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Navigating Medical Decision-Making and Insurance for Autistic Children in Divorced Families
Managing the care and needs of a child on the autism spectrum can be a full-time job. In addition to addressing the day-to-day care, educational, and behavioral needs of an autistic child, managing the therapeutic and medical visits can be quite involved, including such challenges as scheduling and...
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Post-Pandemic Telehealth Tips for Providers Working with Autistic Children
Since the pandemic, many of us have become more comfortable with telehealth. The virtual visit evolution has helped many, including children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, who can take advantage of the benefits that telehealth affords. For children with ASD, telehealth...
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Inclusivity and Equality in Treatment: Transforming Health Care, One Step at a Time
Access to health care is a fundamental human right. Creating an equitable health care system requires that all aspects of an individual’s health – physical, mental, and emotional well-being – be addressed holistically. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and...
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The Role of Mental Health Support in Autism Care: Breaking Free of the Patterns of This World
As a mental health professional, I have had the incredible privilege of counseling individuals with Autism for over a decade. I have had the opportunity to witness and be a part of the beautiful journey that occurs when someone who received a diagnostic label of Autism Spectrum Disorder learns to...
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The Economic Undervaluing of the Direct Support Professional Workforce: Unveiling Societal Values and Discrimination Against People with Disabilities
In the intricate tapestry of our society, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) stand as unsung heroes, offering unwavering support to individuals with disabilities. However, despite their invaluable contributions, the DSP workforce remains severely undervalued economically, reflecting broader...
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Sensory-Friendly Hospital Experiences for Children with Autism
Going to the hospital is typically accompanied by fear and stress, which is never easy for any family. For parents of children with autism, it can be even more overwhelming to think about going to the doctor’s office or the hospital. 95% of children with autism also have sensory processing...
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Helping Families with Disabilities Transition from Child to Adult Systems of Care
Having a child diagnosed with a lifelong disability is like planning a trip to one country, but unexpectedly arriving in a different country (read Emily Perl Kingsley’s essay Welcome to Holland). Just imagine, you have nothing packed that would make the trip easier or more comfortable, and you do...
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Aging with Autism: Innovations for Independent Living to Address the Housing Crisis
At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, a friend came down with a particularly bad case of the virus which required emergency transport to the hospital. Laying on the gurney in the back of the ambulance she panicked as they placed the oxygen mask over her face. The EMS workers were frustrated with...
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Navigating Legal Challenges in Autism Healthcare: Ensuring Access to Services and Insurance Coverage
Prevalence rates of autism are at an all-time high, and we know that early and intensive treatment produces the optimal outcomes for autistic individuals. According to the CDC, “most children (85%) identified with ASD had concerns about their development noted in the records by 3 years of age.”...
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Breaking Down Barriers: A Guide to Autism Diagnosis with NODA Telehealth
If you are the parent or guardian of a child on the autism spectrum, you know firsthand how frustrating and time-consuming it can be to get a diagnostic assessment for your child. The process often involves long wait times, multiple in-person appointments, and a lot of uncertainty. Thanks to recent...
