Jump to: Federal / California / Louisiana / Washington
Federal
Available Federal Government Services through TRICARE
AST is a provider of behavioral therapy services for military children with the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) or Autism Services Demonstration (ASD).
AST meets and/or exceeds all of the criteria for a service provider under the TRICARE Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration. AST:
- Implements basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and target behaviors associated with the core deficits of autism.
- Focuses on changing the child’s behavior by observing and measuring the behavior in real-life environments.
- Uses scientific behavioral data to identify functional relationships between environmental events and behavior.
- Gathers behavioral data to track progress in reaching behavioral objectives identified in the Behavior Plan and periodically modifies the plan to adapt to the child’s response to the intervention.
- Incorporates parent training so family members/caregivers can teach and support skills during typical family activities.
- Requires meetings between family members/caregivers and those designing and implementing the intervention program.
For more information about our behavioral therapy services for TRICARE beneficiaries, please .
California
Available Government Services through the State of California
The State of California recognizes the need for support and services for individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and related conditions.
The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) distributes funds to nonprofit regional centers and state-operated developmental centers to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities can receive the services they need. There are 21 regional centers located throughout California that serve as a resource for these individuals and as a liaison between individuals and agencies providing therapeutic services. The regional centers themselves do not provide any services; instead, they contract with outside agencies in order to provide a wide range of services to individuals and families in need, including behavioral therapy such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). AST contracts with a number of regional centers and is an authorized provider of state-funded ABA-based behavioral programs. Click here for a listing of California Regional Centers.
For children under age three, state funding for autism services comes exclusively from the regional centers. To qualify for services, families should contact their local regional center to get the evaluation and approval process started. After an initial interview with the parents or guardians, the regional center will schedule a licensed psychologist to assess the child’s development. Based on this assessment, the regional center will authorize funding for autism services and develop a unique, customized program plan that targets the child’s specific developmental deficits and goals.
As the child approaches his/her third birthday, the regional center will once again assess the child’s eligibility for continued services beyond age three. If approved, this assessment provides the basis for a new program plan which may incorporate new and continued services, in addition to services developed in collaboration with the child’s local school district (see additional information below).
Appeals Process for State Funding
The State of California, through DDS and CDE, work to provide appropriate services for individuals with autism. From time to time, disagreements over eligibility and the appropriateness of the offered services may arise. An appeals process has been created to handle these disagreements and to safeguard both the State of California and families seeking services.
Families experiencing difficulties accessing appropriate services through their local regional center may contact the California Department of Developmental Services to initiate the fair hearing process. More information can be found at www.dds.ca.gov/complaints or by calling (916) 654-1987.
Families experiencing difficulties accessing appropriate services through their local school district may also file an appeal. Additional information regarding this process and other safeguards afforded to parents can be found on the California Department of Education website at www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/fp.
Louisiana
The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) serves as the Single Point of Entry into the state of Louisiana’s developmental disabilities services system. In addition, for children under the age of three the state has a specialized program called EarlySteps.
EarlySteps provides services to families with infants and toddlers aged birth to three years (36 months) who have a medical condition likely to result in a developmental delay, or who have developmental delays. Children with delays in cognitive, motor, vision, hearing, communication, social-emotional or adaptive development may be eligible for services. EarlySteps services are designed to improve the family’s capacity to enhance their child’s development. These services are provided in the child’s natural environment, such as the child’s home, child care or any other community setting typical for children aged birth to three years (36 months).
Families with children over the age of three may be eligible for service waivers. The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities offers home and community waivers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Services focus on providing families the necessary support to ensure that their children can maintain the least restrictive environment and be provided with inclusive opportunities in the community. Additional information can be found on the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities website: new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/subhome/11
Washington
The state of Washington offers behavior support services through the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The DDD offers the Children’s Intensive In-home Behavioral Support (CIIBS) Waiver to provide behavior intervention to children with autism or other developmental disabilities in the home and community.
Children between the ages of 8 and 17 are eligible for the waiver. In addition, children that exhibit high levels of challenging behaviors, (aggression, self-injury, etc.) and are at risk for out-of-home placement are the most likely for eligibility. Family participation is also a critical component of the waiver program. Families are expected to participate in the design of their child’s Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP), help develop a team of support and meet regularly to receive support and training to make changes to their home environment according to the PBSP.
The CIIBS waiver is an excellent resource for families as the program allows for the completion of a functional behavior assessment which will outline the function of the child’s maladaptive behaviors, develop a positive behavior support plan, and identify appropriate replacement behaviors that the child will learn to use in place of the maladaptive behaviors.
