How to Get Help for Treating Autism

Autism spectrum disorders need to be treated on many different levels and require finding professional services for each of your child's needs. As experts at the National Institutes of Mental Health state, "There is no single best treatment package for all children with ASD." There are many steps to finding treatment, and long waiting lists may be encountered, but help is available and early intervention is critical.

Instructions

• 1

  Find the nearest autism organization, call them for information, and join their online community if one is available. It doesn't matter if it's private or affiliated with one of the national organizations such as Autism Speaks or the Autism Society of America, because the people you'll find there know autism. Many are staffed by parents of children with autism who have the experience to share and invaluable advice to offer.

• 2

  Obtain an assessment and diagnosis. If you haven't done this already, then before finding treatment your child should have a psychological assessment. This must be completed by a psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders so that they can make an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. To find a qualified psychologist, ask your local autism organization, family physician, or contact the nearest children's hospital, university medical center or your county health department.

• 3

  Register your child with the appropriate management agency. Every county is affiliated with an agency that is the gatekeeper of autism services. They operate under different names but look for developmental disabilities or behavioral health services. The psychologist who completes your child's assessment should have the appropriate name and referral.

• 4

  Locate a case manager and service provider. Your county agency, psychologist, or local autism organization will have a list of case managers and service providers. A case manager helps you find services, provides you with information about funding or special programs, and may help you with paperwork. Service providers are the companies that employ and train people to provide autism services. They offer specialized community-based programs that are known by different names such as wraparound, direct care, community-based behavioral health and one-on-one services. They work with you and your child in your home, at your child's school or at other community activities rather than in a doctor's office. The type of therapy provided may be different at each agency so look for applied behavioral analysis, relationship intervention, social skills or whatever treatment the psychologist recommended.

• 5

  Target additional services. Most children with autism need additional treatment such as speech, occupational or physical therapies, intensive applied behavioral analysis or relational therapies. You may receive some of these from the school system or your service provider but often other professionals must be located. If your child needs medication then they must be managed by a psychiatrist.

• 6

  Apply for medical assistance programs if they're available. Your private insurance may have limited coverage of autism treatments. A few states have entitlement programs that provide medical assistance for children with developmental disabilities, or for a minimal monthly fee, regardless of parent's income. Autism Speaks has a list of organizations that offer financial and counseling assistance.