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QUESTIONS FOR IN-HOME AUTISM TREATMENT PROVIDERS
Responses are in italics. Spelling and typographical errors are the sole fault of the webmaster. Where indicated [sic], it was not clear what the word was. Word is in parentheses with a question mark when handwritten word was not clear.
Integrated Development Services, Inc.
Andy Paulson, Ph.D.
14 Ellis Potter Court. Suite 200
Madison, WI 53711
608-441-0123
A. Therapy:
1. How would you characterize your therapeutic approach? We provide integrated intensive interventions, which are based on behavioral principles and developed from an interdisciplinary perspective. our family centered approach draws from the interaction-based approach developed by Greenspan et. al., ABA approaches, Sensory Integration Therapy and Communication Interventions. Each child is provided with an individualized intervention plan that reflects its treatment needs.
2. How do you work with children who are nonverbal? Our emphasis with non-verbal children is on the development of communicative intent. This is done by focusing initial attention to the child's sensory needs and the integration of augmentative communication systems as appropriate.
3. How do you accommodate the child's sensory defensiveness? All children are provided with sensory system consultation and, when appropriate, evaluation and treatment by Licensed Occupational Therapists who are employees of IDS. Our focus is to build basic processing capacities and provide the necessary support to help children become engaged, attentive, and regulated during interactions with others. There services are not billed to the In-Home Medicaid program.
4. How do you deal with a child's aggressive behavior? We make every effort to ensure the safety of the child, the family and the intervention team by developing child-centered safety plans, drawing on community and school resources and working with specialists as appropriate.
5. What services are offered in addition to the in-home therapy (i.e., social skills groups, speech therapy, etc.)? Are these services also covered by Medicaid? Social Skills groups, Individualized Occupational Therapy from a Sensory Integration perspective, and individualized mental health services. Yes, covered by Medicaid.
B. Entering and Exiting the program:
1. Do you accept all children under the current Medicaid age limit who apply? If not, what are your entrance requirements, such as age or IQ? Yes.
2. What testing do you require initially? At intake we complete several observational and self-report measures of child development that guide us in intervention planning and provide measurable treatment goals.
3. Under what circumstances will you accept testing by other agencies, such as schools or private therapists? We encourage that all previous evaluations and reports be shared and we incorporate all appropriate information into intervention planning.
4. What are the current out-of pocket expenses that a parent must pay for the entrance testing? None, as we do not require specific testing outside of intake. The intake is billed as a clinic appointment at a rate of $150.00
5. Can parents arrange to have these expenses spread out over a longer time period? Yes..
6. How is the number of therapy hours determined? Based on needs of child, desires of family and availability of qualified staff..
7. Do you require that the child may not be in any other educational program when he begins therapy? If so, for how long? No.
8. How is a child's progress evaluated, and how often is this done? Progress is evaluated in weekly to twice monthly home-based team meetings where intervention goals are reviewed and progress is assessed. Monthly formal reports are written which formally assess progress based on predetermined goal attainment criteria. Every six months a new intervention plan is developed based on the weekly and monthly reviews and reports.
9. What are your criteria for a child exiting the program? The decision would be developed collaboratively with the clinic director, intervention team and family and would be based on the best needs of the child.
10. Under what circumstances can a child be dismissed from your program? As above, no child is dismissed without careful discussion and well-developed rationale based on the best interest of the individual child and family.
Therapists:
1. What are the minimum educational requirements for line therapists? We follow the state guidelines of a minimum of one year of college.
2. What kind of training are the line therapists given? Who provides the training and what are their qualifications? Prior to independent work with children, therapists are provided 30 hours of training by Senior Therapists. Line Therapists are also offered weekly, paid training at our clinic.
3. What should parents do if they have a complaint about a line or senior therapist? Contact the human resources director or clinic director.
Parents:
1. What kind of training is given to parents and other family members? How much training is provided? Periodic parent workshops are offered, a weekly parent support group and educational meeting is planned and individualized parent training occurs within the team meeting and intervention sessions as appropriate.
2. Must one parent be in the home during therapy sessions? What alternate arrangements are acceptable? Parent is not required to be present but must always be available and accessible by phone and/or paging system.
3. What, if any, support services, such as respite or counseling, are offered to families by your organization? How are these services paid for? We utilize community-based resources. We do offer some counseling services for family members, which are billed to appropriate insurance or a sliding fee scale.
4. Do you provide prospective families a list of families who have used your services and have agreed to be contacted? Yes, with appropriate releases of information.
Other Agencies 1. How do you coordinate with area school districts that the children you are supporting attend? We provide direct consultation to schools by way of attendance at IEP meetings, inviting school staff to team meetings, providing school shadows and working collaboratively on goal development and joint intervention planning.
2. How do you coordinate with private therapists that the family employs who are not a part of your organization? We share goals and intervention plans, invite therapists to team meetings, provide joint intervention as appropriate and always respect parent's wishes regarding coordination and collaboration.