Autism Tips

Who Can Diagnose Autism?

The following medical professionals may be qualified to assess a child suspected of having autism:

• Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician (typically referred to as a Developmental Pediatrician)


• Pediatric Neurologist


• Child Psychiatrist


• Child Psychologist

Not all medical professionals are alike. Some may be more experienced in assessing and treating autism. Your child's pediatrician may be able to refer you to someone who can help. In addition, some local organizations which are dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities may also be able to point you in the right direction.However, often the most successful way to determine the right person for the job, is to ask other parents who are already raising children with autism.

The Arc and Autism

The Arc is a national community-based organization which provides services and support for families of and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those dealing with autism spectrum disorders. There are local chapters which range in size from small, volunteer supported groups to large multi-million dollar organizations. The web address is www.thearc.org. There, you can locate your local Arc chapter. In many chapters, there are advocates can walk you through the process of placing your child on appropriate waiting lists to receive funding for services such as respite care and therapies. Chapters in larger cities will be able to provide more services including daycare for adults with special needs and after-school and summer programs for children and youth.

Medicaid Waiver Programs for Individuals with Autism

Let's face it, no matter which course of treatment you choose to take for helping your loved one with autism, it's going to cost you. While health insurance may cover services such as occupational and speech therapy, other expenses such as ABA, respite care, and other expenses incurred are expensive. One means of finding extra funding is the the Home and Community-Based Services Waivers (HCBS Waivers Section 1915 (c)).

With medicaid waivers, an individual is allowed more diverse services and supports by "waiving" the need toget those same services in an institution. Medicaid is waived for provisions in order to allow long-term care services to be delivered in community settings. This program is the Medicaid alternative to providing comprehensive long-term services in institutional settings. Individuals who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder qualify for this program.

This program is controlled at the state level. The waiting lists tend to be several years long, so it is best to place your child on this list as soon as you have a diagnosis. To learn more, check out the website for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (part of the Department of Health and Human Services). The web address is http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidStWaivProgDemoPGI/05_HCBSWaivers-Section1915(c).asp .

States may offer a variety of services to consumers under an HCBS waiver program. These programs may provide a combination of both medical services (i.e. dental services, skilled nursing services) as well as non-medical services (i.e.respite care, case management, environmental modifications). Family members and friends may be providers of waiver services if they meet the specified provider alifications. Check out the state medicaid agency list at http://64.82.65.67/medicaid/states.html to find contact information for the waiver programs available in your state. Persons with an autism spectrum disorder are typically placed on similar waiver program waiting lists as individuals with mental retardation or developmental delays.

Getting Ready For Summer--Life In An Autism Household

Most neurotypical children look forward to summertime. It's a break from the monotonous routines and rigid schedules of school. Alas, it is these very aspects which can sometimes make summer vacation long and unpleasant for families with children on the autism spectrum. Children with autism thrive on routine and structure. Changes in schedules, even a surpise, fun activity, can bring undue stress, often resulting in meltdowns. The most obvious and effective solution is to provide them with a daily schedule. Depending on your child's level of functionality, choose pictures or words to describe each activity and when they will occur. You know your child best, so adjust the schedule according to their personality. Some may need even the most basic daily routines included, such as when to get dressed or exact meal times. Other children may just need to know any activities which may be different, such as the day they have occupational therapy or swim lessons. One of the keys to a stress-free summer is consistency. Utilizing and adhering to a schedule will help to alleviate anxiety your child may have over the unexpected. Even scheduling fun activities such as a trip to their favorite fast food restaurant has its benefits. Once a child with autism has decided they want lunch at McDonald's, they may fixate on it until it actually happens. When it is on a schedule, this can lessen some of their anxiety and resulting perseveration, as they can see exactly when this event will occur. While it may seem daunting to have to "spell everything out" for your child, over time it will become second nature for both of you.

Mothers Of Children With Autism--Psychological Functioning and Coping

There was study done by Guillermo Montes, PhD and Jill Halterman, MD, MPH from the Children’s Institue in Rochester, NY and Department of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester, School of medicine and Dentristy. They were concerned about small-scale studies which found having a child with autism was detrimental to maternal psychological functioning. They wanted to investigate this theory using a large-scale population-based study. They also wanted to determine how the relationship between the mother and her child were affected by autism. The title of their research article is ”Psychological Functioning and Coping Among Mothers of Children With Autism: A Population-Based Study”¹.

When I first read the title, a little voice inside me asked: ”What psychological functioning and coping?” Late night web surfing does not bring out the optimists. Or maybe cynicism is brought on by sleepless nights when your child decides they are going to tear paper until 3 in the morning. Or it could be from those 10 minute meltdowns at the grocery store just when you thought you were going to make it out of there incident-free.

So, when the results of this study which interviewed mothers of 61,772 children (364 of which had autism), indicated mothers of children with autism were highly stressed and more likely to report poor or fair mental health than mothers in the general population, I believed my question had been answered. Yes, we are stressed. Not much of a shock, there. What did surprise me, though, was the results which showed mothers of children with autism also report having a close relationship with their child and better coping with parenting tasks. We were also less like to be angry with our child, and there were no indications of an increase in violence in our households. The results were based on self-evaluations and compared with those given by mothers in the general population. In addition, the results were also adjusted to accomodate for the child’s social skills and demographic background. Based on my own personal experiences and those of my other friends with children with autism, I would say these results were spot on. I have the medical bills to prove my mental health has seen better days. Many mothers, including myself, have found relief from some of the anxiety from medications such as SSRI’s. Nonetheless, some days I feel like a mountain collapsed on me. But other days, particularly those when I relfect on how far my child has come, I am convinced I can move mountains.

So, if you are a mother new to the world of autism and reading this for the first time, do not give up hope. While most of us will agree living with autism is no picnic, it has its rewards. Think of yourself as a contestant on Survivor. While some of the challenges and situations on this reality show seem surreal (come on, who’s going to have to eat a rat or perch atop a pole for 30 minutes?), so will be some of the trials and tribulations you will experience as a parent of a child with autism. When you have a child who needs to be taught inhibition, you learn quickly what surreal is all about. But unlike the reality show, there is one bonus—they’ll never vote you off the island.

^{1 ”Psychological Functioning and Coping Among Mothers of Children With Autism: A Population-Based Study”, Guillermo Montes, PhD and Jill S. Halterman, MD, MPH, Published online May 1, 2007, PEDIATRICS Vol. 119 No. 5 May 2007, pp. e1040-e1046 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2819).}