Autism Aid is Available for Your Child

What types of autism aid are available for your child with autism? When your child has been evaluated and diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, you may feel inadequate to help your child develop to the fullest extent of his or her ability.

As you begin to look at treatment options and at the types of aid available for a child with a disability, you will find out that there is help for you. It is going to be difficult to learn and remember everything you need to know about the resources that will be most helpful. Write down everything. If you keep a notebook, you will have a foolproof method of recalling information. Keep a record of the doctors' reports and the evaluation your child has been given so that his or her eligibility for special programs will be documented. Learn everything you can about special programs for your child; the more you know, the more effectively you can advocate.

Special Programs

Usually children are placed in public schools and the school district funds all necessary related services. These will include, as needed, services provided by a speech therapist, occupational therapist, school psychologist, social worker, school nurse, or aide.

By law, the public schools must prepare and carry out a set of instruction goals, or specific skills, for every child in a special education program. The list of skills is known as the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The IEP is an agreement between the school and the family on the child's goals. When your child's IEP is developed, you will be asked to attend the meeting. There will be several people at this meeting, including a special education teacher, a representative of the public schools who is knowledgeable about the program, other persons invited by the school or by you (bring a relative, a child care provider, or a supportive close friend who knows your child well).

Parents play an important part in creating the program, as they know their child and his or her needs best. Once your child's IEP is developed, a meeting is scheduled once a year to review your child's progress and to make any alterations to reflect his or her changing needs.

Autism Aid: Early Intervention

The early intervention services are provided by workers qualified to care for toddlers with disabilities and are usually in the child's home or a place familiar to the child.

The services provided are written into an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that is reviewed at least once every 6 months. The plan will describe services that will be provided to the child, but will also describe services for parents to help them in daily activities with their child and for siblings to help them adjust to having a brother or sister with ASD.

Find more information regarding various autism aid available for your child with autism in your state.

Resources on Special Programs

Autism Aid, Supports and Services

Respite Services are generally funded in full or subsidized by state Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waivers. There are also not-for-profit agencies who are given public donations and grants to provide free or low cost respite services to families of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Contact a local Developmental Disabilities Services Office or DDSO in your state for more specific information on how to obtain autism aid, i.e. Medicaid Waivers, family support services, residential habilitation, and respite services for your son or daughter.

Transition Planning Your child's school district Special Education Department or Committee is required by both federal and state regulations before age level 14 to begin to help you and your child develop a transition plan from school to life after school -- meeting with you, your child and community agencies to discuss what skills and knowledge your child will need as an adult.

Autism Aid Resources

The Kaiser Commission provides an online Medicaid Benefits By Service database which can be used to compare autism aid, as well as Mediciad Benefits By State.


Autism Action Plan

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