BALTIMORE, April 20, 2026 – The Center for Autism Science, Services and Innovation (CASSI™) at Kennedy Krieger Institute is inviting parents nationwide to participate in a research study to test a new virtual developmental screening tool designed to identify autism and delays in children as young as 12 months old and reduce wait times for care.
Most children are not diagnosed with a developmental delay until after age 4, even though intervention is most effective earlier in life. Experts at Kennedy Krieger created the Social Communication, Interaction and Play Screener (SCIPS) to help families recognize concerns earlier and receive services sooner. If proven effective, researchers plan to implement the tool as a free, accessible screening option for families across the United States.
"The earlier you identify a developmental concern, the earlier you can get access to care for your child. It's important to give parents strategies to enhance their child's development prior to age 3, when the brain is still rapidly developing," said Dr. Rebecca Landa, executive director of CASSI.
The SCIPS is a one-hour screening process that parents complete on a computer or mobile device. It includes narrated videos that depict typical and atypical social and play behaviors. Parents answer a questionnaire comparing their child's behavior to what they see in the videos and receive a report indicating whether their child shows markers of autism or language and communication delays.
Parents of children ages 12-36 months, with or without developmental concerns, may participate in the study. Participants will complete the screening and an online developmental assessment with a specialist. Researchers will evaluate the results to determine the readiness of the SCIPS for broader use.
“The study will allow us to see whether the tool works for families across the United States and, ultimately, make it available to child care providers, early intervention systems and pediatricians,” said Dr. Landa.
To register or learn more, visit our website.
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Acerca de Kennedy Krieger Institute:
Kennedy Krieger Institute, una organización sin fines de lucro reconocida internacionalmente que se encuentra en el área metropolitana de Baltimore-Washington, D.C., transforma la vida de más de 30,000 personas por año con terapias de bienestar, salud del comportamiento y servicios médicos para pacientes hospitalizados y ambulatorios; servicios comunitarios y en el hogar; programas en escuelas; capacitación y educación para profesionales, y defensa. Kennedy Krieger ofrece una gran variedad de servicios para niños, adolescentes y adultos con enfermedades, trastornos y lesiones que afectan el sistema nervioso, con diferentes niveles de gravedad. El Instituto reúne a un equipo de investigadores que contribuyen a la comprensión de cómo se desarrollan los trastornos y que, además, son pioneros en nuevas intervenciones y métodos de diagnóstico temprano, prevención y tratamiento. Visite KennedyKrieger.org para obtener más información acerca de Kennedy Krieger.
