Grant aims to speed autism diagnosis for Nebraska's youngest children

OMAHA - A $152,855 grant to UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute aims to shorten the wait for autism evaluations for Nebraska's youngest children, according to a University of Nebraska Medical Center release. Women Investing in Nebraska, a giving group of women whose members donate personally, awarded the money at its annual awards ceremony in Omaha.

The grant will help the institute bring EarliPoint, an eye-tracking tool approved by the FDA to help diagnose autism, to more children under age 5. The project aims to offer more evaluations in rural and underserved communities and to cut wait times and other barriers to care. The tool works for children who speak Spanish or English.

Project leaders plan to add autism assessments to health care settings families already use and to strengthen referrals, so children reach diagnosis and early help sooner, the release says.

“This funding lets us bring EarliPoint... directly into the clinics and communities where Nebraska families need it most,” said Rachel Schumacher, PhD, project lead and assistant professor of psychology.

The group gave two grants of $152,855 each this year, for $305,710 in all. The other went to Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue. Co-chair Lisa Smith said the group's 419 members have funded 30 projects across the state over 15 years.

Source: University of Nebraska Medical Center, "Munroe-Meyer Institute receives grant to support early autism diagnosis", Nov. 4, 2026.

How we checked this: Reported from the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Nov. 4, 2026 news release, opened Nov. 4, 2026, at 6:14 a.m. CT, and checked against the record by our copy desk before publishing.