| Has your child just been diagnosed? Your child may be eligible for state and county services. |
| WWAACC is committed to providing families with as many resources as possible to help answer the question: “What do we do next?”
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For families of children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, there can be an infinite number of situations that result in the question: “What do we do next?” WWAACC is committed to providing families with as many resources as possible to help them answer that question. (Click on the question link below to be sent directly to the answer, or scroll the page to review all of our FAQs.) What do I do if I have concerns about my child’s development? If you're worried about the way your baby or toddler is developing, there are resources for you! The years from birth to age three are so important. Talk with your child's doctor about your concerns. In the State of Wisconsin, counties provide services to children birth to age three who may not be developing typically. The link below can help you find contact information for the Birth to 3 Program in your county. First Signs - An organization dedicated to the early identification and intervention of children with developmental delays and disorders. They provide extensive information about autism and pervasive developmental disorders, as well as information about screening and evaluation. http://www.firstsigns.org Other resources related to early identification can be found at: How do I get my child evaluated? If you haven't already, it is important to talk with your child's doctor about your concerns. Diagnosing autism and other pervasive developmental disorders requires comprehensive evaluation, including ruling out other possible causes of symptoms and behaviors. Your child’s doctor can refer you to qualified specialists. Due to waiting lists for services, parents are encouraged to contact their child's doctor as soon as developmental concerns are observed. In order to determine eligibility for any county or state funded services, parents will need to provide the county with substantial information, including a complete evaluation that includes a medical/clinical diagnosis and the assessment tools used for the evaluation. Other medical records and evaluations will also be required. First Signs is an organization dedicated to the early identification and intervention of children with developmental delays and disorders. They provide extensive information about autism and pervasive developmental disorders, as well as information about screening and evaluation. http://www.firstsigns.org Can my school district evaluate and diagnose my child? Schools can complete an evaluation to determine if a child meets the educational criteria for a disability and to determine eligibility for special education services. However, this is not the same as a clinical or medical diagnosis. A clinical/medical diagnosis must be made by a licensed clinical professional (i.e. Licensed Psychologist/L.P.), or by a licensed medical professional (i.e. M.D.). In order to determine eligibility for state or county funded services, a clinical or medical evaluation is required. The report must identify a diagnosis, as well as the assessment tools or instruments used for the evaluation. My child has just been diagnosed...now what? Children diagnosed with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders may be eligible for state and county funded services. You may contact your county agency in order to inquire about available services. Are there special therapy services for children with autism? The state of Wisconsin currently offers funding for in home autism treatment through a waiver system. Children under the age of eight with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, who demonstrate a medical need, may be eligible to receive up to three years of funding for intensive autism treatment. Children older than eight may be eligible for other funding for a variety of services. Contact your county human services department to inquire about eligibility for state funded Intensive Autism Services (for children under the age of 8). For more information about the State of Wisconsin Autism Services, visit: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services -http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/bdds/clts/autism/autismqa1.htm See also: http://www.wwaacc.org/firststeps There are intensive home-based therapy programs in Wisconsin for children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Programs providing these therapy services may utilize a variety of methods in developing a therapy program for a particular child. There are programs that focus on research based behavioral methods such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), as well as programs that implement play-based interventions. To find out more about the options for intensive home-based therapy, here are two agencies that provide intensive home-based therapy in this region: Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) - http://www.wiautism.com In the Twin Cities Metro area (MN), there are center-based programs that provide intensive early intervention services to children that have been diagnosed with Autism or other Pervasive Developmental Disorders, using a combination of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and a subspecialty of ABA called Applied Verbal Behavior (AVB). To learn more, here is a link to a program closest to this region: Partners In Excellence (PIE) - in North St. Paul, Minnesota. http://www.pieofmn.com There are other therapies that may be necessary to support the development of a child with autism in specific areas. Children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders may require speech therapy, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy. Many facilities also offer alternative program approaches and specialized programs to help facilitate a child's development. To learn more, here are some agencies in this region who provide such services: Children’s Therapy Center of Roberts and Amery, Wisconsin - http://www.awaytobe.com Courage St. Croix - Stillwater, Minnesota is a facility of Courage Center in Minneapolis. http://www.courage.org Family Achievement Center - Woodbury, Minnesota. http://www.familyachievement.co Special Children Center - Hudson, Wisconsin. http://www.specialchildrencenter.com (Home of WWAACC's first Resource Room.) By Federal Law, children with disabilities have a right to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). A child with a disability must qualify under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act). Once a child turns three (3), s/he may be evaluated by the school district to determine if s/he meets the educational criteria for a disability and to determine eligibility for special education services. Contact your local school district to request that your child be evaluated to determine eligibility for special education services. See also: http://www.wwaacc.org/firststeps Eligibility for special education services is determined based on