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Building a Healthcare Transition Program for Autistic Patients Entering Adulthood
The rise in the diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder in youth will mean a rise in the number of adolescents transitioning to adult medical care. 50,000 youth with autism are estimated to enter adulthood each year (Rast et al., 2020) with varying degrees of communication skills, adaptive...
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Embracing Neurodiversity: A Social Revolution of Autism and New Perspectives
Over the past 25 years, I have noticed a movement that has been gaining momentum, aiming to reshape societal views and acceptance of autism and the broader community of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). If I could name this movement, I would call it Embracing...
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Demystifying the Evaluation Process for Your Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Child with Developmental Concerns
Suspecting something may be wrong with your child’s development is a scary thought. It can be confusing as to what one does next. If your child is born with an apparent disability, the pediatrician will refer your infant or toddler to the birth-to-three system, where a team of professionals will...
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The Increasing Popularity of Telehealth Services for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often find it challenging to visit the doctor’s office due to a variety of sensory, social, and communication barriers. The sights, sounds, smells, and textures commonly found in a doctor’s office can be overwhelming and can trigger...
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Interdisciplinary Approach to Obtaining a Medical Diagnosis for Individuals With a Complex Behavioral Profile
Individuals with complex behavioral and medical profiles require an interdisciplinary approach due to multiple specialized areas of need. This approach allows interdisciplinary teams to efficiently address multiple presenting needs simultaneously and comprehensively (Boivin et al., 2021). This...
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The Neuro-Strength-Based Support Framework: A Collaborative, Strength-Focused Approach to Autism Interventions
Autism remains an enigma to some despite decades of research and a plethora of interventions aimed at addressing its myriad facets. Historically, interventions have been crafted to mitigate perceived developmental, sensory, and behavioral deficits without a solid foundation in the bio-neurological...
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Value-Based Developmental Disability Care Driven by Innovation Can Efficiently Battle Rising Healthcare Costs
There’s a fundamental truth that often gets lost amid the complexities of behavioral health insurance costs: the paramount importance of outcomes. The call for value-based care across all healthcare is becoming louder, signaling a desire to shift from the traditional fee-for-service model to one...
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The Case for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sensory Processing in Autistic Young Adults
In my career as a clinical service provider for Autistic young adults, I have seen how understanding the senses can impact one’s emotions. It is so important to be aware of how Autistic people learn, communicate, and think with all of their senses. Recently, The DSM-5TR has included “sensory...
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Autism Treatment Should be Guided by Recent Research Reflecting the Expansion of the Diagnoses
When I first began working as a behavioral interventionalist while pursuing my undergrad psychology degree in 1996, we treated children with autism in much the same way many providers do today. Over the past three decades, we’ve learned a great deal about autism. So, why are many still relying on...
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Promoting Quality Applied Behavior Analysis Services through Nonprofit Accreditation
Individuals with autism demonstrate persistent differences in social communication and interactions as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, 2022). Autism exists on a wide spectrum and there is a great deal of...
