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1 The Autism Program

2 No one ever expects to need us... then they can t imagine life without us. Welcome Children s Specialized ospital is the preeminent provider of pediatric rehabilitation services and is the largest pediatric rehabilitation health system in the United States. Our hospital is dedicated to improving the lives of patients through delivering superior medical and therapeutic services in a safe and caring environment. Children s Specialized ospital s core values are excellence, innovation, teamwork, compassion, integrity, and fun. Last year over 20,000 children came through the doors of our twelve New Jersey sites. Through a blend of innovative therapies, personalized attention and compassionate support, our award-winning doctors, nurses, and skilled pediatric therapists strive to make a difference for children and their families each and every day. About Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that is characterized by a combination of challenges involving social, communication, and restricted and/or repetitive behaviors or interests. At present, there is no known single cause for ASD. Researchers are investigating a number of areas including genetics, environmental factors, and the interaction of genetics and environment. ASD is called a spectrum disorder because it is defined by a certain set of behaviors and affects individuals differently and by varying degrees. Even though a person may be diagnosed with ASD, there may be a wide variety of skills, with different patterns of strengths and challenges. Our Autism Program The Autism Program at Children s Specialized is dedicated to improving the lives of children, adolescents and families living with ASD by providing comprehensive evaluation, treatment, community education, and research. Children s Specialized is the largest regional provider of services for children with ASD and their families, with over 12,000 annual outpatient visits. We are focused on early identification and treatment of ASD so that children can reach their full potential. Our highly qualified staff is committed to family-centered care. Our professionals and families work together as partners to make sure that children get the services they need.

3 At Children s Specialized ospital, we have modeled our clinical program based on the national standard for autism assessment available in research centers. We provide care supported by evidence based practice and the most up-to-date research. dr. yvette janvier, medical director, children s specialized ospital, toms river

4 An Amazing Place A National Leader Once thought to be a rare disorder, studies now show that 1 in every 49 children in New Jersey has an ASD. Recognized as a national leader in the treatment and research of ASD, Children s Specialized ospital follows over 3,500 children for the evaluation or treatment of ASD across our numerous New Jersey sites. Early diagnosis and intervention for ASD has received strong support from the experts: American Academy of Pediatrics: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for autism at 18 months. New Jersey Early Intervention System: If a child experiences a developmental delay, the results of the delays can compound over time and it may become more difficult to modify established patterns of development. Salem Gloucester Cumberland Warren unterdon Camden Mercer Cape May Sussex Somerset Burlington Atlantic Morris Passaic Essex Union Middlesex Monmouth Ocean Bergen udson

