The National Survey of Children’s Health’s Insights into Autism Spectrum Disorder

While children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do require therapy to help them with their developmental challenges, it’s important to make sure that their other healthcare needs are being taken care of as well. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. According to a recent study, as many as one-fifth of all the children who have ASD in the U.S. are not getting all of their healthcare needs met. Here is a closer look at the study’s findings.   

Children with ASD are more likely to have additional health issues.  

According to the study, children who have ASD are more likely than other children to have other conditions, including anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. This increases the challenges faced by these children and their families, since treating co-occurring—and often related—conditions will be more complex. This makes children with ASD more vulnerable to having unmet healthcare needs.  

Children with unmet healthcare needs share a number of circumstances.  

The study also found that children with ASD whose healthcare needs were not being met tended to have a few factors in common. For example, they often did not have health insurance, were growing up in difficult circumstances, such as with exposure to domestic violence, and had parents facing financial problems, such as unemployment.  

Supporting families is essential to supporting the needs of children.  

The study concluded that children are most likely to have their healthcare needs met when their families are able to care for them appropriately. As such, providing support to families who are facing personal or financial hardships is indispensable to ensuring that children with ASD get the help and treatment they need.  

When you’re looking for comprehensive therapy options for ASD, STAR of CA can help. We make a wide range of evidence-based treatments available to individuals and families in and around the Ventura area. We have been proudly serving the community since we first opened in May of 2006. If you have any questions, call us at (805) 644-7827.  

A Brief Overview of the Verbal Behavior Approach

The verbal behavior approach is a type of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy that focuses on improving language. The purpose of the therapy is to assist individuals who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in developing better language skills by breaking verbal output down into specific subtypes. There are four sub-types of words that the verbal behavior approach focuses on: 

• Mand, which is a verbal request. 
• Tact, which is an observation or label. 
• Intraverbal, which is a response. 
• Echoic, which is a repetition of another word or phrase. 

This approach is often used in conjunction with other ABA treatments as part of a comprehensive treatment program. 

At STAR of CA, we specialize in providing the best services available for children who have ASD and other developmental disorders. We can develop an individualized program for your child that targets his or her particular needs. When you need behavioral health services in Ventura, call (805) 644-7827. 

Hearing from Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder

There are numerous myths and stereotypes about ASD that are at odds with the facts, particularly for women who have the disorder. In this video, you’ll learn about some of these myths—and the truths that lie behind them.  

If you have ASD or a related condition, it’s time to reach out to the team at STAR of CA. We work to provide families and individuals with up-to-date resources for living with ASD. For more information about the services we offer, call (805) 644-7827.  

Is It Possible to Get Your Child’s IEP Changed?

If your child requires any kind of special education in a public school, he or she must receive an Individualized Education Program or IEP. An IEP is a unique plan that includes both your child’s goals and the methods that will be used to achieve those goals. It’s important to keep in mind that an IEP is not a static plan; as your child progresses, the goals and methods may need to change. So, is it possible to change your child’s IEP? Here’s what you need to know.  

You can request a change to an IEP at any time.  

As a parent, you have the right to ask for an alteration in your child’s special education plan whenever you feel that it’s necessary. There is any number of reasons why this might be the case. For example, your child may have achieved all of the goals set in the original plan. If there are new resources available to help your child, then the IEP may be changed in order to incorporate them. Additionally, if your child’s behavior has increased or a new behavior has emerged a changed in the IEP may be warranted to meet his/her current needs.   

You will need to work with your child’s IEP team.  

If you have a change that you want to make, you’ll need to submit a request to meet with the IEP team to discuss your concerns and any proposed changes. It’s wise to submit a written request for documentation purposes. Make sure to be as thorough as possible when explaining why you are requesting a meeting and feel a change in the IEP is necessary. In the IEP meeting, your current concerns can be shared with the rest of the team and together you can determine what changes are needed to support your child’s current needs.   

Since 2006, STAR of CA has been connecting families in and near Ventura with the resources they require due to developmental, emotional, or behavioral challenges. We are committed to providing everybody with the best possible treatments, based on the latest research into autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Would you like to learn more? Call (805) 644-7827 with your questions.