope to help you understand your child’s development as well as enable and empower you to make informed decisions for your child.

28th Annual National Autism Conference, August 5-8, 2024 in Harrisburg, PA

Learn more about the National Autism Conference.

While 2024's conference is still in the planning stages, parent scholarships will be available in the coming months.

Family Resources: Supporting Development

We understand that you always want to do more for your child. Once you have established a treatment plan and your child is participating in regular therapy sessions, sometimes all you need to do is keep doing what you’re doing. To make sure you are on the right track, we publish Family Autism Resource Articles with tips, case studies, and inspirational stories to help you help your child. You can also visit the Family Matters Website. This site provides  information on what families can expect when having in-person NJEIS services again.  Here are the current service options. 

Additionally,  if you are a PA resident, please  refer  to these contact options regarding EI services during COVID-19. 

Autism Terms Resource Center

Whether your child has recently been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or if you are already participating in treatment, you are bound to hear many new terms and likely do not understand all of them. The Sunny Days Glossary of Autism Terms was created specifically for you, the parent, to keep you informed and make sure you never feel lost in lingo.

Child Development Resources

With the increasing number of children diagnosed with a form of autism or other developmental delay, new parents are monitoring their child’s development closer than ever before. But what are they looking for? What are they seeing? Our Developmental Milestones will provide you more information about how children develop, what is typical in the development process, and interactions you should have with your child to ensure their developmental progress. We can also help you find resources that support the latest evidence-based best practices for strategies and intervention methods available today.