|
If you have questions or concerns about how your
child is developing, the first step is to talk with
your child's health care professional or teacher.
CDC does not study education or
treatment programs for people with autism spectrum
disorders (ASDs) and does not provide services to
people with ASDs or their families. But the links
that follow can help you find agencies and
organizations that do.
Disclaimer
Resources
by State
Every state provides
education services for children who have
developmental problems. These programs can start
right after a baby is born and last until he or she
turns 22 years old. Find out more about these
programs at the links that follow.
National Dissemination Center for Children with
Disabilities
The
National
Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
(NICHCY) is a central source of information on
disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and
youth. NICHCY has compiled a
resource directory by state that
lists key programs for children with developmental
disabilities and their families. The lists include
state agencies serving children and youth with
disabilities, state chapters of disability
organizations and parent groups, and parent training
and information projects.
National Early
Childhood Technical Assistance Center
The
National Early
Childhood Technical Assistance Center works to
strengthen the systems that provide early childhood
services under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). The center’s mission is to
ensure that children with disabilities (birth
through 5) and their families receive and benefit
from high-quality, culturally appropriate, and
family-centered supports and services.
National Mental
Health Information Center
The National Mental
Health Information Center is part of the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of
the Department of Health and Human Services. Its
Mental Health Services Locator helps families
and professionals find information about mental
health services and resources by state and/or
region.
[Return to top of page]
Resources
from Partner Organizations
Autism Society of America’s Autism Source
ASA’s
Autism
Source is a database of resources in local
communities. It includes contact information for ASA
chapters and other local supports.
Organization for Autism Research’s “Parent’s Guide
to Research”
“A
Parent’s Guide to Research,” a free publication
from the Organization for Autism Research, helps
parents find, understand, and evaluate autism
research studies.
[Return to top of page]
Disaster
Planning
AutismCares
A
growing number of national autism organizations have
partnered to form
AutismCares,
a national initiative to help families with members
who have autism that are challenged with disasters
in their community.
AutismCares registers families through a free online
service to help manage and store their health care
records and ensure that
trained case managers are able to locate them more
effectively in case disaster strikes their community.
[Return to top of page]
Financial
Resources for Health Care
Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid
The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) works
to improve access to services for underserved and
at-risk populations. Among the programs CMS runs are
Medicaid and the
State Children's Health Insurance Programs.
People of all ages who have disabilities may be
eligible for health care coverage through Medicaid.
SCHIP, created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997,
enables states to initiate and expand health
insurance coverage for uninsured children.
Children’s Health
Insurance Program
Insure Kids
Now! is a national campaign to link the nation's
10 million uninsured children--from birth to age
18--to free and low-cost health insurance. It is
sponsored by the
Department of Health and Human Services. Each
state has a Children's Health Insurance Program that
provides free or low-cost health insurance for
eligible children. The website has basic facts about
these programs as well as links to
every state’s program for children. The site
also has information on where you can learn who is
eligible for the program, how to apply, and what
services are covered. You can get information in
English and Spanish.
En Español:
¡Asegure a sus Hijos Ahora! |
El Programa de su Estado
Social Security Administration
The
Social Security
Administration has information about how to
apply for social security benefits. Its website also
provides an
interactive tool to answer questions about
eligibility, benefits, limits, and other programs
offered.
[Return to top of page]
Assistive
Technology
People who
have an autism spectrum disorder may use assistive
technology (AT). AT is any item that helps people do
things in their daily lives. Examples of AT devices
include a keyguard that helps children find the
right keys on a computer keyboard, a simpler remote
control for a TV or stereo, an adapted mouse that
makes getting around on the computer easier,
switches that help children play with toys, and
talking books.
MEDLINEplus: Assistive Devices
MEDLINEplus is
an online service of the National Library of
Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
Updated daily, the site offers information on a
range of health topics, including autism and
assistive devices, in
English and
Spanish (En Español).
Technical Assistance Project
The
Technical Assistance Project is sponsored by
the Rehabilitation
Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of
North America (RESNA), funded by the U.S.
Department of Education. The project reduces
barriers and increases access to assistive
technology (AT) devices and services for people with
disabilities of all ages. Visit the project’s
website to
find an assistive technology program in your state
or territory.
Disclaimer: We have provided a link to
these sites because they have information that may be of interest to you. CDC does not necessarily endorse the views or information presented on
these sites. Furthermore, CDC does not endorse any commercial products or information that may be presented or advertised on these sites.
[Return to top of page]
Date:
February 07, 2007
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
|
