#4A More Information on Programs, Therapies & Interventions with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
The following Interventions & Programs are described by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html
< My Thoughts > #4A
Start gathering information about what Services and Interventions are out there. Here is one step described by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html
The following Interventions & Programs are described by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html
- Early Intervention Services; these services are provided through your state & may provide testing or evaluation for your child. This may be your first step.
- Treatments; some different types of treatments are Behavior/Communication; Dietary; Medication; Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
- Behavior & Communication; Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Developmental Individual Differences Relation-Based-Approach (aka DIR/Floortime), Treatment & Education of Autistic & related Communication-handicapped Children (TEAACH), Occupational Therapy (OT), Sensory Integration Therapy for Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Speech Therapy, Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).
- Dietary Approaches; many of these treatments are unproven. But, a medical doctor may recommend biomedical intervention after testing your child for food allergies, gastrointestinal problems, and/or nutritional deficiencies.
- Medication; there are no specific medications for ASD, only medications to treat related symptoms such as energy levels, inability to focus, depression, and/or seizures. Most often these are costly substance controlled drugs which need extremely careful monitoring for dosage and side effects.
- Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAMs); these are treatments outside those typically recommended by the medical profession and without rigorous scientific research. Such as – auditory integration therapy, facilitated communication, gluten/casein-free diets, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, probiotics, acupuncture, vitamin supplements, chelation therapy, immunoglobulin infusions, animal therapy, massage therapy, creative therapy (art & music) etc.
< My Thoughts > #4A
Start gathering information about what Services and Interventions are out there. Here is one step described by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention – Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html
- Early Intervention Services; these services are provided through your state & may provide testing or evaluation for your child. This may be your first step.
#4A Programs, Therapies, & Interventions... More information & RESOURCES for Families…
RESOURCES Introduction – with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
What I’ve put together here are more things for you to explore ‘While You Wait’. These are just a series of suggestions. Everyone’s journey is going to be different. You have to ‘start where you are’… in other words, where you live, the age and stage of your child, your resources and your support system. Always try FREE first. Explore and keep notes on what you find and how you feel this service will ‘fit’ your child and your family.
On that note, know that many of the programs, therapies, and interventions are costly. Some may see your child’s ‘treatment’ as a money making business. That’s just the harsh reality. As a parent and ‘consumer of goods’ it is your responsibility to keep from being swept away with vague promises. Learn to talk the talk. For each program there are long-term studies available. Find them. Know that the terms ‘High-correlation’, ‘Valid Predictor’ and ‘Evidence-based Practices’ or ‘Best Practices’ are not the same.
And, even if you find a wonderful intervention that has worked for many families, will it work for yours? Children change, develop and grow. If you sign-up for a 3 year program, your child could outgrow it in 2 years. Or, say that your child’s autism takes on a new twist or turn that shifts your priorities. Or, you move. Where will you be with that 3 year program then? How will it fit with your new situation? Or, will it work against it. Just saying… this is not for the faint of heart.
Under the ‘Just So You Know’ category, the word ‘treatment’ is used loosely in the programs most companies/organizations present. Also, the term ‘therapist’ or ‘specialist’ or ‘whomever’ they tell you will be working with your child, may be skilled and accredited with their program, but know little about ‘autism’ itself.
And, the newcomer certainly knows little to nothing about your child and his or her needs. A comprehensive ‘treatment’ plan may mean incorporating several programs, working together to help your child where he or she is right now, but may be radically different in 6 months or a year. So again, ‘Buyer Beware’. Protect your child and your family re$ource$.
Choosing the program which meets your child’s needs right now and in the future takes careful finding, funding, and planning. Retrieved from a Pediatric Neurology site – http://www.childbrain.com/pddq11.shtml which offers that parents look at these three priorities:
More of < My Thoughts > The severity of a child’s behavior, the amount of support available, the temperament of the child and parents will all contribute to the family either becoming isolated or seeking help. Help can come from local, private, state, and federal Programs, Therapies, and other Interventions.
