Georgia: 'Autism is not a disease. It’s a genetic trait'; push for early diagnosing

Jan 22, 2026, The Den: New program expands early autism diagnosis for children in rural Georgia 

https://den.mercer.edu/new-program-expands-early-autism-diagnosis-for-children-in-rural-georgia/ 

Children in rural Georgia now have earlier access to autism diagnosis, which is an important step that can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

With assistance from the state, the Mercer University School of Medicine Early Autism Detection Program is expanding access to timely, evidence-based autism evaluations for families in rural communities, bringing high-quality care closer to home. The project is led by Mercer University School of Medicine with collaboration from the Marcus Autism Center, Georgia Department of Public Health, and Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Together, these partners are working to identify autism spectrum disorder earlier, when intervention can have the greatest impact.

For many children, autism is not officially diagnosed until they reach school age. By then, opportunities for early intervention may have been missed. Research shows that when autism is identified before age 3, children can make meaningful gains in communication, learning and social development that can shape their long-term outcomes. 

The delay in diagnosis is largely due to the lack of access to expert clinicians with the ability to test a child. Without a diagnosis, a child is not eligible for services that would be helpful. . . .

 “Autism is not a disease. It’s a genetic trait,” said Dr. Ami Klin, director of Marcus Autism Center and scientist and co-founder of EarliPoint. “When we diagnose early, we’re not treating autism itself. We’re helping prevent secondary challenges like language delays, intellectual disability and severe behavioral difficulties. Early access to care can make a lifelong difference.”

Until now, families in rural areas often faced long waitlists or had to travel far from home to pursue evaluation. . . .

Babies Can’t Wait is Georgia’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers from birth to age 3 with developmental delays or special needs. As part of this project, Babies Can’t Wait supports the timely arrangement of early intervention services for participating children.

Increasing access to early autism diagnosis in rural communities

“Families in rural Georgia deserve the same timely access to diagnosis and care as families in larger cities,” said Jean R. Sumner, M.D., MACP, dean of Mercer University School of Medicine. “By bringing this diagnostic tool into local clinics, we are reducing barriers to care and helping children receive support earlier when it can have the greatest impact. Included in this effort is ongoing education, at no cost, for physicians and their advanced practice staff. We are honored to lead this important effort and work with such talented partners.” . . .

Lindsay Kinnebrew, M.D., a primary care physician at Primary Care Pediatrics in Forsyth, said EarliPoint fills a critical gap in care.

“The EarliPoint test could be a game changer,” Dr. Kinnebrew said. “Often, we have a six- to 12-month waiting list for autism evaluations. With this tool, if a child tests positive, I can immediately refer them for early intervention therapies like applied behavior analysis, speech therapy and occupational therapy.” . . .

What parents should know and do

If differences are observed in how a child plays, communicates, learns or interacts with others, parents should be encouraged to trust and share their observations. Parental concerns are often the earliest and most reliable indicators that further developmental evaluation may be warranted. . . .