KU autism AI tool launched to provide resources to Kansas families

LAWRENCE — Kansans with questions about autism increasingly turn to artificial intelligence chat programs — like ChatGPT — for health information, but responses from large language models aren’t always accurate, up-to-date or accessible for the user. 

To meet needs in the state, University of Kansas researchers with the Life Span Institute and KU Medical Center developed the Kansas Autism and Disability Resource Navigator, a free custom chatbot. The resource navigator uses curated autism support resources available in Kansas and verified by experts. The chatbot, which became available in January, was funded through grants to the Kansas Family Support Center (KFSC) at the Medical Center and Juniper Gardens Children’s Project allocated by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Department for Children and Families. 

KU researchers and staff involved in the project and in the KFSC spoke June 30 to the Kansas Legislature’s Joint Committee on Child Welfare and Foster Care about the influence of KFSC programs such as the resource navigator and other autism service programs used by families statewide. Speakers included Jay Buzhardt, a research professor at the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project and leader of the autism resource navigator project. 

Buzhardt said that limiting the knowledge base of the resource navigator to vetted websites specific to Kansas ensures more accurate information than other chatbots. Its structure also allows users to remain anonymous to protect the privacy of those asking potentially sensitive or personal questions. To date, the resource navigator has offered answers to more than 1,000 questions from more than 500 users. 

Data collected so far shows that commonly asked questions include: 

• How do I get autism services in X county/X city for my child?  
• What is ABA therapy? 
• What is a CDDO (Community Developmental Disability Organization)?  
• Who qualifies for the I/DD Waiver? 

Buzhardt noted that the KFSC and its programs face an uncertain future as state support, which was provided by funds allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act, concludes this year.   

KFSC manages the resource navigator, updates its knowledge base, offers webinars, delivers clinical services and provides other large-scale resources. While KFSC is based in Kansas City, Kansas, home to the Medical Center and the Juniper Gardens Children's Project, people can access resources for the center anywhere. About 25% of the families that utilize KFSC services are outside of the three major metropolitan areas of Kansas, Buzhardt said. 

Since the center launched in 2023, trainers have instructed more than 2,500 providers and more than 450 professionals and families in supporting people with autism and other developmental disabilities. Even more users have accessed information from KFSC’s professional development webinars. The center has also received and directed support for more than 300 crisis referrals since late 2024. 

Buzhardt said that KFSC also supports the goals of the Kansas TB14 Pilot Plan (PDF), which aims to reduce the number of children entering and remaining in foster care by supporting placement stability, strengthening caregiver capacity and helping children remain in family-like settings whenever safely possible. 

“Without funding to sustain these disability services, the infrastructure, jobs and resources that have benefited so many Kansans is at risk of disappearing completely,” Buzhardt told Kansas legislative committee members.