Expedited Review Request

NCBDDD is requesting expedited review for a non-substantive change request to OMB 0920-1171 Study to Explore Early Development Phase 3 (SEED3). The Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) is a collaborative multi-phase, multi-site case-control study of children with autism as compared to children with other developmental disabilities and children from the general population. Currently in the third phase of data collection, the objectives of SEED since initiation in 2006 have been to assess the etiologic risk factors for autism, and to describe the phenotypic variability and health and service needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Because data on the development and functioning of children from SEED 3 are available from just prior to March 2020, re-administration of certain standardized assessments provides a unique opportunity to assess changes from before to after implementation of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Thus, surveying the children in SEED 3 about their experiences related to COVID-19 provides a unique opportunity to inform preparedness guidance and reveal effective coping strategies now and in future public health emergencies. Additional reasons for beginning this assessment as soon as possible include:

• The need to minimize effects that might be related to age-related changes in development among children from pre-test administration of standardized assessments (vs. the impact of COVID-19 and mitigation efforts) to the post-test administration of these same instruments.

• The need to minimize recall bias related to specific time-periods. The COVID-19 Impact Survey asks about experiences during four different quarters of 2020, and thus needs to begin as soon as possible after the last quarter:

  • Pre-COVID – January or February of 2020

  • Spring – March, April and May of 2020

  • Summer – June, July and August of 2020

  • Fall – September, October, November and December of 2020