Even if your child hasn’t been diagnosed yet, s/he may be eligible for Early Intervention Services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Law) says that children under the age of 3 years old who are at-risk for having developmental delays may be eligible for services. Of course, it’s up to you to start finding them.
Some programs are expensive, so understand your child well enough to know what things may work and what may not. While you are waiting, try to discover who your child is behind the autism. There is danger in believing that ‘one-program-fits-all’ because each child is so different in their abilities and their challenges. That’s just another reality.
RESOURCES Introduction – with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
What I’ve put together here are more things for you to explore ‘While You Wait’. These are just a series of suggestions. Everyone’s journey is going to be different. You have to ‘start where you are’… in other words, where you live, the age and stage of your child, your resources and your support system. Always try FREE first. Explore and keep notes on what you find and how you feel this service will ‘fit’ your child and your family.
On that note, know that many of the programs, therapies, and interventions are costly. Some may see your child’s ‘treatment’ as a money making business. That’s just the harsh reality. As a parent and ‘consumer of goods’ it is your responsibility to keep from being swept away with vague promises. Learn to talk the talk. For each program there are long-term studies available. Find them. Know that the terms ‘High-correlation’, ‘Valid Predictor’ and ‘Evidence-based Practices’ or ‘Best Practices’ are not the same.
And, even if you find a wonderful intervention that has worked for many families, will it work for yours? Children change, develop and grow. If you sign-up for a 3 year program, your child could outgrow it in 2 years. Or, say that your child’s autism takes on a new twist or turn that shifts your priorities. Or, you move. Where will you be with that 3 year program then? How will it fit with your new situation? Or, will it work against it. Just saying… this is not for the faint of heart.
Under the ‘Just So You Know’ category, the word ‘treatment’ is used loosely in the programs most companies/organizations present. Also, the term ‘therapist’ or ‘specialist’ or ‘whomever’ they tell you will be working with your child, may be skilled and accredited with their program, but know little about ‘autism’ itself.
And, the newcomer certainly knows little to nothing about your child and his or her needs. A comprehensive ‘treatment’ plan may mean incorporating several programs, working together to help your child where he or she is right now, but may be radically different in 6 months or a year. So again, ‘Buyer Beware’. Protect your child and your family re$ource$.
Choosing the program which meets your child’s needs right now and in the future takes careful finding, funding, and planning. Retrieved from a Pediatric Neurology site – http://www.childbrain.com/pddq11.shtml which offers that parents look at these three priorities:
- First priority: Temper tantrums & life threatening behavior such as hitting, throwing objects, jumping from high places, running into the street, or refusing to eat.
- Second priority: Learning sitting skills. Without this skill the child cannot sit to eat or to learn.
- Third priority: Dealing with unusual or bizarre habits which may result in social isolation. Such as –Pervasive repetition of activities, self-stimulatory behavior, production of unusual sounds, and/or severely restricted interests.
More of < My Thoughts > The severity of a child’s behavior, the amount of support available, the temperament of the child and parents will all contribute to the family either becoming isolated or seeking help. Help can come from local, private, state, and federal Programs, Therapies, and other Interventions.
Even if your child hasn’t been diagnosed yet, s/he may be eligible for Early Intervention Services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Law) says that children under the age of 3 years old who are at-risk for having developmental delays may be eligible for services. Of course, it’s up to you to start finding them.
Some programs are expensive, so understand your child well enough to know what things may work and what may not. While you are waiting, try to discover who your child is behind the autism. There is danger in believing that ‘one-program-fits-all’ because each child is so different in their abilities and their challenges. That’s just another reality.
Before looking for a program… Prioritize your child’s
‘needs’… Prioritize your ‘wants’
In other words…
What is the most frightening
or destructive thing going on
right now in your child’s world?
When trying to get to know the child behind the autism, understand that s/he may be showing symptoms of more than one problem, challenge, or disorder.
