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Microsoft Word - Starting Points for Serv Coord ASD STARTING POINTS FOR SERVICE COORDINATORS
FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

This list is not meant to be all inclusive. Consider additions appropriate
for the particular child and family you are serving.


1.

Provide the family with information about the Specialty Service system for
children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in the packet Information for

Parents of Children Newly Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Review

this with the parents, highlighting the programs that serve their geographic

area. Families have the option of meeting the various providers in their

geographic area and may be interested in meeting those who provide different

educational approaches to addressing ASD.


Families who have a child diagnosed with ASD can contact Specialty


Service Programs themselves. If they would like the EI Service


Coordinator to refer them to Specialty Services, fill out the Referral
Form (in the packet and attached) and send it to the appropriate SSP
agencies.


If your EI Program has developed in-house services for children on the


spectrum that may be useful for families who are unwilling to enroll in


Specialty Services or are waiting for intensive services to begin, be sure


families are aware of this option


Note: Families are encouraged to work with one Specialty Service Provider to
reduce potential confusion for the child as instruction styles can be quite different.
This is especially important at the beginning of intensive services. Families are
encouraged to make decisions about which provider to use based upon their childs
characteristics and the providers ability to meet the childs needs, not on the basis of
which provider is available first. Do not encourage a family to consider enrolling in a
second Specialty Service Program just to increase the number of hours the child
receives. Such requests may be considered when a childs performance indicates an
additional approach is warranted and should not be considered until the child is
receiving services from the initial SSP for at least eight weeks. The secondary SSP is
responsible for processing the request with DPH.

2.

Encourage the family to connect with the Autism Support Center in your area.
They can request the packet for newly diagnosed families and to be on the
newsletter mailing list. The current list of Autism Support Centers is attached.


DPH, Office of Specialty Services,
8/07

2

3. Determine eligibility for entitlements, based on familys financial situation



MassHealth/CommonHealth


Kaleigh Mulligan


Catastrophic Illness


SSI


WIC


Food Stamps

4. Check to see if the family is interested in:



opportunity to talk with other parents of children with ASD (Refer to


Family Ties: 1-800-905-TIES or 1-800-905-8437) or


www.massfamilyties.org



Interest in developing advocacy and leadership skills (Refer to Parent


Leadership Project (877-353-4757)

Other sources of information about ASD: internet, books, videos





5. Obtain and review the diagnosticians report. Be sure to note any

recommendations for additional medical assessments. These might include

audiological assessments, opthalmological evaluations, genetic workups, etc.

Help the family connect (through the childs primary care practitioner) to

appropriate sources for those assessments and support them to access

appropriate services when indicated.

6. When a child is enrolled with a Specialty Service Provider, invite SSP staff to

participate in ongoing assessments of the child, either by being part of the IFSP

teams evaluation or by providing supplemental assessment information from

the SSP staff.


7. Consider the need for early referral to the LEA to ensure a smooth transition at

the time of the childs third birthday.

Be sure that the family has information about the DMR Autism Division.