How It Began
HANS was founded in 2002 by Paul and Linda Lee, a physician and nurse, and parents of a child with autism. Despite their combined 40+ years of mainstream medical experience, neither had received training in autism, hence they were unable to recognize the early signs of autism in their own son.
That experience changed everything. The non-profit HANS was formed to create the tools they wished had existed: clear, illustrated resources that any primary care physician could use quickly to recognize autism early, when intervention makes the greatest difference.
After more than two decades, HANS has achieved its founding goal. Childhood autism screening is now a standard part of pediatric care, and awareness has grown immeasurably. The materials that HANS created continue to be used around the world, and we are keeping them available online due to popular demand.
HANS is no longer accepting donations, but the resources remain freely available to physicians, parents and educators everywhere.
What We Built
The centerpiece of HANS is the Physician Handbook, a guide containing over 100 illustrations depicting "behavioral symptoms" of autism following DSM criteria. The handbook covers sensory issues, co-existing conditions, impact on the family, the role of early intervention, potential referrals and how to optimize office visits for children with autism.
Hard copies have been distributed to over 30,000 physicians at no charge. The handbook has been translated into 22 languages through collaborations with individuals and organizations worldwide.
HANS also created:
- The CHAT Screening Poster, developed collaboratively with Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen at Cambridge University
- Tutorial videos for primary care physicians featuring Dr. David Willis and Dr. Mary Lynne O'Brien
- Pictorial social story books (“Going to the Doctor” and “Going to Have Blood Drawn”) that prepare children with autism for medical visits
- “Autism: Living with My Brother Tiger”, a sibling story book with a foreword by Dr. Margaret Bauman of Harvard Medical School, with over 2,000 copies distributed to schools
Recognition and Endorsements
“This beautifully illustrated book provides an appealing, quick reference for the busy primary care physician with regard to diagnosing autism in young children… should be a must for any professional working with children.”Margaret Bauman, MDHarvard Medical School
“A must-see for primary care physicians!”David W. Willis, MDDevelopmental Pediatrician, Oregon
“An easy-to-understand pictorial display of the early signs and symptoms of autism.”Nancy J. Minshew, MDUniversity of Pittsburgh, NIH Autism Center of Excellence
Linda Lee, RN, BSN
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Originally from Northern Ireland, Linda was recruited to work as an ER nurse in New York at age 27. With over 20 years of nursing experience, she managed emergency rooms in Manhattan and Boston before co-founding HANS in 2002. Linda is the author of “Autism: Living with My Brother Tiger,” has served on the Oregon Autism Commission Sub-Committee for Autism Screening, and has collaborated with Johns Hopkins and Texas Children's Hospital on autism materials.