Prioritize. Is your child repeatedly doing weird things? Is s/he refusing to eat to the point where it is life threatening? Is s/he biting you, screaming and kicking in walls? Tantrumming, having meltdowns and causing self-abuse? Is s/he a danger to his or herself or others? Then your child is asking for help the only way they are able to. Learn about the strengths and current limitations of your child.
There are many places you can begin the search to find funding for your child’s evaluation and assessment. If one or both of the parents has been in the military, there may be funds there. Other sources are of course insurance companies with that provision in extended coverage. Once your child is Preschool age, there may be programs available by school district. Schools usually have Speech & Occupational Therapists on staff.
Or, even look into nearby states where they may have more resources and maybe shorter waiting lists. Call your State Attorney General’s offices for help. But first, check with programs in your area and see if they can give you a contact person or organization that can help you. Ask any children’s charities and foundations in your area and beyond. Empty all pockets…finding funding alone can be a full time job. Get friends and family to help make contacts to their affiliations.
Advice given by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) … “Advice to parents – An ideal treatment coordinates therapies to address the core disorders the child is experiencing. An effective treatment program builds on the child’s interests and engages the child. More reliable than miracle cures, which appear in magazines, parents should seek out the thoroughly researched and well-documented data derived from carefully controlled clinical research.”
You will also find comprehensive information on the latest autism research and great available contacts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke – www.ninds.nih.gov. They also devote their website to offer the latest in beneficial Parent & Caregiver information.
< My Thoughts > …How to find EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES – these services maybe provided through your state. Find out if they could test or evaluate your child. This may well be a good ‘first’ step.
Here are some of the Resources & Services described by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html (as mentioned in my #3A posting,).
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) has a webpage http://ectacenter.org/families.asp designed to help families understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It is a way to find high-quality resources offered by the federal government and by individual state. There are easy LINKS on to reach the information you need. Also has a Spanish version.
For instance, they have contact information for Early Intervention (EI) services for Babies & Toddlers; Part C of IDEA. Also, Part B, Section 619 of IDEA which shows LINKS to find services for Preschoolers in your state. Through these links you can find FREE or sliding scale services which will help you get started. You do not need a diagnosis in order to start services for your child.
< My Thoughts > …According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html some types of treatment programs address the following: Behavior/Communication; Dietary; Medication; Complementary & Alternative Medicine. (Find more about these beginning in post titled #4C.)
Here, I’d like to add what studies show that worry parents the most about their child is that they are lacking signs of showing independence…
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website gives information about available programs, but when one searches for government funded programs (in other words, which one of these programs does the government stand behind) there was no answer that I could find. Funding and help with funding starts at the state level and works up from there. I was trying to get beyond which therapy, program, or intervention has the best Public Relations Department… to which program offers the most help for the child with autism.
===============
The next section, #4B is the beginning of my gathering of the Programs, Therapies, & Interventions that are currently out there. Meanwhile, you can click on ‘Read More’ for information about additional resources that are currently out there.
‘needs’… Prioritize your ‘wants’
In other words…
What is the most frightening
or destructive thing going on
right now in your child’s world?
When trying to get to know the child behind the autism, understand that s/he may be showing symptoms of more than one problem, challenge, or disorder.
Prioritize. Is your child repeatedly doing weird things? Is s/he refusing to eat to the point where it is life threatening? Is s/he biting you, screaming and kicking in walls? Tantrumming, having meltdowns and causing self-abuse? Is s/he a danger to his or herself or others? Then your child is asking for help the only way they are able to. Learn about the strengths and current limitations of your child.
There are many places you can begin the search to find funding for your child’s evaluation and assessment. If one or both of the parents has been in the military, there may be funds there. Other sources are of course insurance companies with that provision in extended coverage. Once your child is Preschool age, there may be programs available by school district. Schools usually have Speech & Occupational Therapists on staff.
