Arizona Families May Qualify for Subsidized Challenging Behavior Services

A First Things First grant will provide intense,
short term behavioral intervention to families in crisis.
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders was awarded a $270,000 grant by the Northeast Maricopa Regional Partnership Council’s First Things First program, to provide behavioral health services to 200 families in their region. The grant was created to meet the regional need for short‐term, focused intervention for families whose children ages 0‐5 face significant behavioral, developmental or mental health challenges.

CARD’s Specialized Outpatient Services Department (SOS) will combine direct intervention services with caregiver training to provide optimal treatment for each family. The treatment process includes an intake evaluation in which the family’s abilities and needs are assessed.

Given the family’s priorities, the behavior specialist will conduct appropriate assessments and develop individual treatment plans for common childhood issues. Home‐based, direct intervention will include training parents to implement their child’s behavior intervention plan. At the same time, caregivers will learn useful techniques in group training meetings conducted every two weeks. The combination of childspecific intervention plans along with group caregiver training and family support will help bring each family out of a crisis situation. If successful, this one‐year grant may be renewed for two additional years.


Families that meet certain criteria will receive treatment services and caregiver training at no cost.

Families must live in the following zip codes:
85250, 85251, 85253, 85254, 85255, 85257, 85258, 85259, 85260,
85262, 85263, 85264, 85268, 85269, 85331, 85377,
deducting the portion of the
Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
in zip code 85264.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE BROCHURE
General eligibility requirements:
• Children age 0 – 5 years
• Resident of Northeast Maricopa Region
• Family is in crisis due to a child’s behavioral, developmental, or mental health problems
• Children do NOT need to have any formal diagnosis (i.e., Autism) to be eligible

Common childhood issues addressed include, but are not limited to:
• Tantrums
• Non‐compliance
• Aggression
• Property destruction
• Separation issues
• Self‐injurious behavior
• Sleep dysregulation
• Feeding problems
• Toilet training

Interested families are encouraged to contact CARD Phoenix at cardsos@centerforautism.com.

About First Things First (FTF):
First Things First (FTF) was established in 2006 to help provide greater opportunities for all children ages five and under, in Arizona, to grow up ready to succeed. FTF’s mission is to increase the quality of, and access to, the early childhood development and health system that ensures a child entering school comes healthy and ready to succeed.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) diligently maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD‐NOS, and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), CARD develops individualized treatment plans for each child. CARD provides services around the globe. CARD was founded by Executive Director Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA‐D.

About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders’ Specialized Outpatient Services (SOS):

CARD Specialized Outpatient Services (SOS) Department uses the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to develop short‐term programs designed to target one or more particular challenges such as behavior problems, feeding and pill swallowing. The goal of CARD SOS is to help individuals achieve long‐term success by developing tools to overcome these challenges. CARD SOS is designed to serve individuals with and without autism of all ages.

Autism Rate Now at One Percent of All US Children?

By David Kirby, Huffington Post.com

A pair of federally funded studies on autism rates is about to make news – big news – and it isn't good: It would appear that somewhere around one percent of all US children currently have an autism spectrum disorder. The rate is even higher among six to 11 year olds and among boys, according to data from at least one of the new studies.

If you are an expectant parent, or planning to have a child soon, you might want to sit down before absorbing these staggering statistics, recently released by the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH), which is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

According to data from the 2007 telephone survey of parents of nearly 82,000 US children, the odds of a child receiving an ASD diagnosis are one in 63. If it is a boy, the chances climb to a science fiction-like level of one in 38, or 2.6% of all male children in America.

But there was also some surprisingly good news. Enormous numbers of children originally diagnosed with ASD went on to shed their diagnosis as they got older, parents reported.

Among all children aged two to 17, according to respondents, one in 100 (100-per-10,000) currently have an ASD diagnosis, which is considerably higher than the previously (CDC) estimated rate of 1-in-150, (or 66-per-10,000).

But researchers were also told by parents that 60-per-10,000 children "had autism, Asperger's

NJ Governor to Sign Autism Bill

The Associated Press

New Jersey will become the 14th state to require expanded health insurance coverage for autism and other development disabilities Thursday.

The Garden State has the nation's highest autism rate. A Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found 1 in 94 children in New Jersey have the genetic-based disorder, compared with 1 in 152 nationwide.

Legislation would require insurers to cover the cost of medically necessary treatments, such as physical, speech and occupational therapy, along with behavioral intervention.

Supporters of the measure say autistic children will receive therapy early in their lives that they'll need to live productive lives.

Opponents, while sympathetic, said it will drive up health care costs for small businesses.

For information about other the Federal Insurance Reform Plan

click here.

CARD Assessment Director Makes Appearance on Talk About Parenting

Mark your calendars...


Dr. Evelin Garcia, CARD Director of Assessments, will make a guest appearance on Talk About Parenting with Shirlee Smith this Wednesday, August 12th at 12pm (Pacific Coast Time). This thought provoking, televised, live call-in program will focus on autism and effective autism treatment programs.

Talk About Parenting with Shirlee Smith is a Pasadena, California television program that airs on Channel 56.

If you live outside of Southern California you can watch the live show online at www.talkaboutparenting.org.

You are highly encouraged to call in with questions during the hour long program.

All calls will be screened prior to live questions.

Call in number:
626- 794-2551 or 626 -794-2116.

The program can be viewed live during its broadcast on Pasadena 56.

Or, live online at:

http://www.talkaboutparenting.org/pages/tv-view.php

Broadcast times for pre-recorded shows:

Tuesdays - 10am and 10pm
Fridays - 2am and 2pm

Autism Campaigners Appeal To President Obama On Gary McKinnon

Source UK Autism Foundation

Autism campaigners Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation and Kevin Healey Chairman of the Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society (who has Asperger's Syndrome) have issued a joint appeal on Gary McKinnon to President Barack Obama at the White House.

They have also launched a new online petition in support of Gary McKinnon who hacked into 97 America military computers at the Pentagon and Nasa between 2001 and 2002.

Lord Carlile, the Home Office's adviser on terror laws, said extraditing Mr McKinnon would be "cruel and unconscionable" when he could be prosecuted in the UK. Opposition Leader David Cameron said he remained "far from convinced" that extradition was the right course of action and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has stated that there was no reason why Mr McKinnon should not be tried in the UK.The autism campaigner in the House of Commons Lee Scott has also signed a letter written by MPs to President Obama. Gary McKinnon was recently backed by Cabinet member, Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary.

Gary McKinnon is also supported by former Home Secretary David Blunkett, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Sir Bob Geldoff, Dave Gilmour, Chrissy Hynde, Nick Hornby, Trudie Styler and human rights campaigner Terry Waite among a whole host of celebrities and charities. Ivan Corea and Kevin Healey have appealed directly to President Barack Obama on Gary McKinnon.

Ivan Corea said: ' UKAF has joined forces with autism campaigner Kevin Healey of SAAS in appealing to President Obama to show compassion and allow him to be tried in the UK. Gary McKinnon is no terrorist. He has Asperger's Syndrome. He admits he has done wrong - we maintain that autism is a very complex world and sometimes you have unexplained behaviour. Gary was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome by the eminent Professor Simon Baron Cohen. He says he was looking for evidence on UFOs. We urge President Obama to be compassionate where Gary McKinnon is concerned,' he said.

The UK Autism Foundation has joined forces with SAAS, the Autism Trust and others in setting up a new online petition in support of Gary McKinnon.

UKAF and SAAS are urging people to sign this new petition in support of Gary McKinnon. His lawyers have 28 days to appeal against the High Court decision.

Source
UK Autism Foundation