Hi CoPA Members,
Jen asked me to share our Chesterfield Autism Project with everyone. Please provide comments, feedback and questions. Please share how your program is providing services for children with characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Chesterfield Autism Project
With the growing concern over the increased number of children with noted characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder, the Infant and Toddler Connection of Chesterfield established an Autism Workgroup November 30,2005 . The workgroup with the support of T-TAC from VCU initially included representatives from local programs such as Children’s Hospital, Rehabilitation Associates and Chesterfield Early Childhood Special Education program. The purpose of the workgroup was to develop assessment and program guidelines for providing services to the families and children demonstrating characteristics or with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
The Chesterfield Autism Project composed of two phrases. Phase One was the pilot program and Phase Two the service project. During the pilot program, data was collected that included a provider and family questionnaire. Phase One began September 10, 2007 for children entering the early intervention system who met the criteria established by the workgroup.
The following activities were completed by the workgroup prior to the beginning of Phase One.
-Developed guidelines for serving infants and toddlers with characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
-Surveyed Part C System Managers from Virginia and ten states to collect information on what services look like in their states.
-Explored a variety of screening and assessment tools that are used with children with ASD.
-Enhanced a packet of materials given to families about ASD at the initial multidisciplinary evaluation. Packet included a description of the Chesterfield Autism Project, consent to participate in the Project, description of assessments conducted and available resources along with articles on Autism Spectrum Disorder.
-Developed criteria for eligibility for the Project.
-Explored available resources to include in the packet.
The following activities were completed by the workgroup during the Phase One pilot.
-Developed processes of the delivery services for Phase Two.
-Attended training events specific to intervention for providing services to families and children with ASD.
-Developed Decision Tree for Providing Services to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
-Developed Decision Tree for Social/Play Experiences for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
-Developed protocol for using community settings for engagement opportunities with typical developing children.
-Developed Description for Community Participation for Children with characteristic of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
-Explored community settings receptive to inclusion.
-Developed a training module and power point on ASD and Strategies to present to daycare/preschool staff.
-Refined the guideline for providing services for children with ASD and their families.
The Guidelines for Serving Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder include
- The M-Chat given to all children 18 months or older referred for speech and language concerns.
-Multidisciplinary evaluation completed in the home.
-Red flags discussed at the initial evaluation and a packet of materials given to the families that includes permission to participate in the project, description of the Chesterfield Autism Project, description of a sensory and functional evaluation and resources.
-Initial IFSP written for 6 months and reviewed at a six-eight week period.
-Sensory evaluation and functional evaluation completed during this six-eight period.
-Identification of resources family has in place and resources family needs.
-Team meetings to review information collected from sensory and functional evaluations.
-IFSP meeting at six-eight weeks to review additional information collected and discuss outcomes and services to provide family with clearer ideas about priorities for their child..
-Child centered quarterly meetings to review information collected about the child, discuss status of intervention strategies and plans.
The Chesterfield Autism Project is a new initiative of the Chesterfield Infant Program. It differs from typical services in that it involves a more concentrated effort in the first six-eight weeks to collect information, it may involve more time in the families home or child’s typical environment initially, more disciplines may be involved and the IFSP will be reviewed at the end of a six-eight week period. Currently there are 12 children in the project. Two children had the opportunity to participate in a preschool setting with typically developing children. Families have expressed satisfaction with the project. Challenges and barriers have included limited resources to complete evaluations and scheduling of team meetings that would include all providers involved with the child and family.
Donna Rimell, M.Ed.