Or, even look into nearby states where they may have more resources and maybe shorter waiting lists. Call your State Attorney General’s offices for help. But first, check with programs in your area and see if they can give you a contact person or organization that can help you. Ask any children’s charities and foundations in your area and beyond. Empty all pockets…finding funding alone can be a full time job. Get friends and family to help make contacts to their affiliations.
Advice given by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) … “Advice to parents – An ideal treatment coordinates therapies to address the core disorders the child is experiencing. An effective treatment program builds on the child’s interests and engages the child. More reliable than miracle cures, which appear in magazines, parents should seek out the thoroughly researched and well-documented data derived from carefully controlled clinical research.”
You will also find comprehensive information on the latest autism research and great available contacts at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke – www.ninds.nih.gov. They also devote their website to offer the latest in beneficial Parent & Caregiver information.
< My Thoughts > …How to find EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES – these services maybe provided through your state. Find out if they could test or evaluate your child. This may well be a good ‘first’ step.
Here are some of the Resources & Services described by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html (as mentioned in my #3A posting,).
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) has a webpage http://ectacenter.org/families.asp designed to help families understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It is a way to find high-quality resources offered by the federal government and by individual state. There are easy LINKS on to reach the information you need. Also has a Spanish version.
For instance, they have contact information for Early Intervention (EI) services for Babies & Toddlers; Part C of IDEA. Also, Part B, Section 619 of IDEA which shows LINKS to find services for Preschoolers in your state. Through these links you can find FREE or sliding scale services which will help you get started. You do not need a diagnosis in order to start services for your child.
< My Thoughts > …According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html some types of treatment programs address the following: Behavior/Communication; Dietary; Medication; Complementary & Alternative Medicine. (Find more about these beginning in post titled #4C.)
Here, I’d like to add what studies show that worry parents the most about their child is that they are lacking signs of showing independence…
- gross motor skills
- speech/language communication
- cognition
- social/personal awareness
- daily living skills
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website gives information about available programs, but when one searches for government funded programs (in other words, which one of these programs does the government stand behind) there was no answer that I could find. Funding and help with funding starts at the state level and works up from there. I was trying to get beyond which therapy, program, or intervention has the best Public Relations Department… to which program offers the most help for the child with autism.
===============
The next section, #4B is the beginning of my gathering of the Programs, Therapies, & Interventions that are currently out there. Meanwhile, you can click on ‘Read More’ for information about additional resources that are currently out there.
Under... 'Are we there yet???' The next section, #4B is the beginning of my gathering of the Programs, Therapies, & Interventions that are currently out there. Meanwhile, here is more information about additional treatment resource websites. Smiles.
< My Thoughts >
The (CDC) seems to direct one back around to the IDEA Law (from above) which says… “Even if your child hasn’t been diagnosed yet, s/he may be eligible for Early Intervention Services. The IDEA Law says that children under the age of 3 years old who are at-risk for having developmental delays may be eligible for services.” The website also offers the following information retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/treatment.html
Additional Treatment Resources:
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has a website to help individuals with an ASD who have communication challenges.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has a website to help health professionals with the oral health care needs of patients with an ASD.
Clinical Trials.Gov lists federally funded clinical trials that are looking for participants. If you or someone you know would like to take part in an autism study, go to the website and search “autism.”
The Autism Treatment Network (ATN) seeks to create standards of medical treatment that will be made broadly available to physicians, researchers, parents, policy makers, and others who want to improve the care of individuals with autism. ATN is also developing a shared national medical database to record the results of treatments and studies at any of their five established regional treatment centers.
Another website with information is www.hhs.gov › Programs
This website has a wealth of information, but refers the viewer to other websites such as the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health www.nih.gov. (NIH).
It seems that most/all programs require some help from your insurance. And some insurance companies will only pay for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) programs. That doesn’t mean that will be the best fit for your child. So, you will find yourself in the maze trying to find a way to the best services for YOUR child.
END of #4A More Information on Programs, Therapies & Interventions with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker.
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