How Do You Choose the Right Autism Center for Your Child?

Choosing the appropriate autism center for your child can be a very difficult decision to make. With so many centers around offering such a variety of specialties and different approaches to helping children with autism, it can be a very stressful time and a difficult task for any parent to make the correct decision for their child. Often the type of intervention that a child receives is greatly affected by the type of early intervention that they have received and that is why it can be so very difficult for parents to choose the correct center for their child's unique situation.

Finding the right therapeutic support for your child with autism can become manageable when you know what the specific factors are that will predict successful outcomes for your child.

Evaluate Evidence-based Treatment Approaches

Typically, centers will offer a mix of speech, occupational and social skills type of work, and of those programs that deal with children with autism, the most evidence-based practice is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). So, after determining that most centers will be able to help your child, in the next step you would ask each center for an in-depth explanation of their methods and practices and to bring evidence to support the practices that they use with their students. It would also be very important for you to be able to have each program explain their practices in detail and for them to provide you with a sample treatment plan for how they would work with your child.

Just because a program calls itself "holistic" or "individualized" does not mean that it is effective for your child. You need to ask the specifics of any program's session format and how they measure progress. If a program cannot explain in detail how they work and cannot show you a sample treatment plan then it is likely to be a waste of your time.

It is best to be very suspicious of programs that offer a proven approach to autism and also a host of unproven 'complementary' or 'alternative' treatments. Many of the unprovenanced practices that are used with individuals with autism have some theoretical merit but they have not been shown by scientific investigation to be of value. It is perfectly fine to explore some of these as add-ons to your child's proven intervention but not as the main component of their treatment.

Assess Staff Qualifications and Turnover

Qualifications of Direct-Service Staff: Just because a center has a good website or offers a program that sounds great does not mean that the direct-service staff are qualified to work with your child. The most important factor is the education and certification of the direct-service staff. If the center offers ABA then make sure that the direct-service staff are supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). A speech-language pathologist (SLP) must be licensed to practice in the state where your child receives treatment.

When considering a program for a child on the autism spectrum, it is good to get a sense of a center's organizational health and look for signs of good management. While there is nothing wrong with some turnover in staff, high rates of turnover in staff may indicate that a program is more focused on making a profit from families with children with autism than providing effective interventions and quality services. Therefore, it is good to ask a center for examples of successful outcomes provided to children with similar needs and ask the center about their staff.

The staff seem to enjoy time with the children, are patient with the children, and can explain the details of what they are doing, and why they are doing it. As with most things, it is very important for the people providing services and supports to your child with autism to have the required education, and to be certified. However, having the required education and being certified does not necessarily mean that they will be able to apply what they have learned in practice, and be able to have a good relationship with your child. Look for staff members who appear to enjoy being with children with autism, and who have been able to work well with your child in the past.

Examine the Physical Environment

Space itself communicates the center's priorities.

One can tell immediately whether a center has children's needs at the heart of what they do by walking into the physical space to be used for children's therapy sessions. There will be a structured environment to minimize distractions and to house materials and equipment used for children's programs; it should not be a cold and institutional type of space. Consider safety features of the environment as well: Are all entrances to areas where children are playing in the center safe? Are there adequate sight lines from the person supervising children in a particular space to all of the children in that space? Are there appropriate safety measures to ensure that all equipment is in good repair? The child with autism may engage in a variety of safety- related behaviors such as running away, hitting himself or herself, attempting to jump from heights, attempting to flee from therapy, or other unsafe behaviors.

As you walk through the different areas of the center you also want to consider the environment and whether or not it would be a good fit for your child. While all Autism Programs are different, most programs have various settings or classrooms that the children can work in, and the program would adapt to meet the needs of each child. Some children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are over stimulated by very bright lights or loud noises and are considered to the point of becoming distressed, and are over stimulated. On the other hand, many children are under stimulated and seek out more input or stimulation. In either case, the program would want to create a setting that would be just right for your child in order to ensure their success.

Review Data Collection and Progress Monitoring

Centers use data collected from working with your child to evaluate your child's progress and make decisions about your child's future interventions. This data can be collected and recorded in a variety of ways (written, on charts and graphs, through apps on your phone or other technology) and the center should explain the type of data that is collected and how it is recorded to you and show you examples of how progress is measured and evaluated.

How often will my child's treatment plan be reviewed? Typically a monthly review is typical but this will depend on the child. The autism center should be able to outline their process for reviewing a child's treatment and how they make decisions for making changes to a child's treatment based on data trends.

Reports: The center should provide regular reports regarding your child's progress. These reports should be detailed enough to provide meaningful information to you and your child regarding his/her progress. The reports should not be too technical or too vague and should enable you to make informed and timely decisions regarding your child's program.

Understand Family Involvement Expectations

Your child's greatest support is YOU! Your involvement can greatly impact your child's success greatly. Ways in which programs get their families involved vary greatly. Inquire about parent training sessions within the center. Are these sessions required or optional. What type of training would you learn in these sessions. Are there any family workshop provided for families as well. Are these required or optional as well. What types of activities or support would families be expected to complete outside of typical therapy sessions with their child. How would your child's treatment plan be put into place outside of the center, and be followed in your home with your child.

Communication: A center can help your child learn to communicate, but if they do not help their families learn how to implement the strategies learned in sessions of therapy with their child in daily activities then the child will not learn to communicate. So, the center must be able to communicate regularly with their families and provide them with strategies that can be used in daily activities. Ask the center to describe their communication protocol. How will you be informed of your child's progress and of any behaviors that your child may be exhibiting that could indicate that he or she is having a difficult day. What process will you go through to bring up any concerns that you may have about your child's progress or about the center or its staff.

Consider Practical Logistics

The distance to your home, center hours of operation, program schedule, after hours of emergency contact also need to be considered to see if they will present any problems for you and your family.

Location and hours of operation: The location of the center and hours of operation can play a large role in your decision making process. Long commutes can be stressful for any child and can be inconsistent for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Families with children may want to know if the center has evening and/or weekend hours. It is also important to get a written estimate of costs for your child's program as well as a written description of services to be provided. Then call your insurance company and get a written explanation of your coverage for autism treatment. Ask the center if they can assist in getting your child's treatment authorized by your insurance company.

Waitlist: Depending on the amount of centers in your area, there could be a waitlist of children waiting for a spot. It is good to ask how long it will be before your child can start and if there are any children on the waitlist before you commit to a center. Also, different diagnoses have early intervention age cut off times.

Ultimately, quality programs are made up of good methods, great staff, and practical means of accessing the child's needs. So, take your time and check out a few programs. With some discerning, you will find the right fit for you and your child.