Frequently Asked Questions
We have just received a diagnosis of Autism, Asperger’s or PDD–NOS. What should our first steps be?
I am looking for a doctor in my area. How do I find one who works with children with autism?
What social opportunities are available for my child on the autism spectrum?
At what age does Transition Planning start?
How do I help my child with ASD find a job?
We have just received a diagnosis of Autism, Asperger’s or PDD–NOS. What should our first steps be?
If your child is younger than 2 and a half, call Help Me Grow for an assessment and therapy options.
If your child is older than 2 and a half, your first step is to call your school district. Speak to the office of special education, and ask to register your child and to request an evaluation. Secondly, contact an organization such as Milestones to help steer you in the right direction. We can help you prioritize your needs and next steps. We can offer suggestions on appropriate reading materials, recommend specialists or therapists, and help you get on the most successful path for your child.
Consulting with your child’s doctor for recommendations might also prove to be helpful. Begin to build your team of professionals, family, friends or religious leaders to help guide you and support your family.
Check out our Reading List to see recommended reading resources on a wide variety of autism-related topics. Many of the resources on our list are available to borrow from our lending library. Give us a call if you would like to stop by or if you would like our input on what books might be best for you.
The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence has useful video modules online and a free lending library.
The First 100 Days After Diagnosis Kit from Autism Speaks is a good resource to work through. Call us to help fill in the local details.
The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) has some great guides for parents.
Become familiar with effective, evidence-based autism interventions.
If you are interested in learning more about Applied Behavior Analysis, listen to our podcast “Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Fundamentals”. ABA is evidence-based and can be successful with individuals of any age across a variety of settings.
Rethink Autism has videos that show different behavioral techniques in action.
See our calendar for workshops, including the University Hospitals-sponsored Quick Start series Wednesday evenings.
What is an IEP?
IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. This document is designed to meet the educational needs for a child who may have a disability. It is drafted by a group of team members geared towards obtaining the best educational support for a child. The start of this process involves a multi-factored evaluation through your school district. Review our School Strategies page on how to draft and renew the goals in your child’s IEP.
I am looking for a doctor in my area. How do I find one who works with children with autism?
Review our Resource Center for doctors, therapists, dentists, legal aids, and other medical practitioners who specialize in the field of autism.
What social opportunities are available for my child on the autism spectrum?
Check out our Calendar that lists many different types of events all around Northeast Ohio. You can also review our Social & Recreation tab in our Resource Center.
What is Transition Planning?
Transition Planning is a coordinated set of activities that are focused on the academic and functional abilities of a student with a disability to achieve success after graduation from high school. A Transition Plan is individualized, relies on multiple staff and providers and is embedded into the goals and services in the IEP.
At what age does Transition Planning start?
In Ohio, transition planning legally must begin by the age of 14 or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP team. The focus of the transition plan at 14 years old should be on what courses the teen will take to ultimately achieve their post-secondary goals.
Federal law mandates that transition planning begin by the age of 16. Transition Planning must address services and skills needed to attain any post-secondary education options, employment, independent living, community living (including leisure activities) as well as connecting to adult provider agencies.
A Vision Statement or the Future Planning Section of the teen’s IEP guides the Transition Plan for a student and should be written by the student with disabilities, their family and any other trusted adults in their lives. A vision statement expresses hopes and desired outcomes for post-high school and should result in the creation of IEP goals and supports that will help the teen move closer to achieving a self-determined, meaningful adult life.
Click to learn more about Ohio Transition-Related Laws.
To learn more about Transition Planning please visit National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
Additional Resources
Transition Quality Checklist
Manual from OAR – Life’s Journey Through Autism
OCALI Transition to Adulthood Guidelines
How do help my child with ASD find a job?
We have helpful suggestions on our Practical Tips for Parents page.
I am interested in using Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) with my child or students. How do I start, and what online resources are available?
Here is a comprehensive list of Behavioral Intervention or ABA trainings in the Northeast Ohio area and online. Please call us if you have questions or to help sort through the information.
MILESTONES AUTISM ORGANIZATION
Each August, Milestones offers “Effective Behavioral Interventions for the Classroom” – a week-long, hands-on training for school teams.
Listen to our Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Fundamentals workshop podcast.
Local ABA consultants are listed in our Resource Center under Therapy: ABA Consultants.
ABA Online Resources are also listed in our Resource Center under Therapy: ABA Online Resources.
LOCAL FORMAL CLASSES
Cleveland State University
CSU offers a series of preparation courses for Board Certified Behavior Analysis.
John Carroll University
Tracy Masterson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Child Clinical Psychology teaches a course in Behavioral Interventions. You can contact her at (216) 397-1512 or through email.
Kent State University
KSU offers an online Autism Certificate program.
Bowling Green State University
BGSU has a new Autism Certificate program that is web-based and includes one course in behavior and classroom management.
LOCAL WORKSHOPS
Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism
Offers periodic workshops.
LOCAL BEHAVIORAL CONSULTANTS
You can also be in touch with any local Behavioral ABA consultants to train directly with them if they have any openings. Some local ABA consultants are listed on our Resource Center under Therapy: ABA Consultants.
ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
CARD eLearning™ and Skills™
CARD eLearning™ is a 40 – hour online training course designed to facilitate effective intervention for children with autism by equipping users with foundational knowledge in ABA.
Skills™ is an innovative web-based tool connected to CARD eLearning providing everything educators, parents, teachers, and professionals need to effectively design and manage a comprehensive, individualized treatment program for children with autism and related disorders.
ADEPT (Autism Distance Education Parent Training)
Free 10 part webcast series for parents to learn how to use ABA techniques with their children. Self-paced and interactive, provides tools including checklists and activities to confirm understanding of the materials presented.
TARGET (Texas Autism Resource Guide for Effective Teaching)
TARGET is a network of 20 regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) around the state and in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Texas Statewide Leadership for Autism Training provides a mechanism to access training, technical assistance, support, and resources for educators who serve students with autism. Free “online bank” of intervention resources.
Autism Internet Modules – OCALI (Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence)
Series of online learning modules includes information on assessment and identification of ASDs, recognizing and understanding behaviors and characteristics, transition to adulthood, employment, and numerous evidence-based practices and interventions. There are quite a few that focus on Behavioral Interventions such as:
• Antecedent-Based Interventions (ABI)
• Differential Reinforcement
• Discrete Trial Training
• Extinction
• Naturalistic Intervention
• Pivotal Response Training (PRT)
• Prompting
• Reinforcement
• Task Analysis
Rethink Autism
Online Training Program for families and providers to increase ability for parents and teachers to provide individualized ABA therapy at home and in the classroom. Rethink Autism Program includes personalized assessment that will help to generate an individualized curriculum and ABA program.
Rethink Autism’s curriculum is best used in conjunction with a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.