5 Our Specialized Care Evaluations You may be pursuing an evaluation on your own, or perhaps your child s doctor or educational representative may have made a referral due to concern about your child s communication, social skills, and/or behavior. Either way, Children s Specialized offers various types of evaluations. Developmental Screening: It is important to observe a child s early developmental milestones such as sitting, walking, language, and behavior. Every child develops at his or her own pace, but sometimes areas of development are delayed. Early screening is important for young children who are not reaching key developmental milestones. In our Developmental Screening Clinics, children ages twelve to forty-eight months are screened by an Advanced Practice Nurse to review development and behavior, clarify diagnosis, make treatment recommendations, and determine need for further evaluation. If you are concerned about your child s development, contact the Children s Specialized ospital Developmental Screening Clinic (DSC) at CILDREN, extension Autism Team Evaluations: The multidisciplinary autism team at Children s Specialized consists of expert developmental pediatricians, child psychologists, speech/language therapists, and occupational therapists each trained in using gold standard tools designed for children. These evaluations may include neurodevelopmental, psychology, speech/language, and occupational therapy assessments. These evaluations provide information for the team to work closely with you and your family to understand your concerns, determine diagnosis, and partner with you to develop goals and a treatment plan. Call CILDREN, extension 5166 if you are considering an autism team evaluation for your child. physiatry, speech/language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological, neuropsychological, educational, nutrition, comprehensive feeding team, augmentative communication, and audiology. Call to schedule an appointment. Our Approach to Treatment Children s Specialized is dedicated to providing a comprehensive approach to treatment. ospital personnel collaborate for the planning, delivery, and evaluation of interventions for our patients. Our autism treatments include applied behavior analysis (ABA), early intervention (EI), feeding and nutrition therapies, medical, occupational and physical therapy, psychology, speech/language, and social skills groups. Our Leading Edge Research Children s Specialized is at the forefront of research for treatment and diagnosis of ASD. The hospital is conducting various clinical studies related to improving diagnosis and treatment for children, adolescents, and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. Recent or ongoing studies include a NI-sponsored study of children with a regressive form of autism, genetics of autism, medication studies, validation studies for new diagnostic tools, determination of diagnostic pathways, autism screening within underserved populations, and evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment. Psychology Autism Specialty Evaluations: This evaluation is for children or teens in order to clarify diagnosis as well as possible additional mental health concerns. Gold standard diagnostic tools are used to assess social communication, restricted interests and/or repetitive behavior, cognitive functioning, and other areas as needed. Call CILDREN, extension 5851 to schedule an appointment. Related Evaluations: Children s Specialized offers other separate evaluations for children, with or without an ASD diagnosis. After evaluations are complete, parents are presented with a written report including recommendations. These evaluations can include neurodevelopmental, psychiatry,

6 Preparing for Your Visit Preparing for an Evaluation Family involvement during the evaluation is very important and varies for each individual child. Questions about your child s medical and family history, education, typical behavior, skills, and challenges will be reviewed. Intake coordinators may ask you to complete questionnaires about your child s development prior to an evaluation. When coming to the hospital for an evaluation, it is important to bring a current list of your child s medications; copies of prior evaluations; previous medical and therapy reports; copies of school reports such as an IEP; and equipment your child may use (glasses, hearing aid, etc.). Many parents also find it helpful to bring a list of questions. Please bring any other important documentation such as photo identification, your insurance card, guardianship papers, physician referrals, and prescriptions. Children should wear loose comfortable clothing, socks, and comfortable shoes. If possible, it is recommended that the child s siblings stay home so that families can provide undivided attention during the evaluation. Understanding Insurance Coverage In many states, governmental regulations require specified health insurance plans to offer benefits for many prescribed autism treatments. These treatments include medically necessary occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, mental health, and behavioral interventions. It is important for families to make sure they have reviewed their insurance coverage and/or eligibility for government assistance for each recommended autism-related service. As insurance coverage for these services can be confusing, it can be helpful to contact your insurance provider or speak to one of our representatives in our Patient Access Services department for more information to ensure coverage for each service. If therapy is recommended, our Patient Access Service representative will obtain pre-authorization for the prescribed treatment. Pre-authorization is not a guarantee of insurance payment. Once the treatment is approved, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment. Our Autism Resources Take the time to educate yourself about autism spectrum disorder and services that are available. If your child has received a diagnosis of ASD, you will receive recommendations for therapies and other supports to help your child and your family. After a diagnosis, you and your family may have questions or concerns about how your child and family are affected. For this reason, we have provided practical information to help guide you. Visit our website to find helpful resources and community supports related to autism spectrum disorder. There are also many helpful resources in our parent resource areas located at each Children s Specialized site. Our Community Education and Outreach Program Children s Specialized provides community education and outreach. Many of these activities build awareness and provide tools and resources to promote inclusion of families living with ASD. The hospital offers unique programs as well as free, downloadable, multimedia resources available online which anyone, anywhere may adapt as needed.

