Whitby Named Ambassador for CDC Autism Program

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Peggy Schaefer Whitby

Peggy Schaefer Whitby, University of Arkansas assistant professor of special education, has been selected to serve as an Act Early Ambassador for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program called “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”

Whitby will play an important role in educating parents, health-care professionals and educators in Arkansas about early childhood development, warning signs of autism and other developmental disabilities, according to a news release from the CDC. The program emphasizes the importance of acting early on concerns about a child’s development.

Developmental disabilities are common in the United States. A recent study shows that about 1 in 6 children have been diagnosed with a developmental disability. It’s important that these children are identified early and that they and their families receive the services and support they need, according to the CDC.

Whitby was chosen to be an Act Early Ambassador because of her commitment to improving the lives of children and families and increasing access to services for children with developmental disabilities. She joined the faculty of the College of Education and Health Professions last fall.

The Act Early Ambassadors project is designed to develop a network of state-level experts to improve early identification of developmental delay and disability. It is a collaborative project of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/ActEarly.