Resources For Children Diagnosed with Autism
Auditory Processing Specialist
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a hearing condition in approximately 5% of school aged children in which they cannot process sounds (particularly speech) the same way as others. This is caused from a lack of coordination between the ears and brain. An auditory processing specialist can diagnose APD’s and assist the caregiver in managing the symptoms and treating the child with appropriate therapies.
Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO)
The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO) is an outpatient clinic and based out of the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The CANDO clinic offers a variety of services for youth and young adults with emotional and behavioral challenges and complex presentations. CANDO offers occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, a toileting clinic, mental health services and much more.
Children's Behavioral Health Initiative Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (CBHI)
CBHI is a health and human service who's mission is to strengthen, expand, and integrate Massachusetts state services into a combined community system to ensure that families and children with behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs have access services necessary for success.
These six services have been developed for this purpose:
These six services have been developed for this purpose:
- Intensive Care Coordinator
- Family Support Training
- Mobil Crisis Intervention
- In Home Behavioral Services
- Therapeutic Mentoring Services
- In Home Service Trainging
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is utilized as a treatment tool to help individuals accomplish therapeutic aims. Autism Hippotherapy has been utilizes to improve an individual’s strength, balance and motor coordination which increase gross and fine motor. The treatment tool has been effective for sensory regulation to increase social skills by forming an emotional bond with the horse they ride on and promotes language (Bass, Duchowny & Llabre, 2009).
Benefits of hippothereapy:
1. Increasing muscle strength
2. Improving posture control and eye hand coordination
3. Gross/ Fine motor coordination
4. Attention and socialization
5. Gaining self-control and self-confidence
Check out this hippotherapy location in central Massachusetts!
Benefits of hippothereapy:
1. Increasing muscle strength
2. Improving posture control and eye hand coordination
3. Gross/ Fine motor coordination
4. Attention and socialization
5. Gaining self-control and self-confidence
Check out this hippotherapy location in central Massachusetts!
Neuropsychological Evaluation
Must have a referral in order to be seen by a neuropsychologist. Neuropsychologists specialize in assessing children’s cognition, academic status, memory, language, social behaviors, self-regulation, emotion, motor function, visual-spatial, and adaptive function to diagnose various emotional and behavioral disorders. This includes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Language Disorder, etc.
Pediatric Neuropsychologists in Central Massachusetts:
Brian K Dessureau PhD - (508) 856-2527
55 Lake Avenue N Worcester, MA
Jill Suzanne Damon-Minow PsyD - (508) 334-2756
55 Lake Avenue N Worcester, MA
Stephanie Nelson PhD - (781) 861-6655
76 Bedford Street, Suite 12, Lexington, MA
Beth M Ashenburg - (508) 752-4709
30 Sever Street, Worcester, MA
Pediatric Neuropsychologists in Central Massachusetts:
Brian K Dessureau PhD - (508) 856-2527
55 Lake Avenue N Worcester, MA
Jill Suzanne Damon-Minow PsyD - (508) 334-2756
55 Lake Avenue N Worcester, MA
Stephanie Nelson PhD - (781) 861-6655
76 Bedford Street, Suite 12, Lexington, MA
Beth M Ashenburg - (508) 752-4709
30 Sever Street, Worcester, MA
Respite Care
Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. Respite care takes some burden of the burden and stress away Respite services charge by the hour or by the number of days or weeks that service is provided. Most insurance plans do not cover these costs. However, respite care is one Medicaid-provided benefit often administered by the individual states. Medicaid-eligible recipients potentially receive their covered respite care through waivers provided under Medicaid’s Home & Community-Based Care Services (HCBS) waiver program. HCBS 1915(c) allows states to offer a variety of services, including respite care.
The Autism Project
The mission for “The Autism Project” is to empower families/caregivers, professionals, community members to educate and provide support to individuals with Autism, Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, Asperger Syndrome and related disorders. The Autism Project focuses on developing news and innovative programs that enhance the quality of life of children with autism and help support reach their maximum potential.
Resources at The Autism Project:
1. Social Programming
2. Training and Consultation
a. Training
b. Consultation
c. Caregiver support and resources
3. News and events on upcoming and current events
Resources at The Autism Project:
1. Social Programming
2. Training and Consultation
a. Training
b. Consultation
c. Caregiver support and resources
3. News and events on upcoming and current events
The New England Center for Children (NECC)
The New England Center for Children for children is a private, nonprofit autism research and educational center.
Resources Offered:
Home-based Early Intervention Program: For children as young as 14 months, our Home-based Early Intervention Program provides 28-30 hours a week of one-to-one instruction with an NECC teacher within the child’s own home. This program provides year-round services, primarily to children within 40-50 minutes of NECC’s Southborough campus.
Intensive Instruction Program: For children ages 3-22 the Intensive Instruction Program offers 30 hours per week of one-to-one instruction in preschool, elementary, middle and high school age classrooms. School is in session Monday through Friday and all classrooms offer two hours per week of home training.
Residential Services: NECC’s residential programs serve over 120 students ages 3 to 22 from across the United States and several foreign countries. All residential programs operate 365 days per year with residential students attending school most Saturdays as well.
Resources Offered:
Home-based Early Intervention Program: For children as young as 14 months, our Home-based Early Intervention Program provides 28-30 hours a week of one-to-one instruction with an NECC teacher within the child’s own home. This program provides year-round services, primarily to children within 40-50 minutes of NECC’s Southborough campus.
Intensive Instruction Program: For children ages 3-22 the Intensive Instruction Program offers 30 hours per week of one-to-one instruction in preschool, elementary, middle and high school age classrooms. School is in session Monday through Friday and all classrooms offer two hours per week of home training.
Residential Services: NECC’s residential programs serve over 120 students ages 3 to 22 from across the United States and several foreign countries. All residential programs operate 365 days per year with residential students attending school most Saturdays as well.