the educational criteria established by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. More information about the autism eligibility criteria can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/autism.html An IEP is an Individualized Education Program. The term individualized education program or IEP means a written statement for each child with a disability that is a meaningful, functional plan with goals to help meet the child's unique needs. An IEP is developed in a meeting by the IEP team, with input from IEP team members. The IEP Team is a group of school staff, parents, and others that either the school staff or parents choose to include. Any changes made to an IEP will also include input from the IEP team. An IEP ensures that a child with a disability receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The least restrictive environment (LRE) provision is intended to ensure that children with disabilities are educated with their non-disabled peers as much as possible. A child with a disability must qualify for special education services under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act). A child must first be evaluated to determine eligibility for special education services. Eligibility is determined based on the educational criteria established by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. For more information about the educational criteria for autism, visit http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/autism.html I have some concerns about my child’s special education programming. What should I do? If you have questions or concerns about your child’s IEP or educational services, first talk to your child’s IEP Case Manager, Special Education Teacher, or the professional on his IEP team responsible for providing the service you have questions about (i.e. Speech and Language Pathologist). Sometimes it can be helpful to put your questions or concerns in writing in order to be prepared for the conversation, and so it is clear to the teacher or other professional what it is you have concerns about. If you believe that your questions and concerns involve multiple members of the IEP team or you believe there may be a need for some changes to your child’s programming, you can request an IEP team meeting, which should be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon date and time. This request can be made verbally or in writing to your child’s IEP case manager and/or the LEA (Local Education Agency) Representative listed on your child’s IEP. Sometimes it can be helpful to put your request in writing, including your questions/concerns so team members can be prepared for the meeting. Some parents choose to invite a parent advocate or other support person to accompany them at IEP meetings. Most issues can be resolved by discussing your concerns directly with the IEP team. For more information about your rights and grievance procedures related to your child’s special education programming, visit: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Special Education Rights for Parents and Children - http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/pcrights.html The Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE) - Project is a partnership that aims to improve the educational outcomes for children with disabilities. http://www.fape.org For information about trained parent advocates and other IEP related resources for parents visit: CESA #11 - Cooperative Educational Services Agency - http://www.cesa11.k12.wi.us PACER Center (MN) - An organization whose goal is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents. http://www.pacer.org Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education - Training and Support (WI FACETS) http://www.wifacets.org Wisconsin Family Ties - Statewide not-for-profit organization run by families for families that include children and adolescents who have emotional, behavioral, and mental disorders. http://www.wifamilyties.org Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) - Are there organizations that focus on providing information and support to families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities? There are many local, state, regional, and national organizations committed to providing information and support to individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. The following list includes links to several of those organizations: AutismInfo.com - http://www.autisminfo.com Autism Speaks - http://autismspeaks.org Autism Society of America - http://www.autism-society.org Autism Society of Minnesota - http://www.ausm.org Autism Society of Wisconsin - http://www.asw4autism.org Autism Research Institute - http://www.autism.com Bridge for Youth with Disabilities - http://www.bridgeywd.org Friends for Autism - http://www.walk4autism.org National Autism Association - http://www.nationalautismassociation.org RT Autism Awareness Foundation (RTAAF) - http://www.rtautismawareness.org Western Wisconsin Autism Advocacy and Consulting Center (WWAACC), Inc. - http://www.wwaacc.org What resources are available for my child as s/he approaches adulthood? Bridge for Youth With Disabilities - Hudson, Wisconsin. A non-profit organization composed of parents, educators, professionals, employers, self-advocates, business owners, grandparents and interested citizens that collaborates with school, county and community youth-serving agencies in providing lifelong learning opportunities for youth and others with disabilities. http://www.bridgeywd.org Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin, Inc. - Advocates for the full participation in society of all persons with disabilities. Their goal is to empower individuals to exercise choices to maintain or increase their independence. Their strategy is to provide consumer-driven services at no cost to persons with disabilities in Western Wisconsin. http://www.cilww.com PACER Center (MN) - An organization whose goal is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents. http://www.pacer.org Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute - Menomonie, Wisconsin. SVRI Services has a two-pronged mission - to provide quality rehabilitation programming for individuals with disabilities and experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Core services include Vocational Evaluation, Job Placement, and Assistive Technology. http://svri.uwstout.edu/services/index.htm Temple Grandin, PhD - Author, Professor, Speaker, and an internationally known designer of livestock facilities. She shares her insights into the transition into adulthood, and the transition from the world of education to the world of work for a person with autism. Her story can be found at: http://www.autism.org/temple/transition.html. More articles authored by Temple Grandin, PhD can be found at the Autism Research Institute at http://www.autism.com WWAACC is not a legal services agency and cannot provide legal advice or legal representation. Any information on this website is not intended as legal advice and should not be used as a substitution for legal advice. |
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