After sitting down with Jacob Laval, the talented teen bringing an autistic character to life on the big screen, we wanted to explore how autism care and early intervention are making an impact right here in the Valley. To gain deeper insight, we spoke with Dr. Joseph A. Gentry, CEO & Executive Director of The Gentry Foundation, a leading advocate for early autism diagnosis and support.
April is Autism Awareness Month: Why Does Early Diagnosis Matter?
The urgency of early autism diagnosis cannot be overstated. Currently, 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a significant increase from 1 in 150 in 2000. This rise is largely due to increased awareness, expanded diagnostic criteria, and improved screening practices.
Despite these advances, the average age of diagnosis in the U.S. is still 5 years old, and in Arizona, it's 4.5 years. However, research shows that intervening before age 3 can dramatically improve a child’s communication, social, and cognitive skills. The earlier a child receives intervention, the greater their potential for positive long-term outcomes.
Autism is also four times more common in boys than girls, but recent studies indicate that more females are being recognized and diagnosed, as their symptoms can present differently. The growing awareness of these differences is helping to close the gender gap in diagnoses.
Ultimately, early identification and intervention provide children with ASD the best opportunity to develop crucial life skills and lead fulfilling lives.
What inspired you to start The Gentry Foundation?
My wife, Sarah, and I founded The Gentry Foundation in 2016 after witnessing the long wait times—often 12 to 18 months—for low-income families to access autism evaluations. Given the proven benefits of early intervention, we wanted to create a solution that would allow these children to receive a diagnosis earlier and begin services sooner. We reached out to our colleagues and built a network of providers willing to conduct evaluations at a reduced rate, making the process faster and more accessible.
What types of programs do you offer?
Our mission is to lower the average age of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses in Arizona. Currently, the average age is around 4.5 years, but our goal is to reduce that to under 3 years. To achieve this, we raise funds to provide scholarships for low-income families, covering the cost of diagnostic evaluations. We also collaborate with local agencies to identify high-need areas and improve early detection efforts.
Who does the foundation primarily serve, and how do you measure its impact?
We focus on low-income families across Arizona, prioritizing those in the Phoenix Metro Area. While large-scale data collection on diagnosis age is infrequent, we track our impact by following up on every scholarship awarded. In 2023, we launched the Parent Liaison Program, pairing families with trained advocates who provide guidance on navigating services, ensuring children receive early intervention as quickly as possible.
thegentryfoundation.org
"The urgency of early autism diagnosis cannot be overstated. Currently, 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)."