GRAND OPENING OF AUTISM RESOURCE LIBRARY IN DRISCOLL CHILDREN HOSPITAL Resource Library benefiting Driscoll
Children’s Hospital’s Autism Patients (Corpus Christi, TX) Driscoll Children's Hospital is poised to accelerate its research into effective treatments and cure for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders with the opening of its new facilities in the Rehab Clinic. On Wednesday October 1st, families, professionals, and community officials will officially open and dedicate the Autism Resource Library. This library was made possible through a unique collaboration of patients, community leaders, educators, clinicians, and sponsors to study and treat autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Donna Barnett, Speech Pathologist from this program said, “We want to give parents a place not only to have access to information but to have support. Give them a place where they can come for help and talk to mentors. It is important that parents and professionals work together for the child's benefit.” Autism is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. It impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Statistics show that in a metropolitan area, there are an estimated 500 kids on the spectrum. Autism is one of five most prevalent learning disorders. The disability comes under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The deficits can range from mild to severe. The overall incidence of autism is consistent around the globe, but is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries, and family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence. About Driscoll Children’s
Hospital Happy 50th birthday! Since opening its doors in 1953, Driscoll Children’s Hospital has been offering hope and healing the children of South Texas for half a century. The facility is a 200-bed pediatric tertiary care center with pediatric board-certified specialists representing 19 medical and nine surgical specialties. The facility’s referral area spans 31,000 square miles, making it larger than the state of South Carolina, and offers care to children throughout the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley. Each year, more than 6,000 children are admitted for inpatient care, 5,000 for day surgery and 50,000 for outpatient primary and specialty care. The first South Texas hospital with emergency services exclusively for children, Driscoll provides emergency care to more than 40,000 children per year. Additionally, Driscoll maintains a state-of-the-art ground/air transport team, 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit, 40-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a renowned pediatric intensive care program. # # # |