7 El Programa de Autismo Trastornos del espectro autista (ASD) es una discapacidad compleja del desarrollo que se caracteriza por una combinación de retos que incluyen la comunicación social, y comportamientos o intereses restringidos y / o repetitivos. Aun cuando una persona sea diagnosticada con ASD, puede tener una amplia variedad de habilidades, con diferentes niveles de fortalezas y debilidades. Children s Specialized ospital es el mayor proveedor regional de servicios para los niños con ASD y sus familias, incluyendo el diagnóstico y tratamiento. La detección temprana es importante para los niños pequeños que no están alcanzando los principales hitos del desarrollo. Nuestras clínicas de evaluación del desarrollo son para niños de doce a cuarenta y ocho meses de edad con posibles problemas de desarrollo que no han sido diagnosticados previamente. Si usted está preocupado por el desarrollo de su hijo, póngase en contacto con la Clínica de Evaluación del Desarrollo llamando al CILDREN, extensión Algunos niños pueden requerir una evaluación del equipo del autismo, la cual generalmente consiste de tres visitas e incluye evaluaciones psicológicas, del desarrollo neurológico, del habla/lenguaje y de terapia ocupacional. Llame al CILDREN, extensión 5166 si usted está considerando que el equipo de autismo le realice una evaluación a su hijo. Otras evaluaciones están disponibles para niños o adolescentes con el fin de clarificar el diagnóstico (ASD), y otros posibles diagnósticos adicionales. Estas evaluaciones pueden incluir la psiquiatría, el desarrollo neurológico, fisiatría, terapia del habla/lenguaje, terapia ocupacional, terapia física, audiología, la educación, la nutrición, la alimentación integral, y la comunicación aumentativa. Children s Specialized ospital se dedica a proporcionarle un enfoque exhaustivo al tratamiento. Nuestros tratamientos para el autismo incluyen el análisis aplicado de la conducta (ABA), la intervención temprana (EIP), alimentación y terapias de nutrición, la terapia médica, ocupacional, física y del habla/lenguage, la psicología, además de participación en grupos de habilidades sociales. Es importante revisar su cobertura de seguro y/o su elegibilidad para la ayuda del gobierno en relación con los servicios para el autismo y los de ABA antes de la cita. Comuníquese con su proveedor de seguros o hable con uno de nuestros representantes en el departamento de servicios de acceso para pacientes para obtener más información y asegurar la cobertura de cada servicio. Antes de la evaluación, es posible que el coordinador de admisión le pida que complete un cuestionario sobre el desarrollo de su hijo. Al venir para una evaluación, es importante traer una lista actualizada de los medicamentos de su hijo, las evaluaciones anteriores, previos informes médicos y de terapia, informes escolares tales como el IEP, y el equipo que su hijo utiliza (gafas, audífonos., etc.) También les resulta útil a muchos padres traer una lista de preguntas. Por favor traiga cualquier otra documentación importante, por ejemplo identificación con foto, tarjeta de seguro, papeles de la tutela, referencias médicas y recetas. Si es posible, recomendamos que los hermanos del niño se queden en casa para que las familias puedan prestar máxima atención durante la evaluación. Tómese tiempo para educarse sobre los trastornos del espectro autista y los servicios que están disponibles. Visite nuestra página web donde encontrará recursos útiles y servicios de apoyo para la comunidad relacionados con los trastornos del espectro autista. También hay muchos recursos útiles en nuestras áreas de recursos para padres que se encuentran en cada instalación de CS.

8 Children s Specialized ospital treats children and adolescents from birth to 21 years of age with a wide variety of medical, developmental, educational, and rehabilitative needs. For more information about Children s Specialized ospital, please contact: Developmental Screening Clinic: CILDREN, Ext Autism Evaluations: CILDREN, Ext Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): CILDREN, Ext Autism Community Education and Outreach: CILDREN, Ext New Providence Road Mountainside, New Jersey For information on directions, parking, additional services, how to volunteer, or donate, contact us at: CILDREN ( ) Or, visit our website: An affiliate member of the Robert Wood Johnson ealth System and a member of Children s Miracle Network ospitals.