AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

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AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

• SLS Provider Meeting
• March 6, 2008

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People with Autism have challenges in the areas
of

• Communication
• Socialization
• Restricted/Repetitive Behaviors

3
Consumers with an autism diagnosis tend to be
younger. The average age of a consumer with
autism is 20 years. Average age of all others is
34 years.
4
Consumers with autism more likely to be male.
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We are missing 8 of race data in one group, so
difficult to make comparison. When comparing
Hispanic Ethnicity though , no difference.
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Consumers with autism diagnosis more often have
diagnosis of related conditions.
With autism Without autism
Mild 317 23.0 43
Moderate 318.0 21.8 24
Severe 318.1 12.8 14
Profound 318.2 4.0 10.4
Unspecd 319 2.2 6
Related conditions V79.8 36.2 3
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Consumers with autism diagnosis are more likely
to have a medium or high behavior assessment.
Behavior Asst With autism Without autism
Low 33.3 59
Medium 58.9 36
High 7.9 6
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The incidence of autism is

• growing at a rate of 10-17 annually.
• (Autism Society of America, 2995)

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Common themes in literature

• Needs can develop suddenly
• Loss of natural supports (friends, educators)
• Death of parent
• Job loss
• Lack of mandates to serve
• Seeing costly emergencies.

• Dont meet eligibility criteria for DD services
  due to lack of cognitive disability, but dont
  have functional skills needed to live, work or
  function independently.
• For those who do meet criteria, lack of
  appropriate supports specific to needs.

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Common theme continued

• Needs on the service side
• Individualized services to meet behavioral,
  communication and sensory challenges
• Focus on development of social skills
  find/maintain employment, friendships sexual
  education
• DVR often only service availabledont meet
  needs for specific, lifelong support

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BEST PRACTICES

• Transitioning from school
• Major difficulty gradual, limited at any one
  time
• Enhanced coordination care mgt, med. mgt, family
• Avoid gaps in service
• Adult staff work w/ educators
• Specialized supports in post- secondary

• Holistic supports
• Integrate seamlessly throughout day and lifespan
  in work, recreation, social wrap around
• Life not divided into Residential and
  Employment.
• Life coach to facilitate community integration
  and access

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Best practice Housing needs to acknowledge level
of skill of person and home needs to have fewer
individuals

• Housing Options
• Range of options from family home, apt, condo,
  town home, private home other than group home
  model
• providing supports to those in family home
  in-home supports and respiteis cost-effective

• Creativity in housing
• Living alone or with 2 or 3 individuals who can
  share space w/o getting in each others way
• Companion living
• Roommates w/o disabilities
• Host families
• Drop-in support, neighbor

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Best Practice Housing considerations

• Matching
• Roommates leisure interests, tastes
  preferences, tolerance
• Support staff

• Funding
• Separate consideration for housing
• Separate consideration for support services

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BEST PRACTICE Employment and Alternative Services

• Free up bricks/mortar for more individualized
  support
• One on one support during transition, then
  fadeseveral yrs to see cost-savings
• Individualized budgets/ programming flexibility,
  responsive to changing needs, culturally
  appropriate

• Emphasis on employment customized, job-sharing,
  small businessconsideration to
  sensory-processing
• Emphasis on social skills, friendships, natural
  supports, own community
• Training for those who provide natural supports
• Emphasis on family
• Naturalized transportation

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Best Practices continued

• Natural supports to achieve community membership
  and maximize resources in light of funding
  shortfalls
• Post-secondary and training programs need
• Planning at state level Autism Services Office,
  Governors Task Force- common vision and
  philosophy

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STATE LEVELPLANNING, POLICY, FUNDING

• Common vision, philosophy, policy
• Proactive strategies
• Mandated services and eligibility issues
• Funding rates based on individual need
• Collaborative funding DD, DVR, MH
• Service expansion clinical, behavioral,
  transition, employment, housing
• Promote best practices and service delivery
  models
• Start-up supplemental funding incentives for
  community programming, greater staff ratios, more
  staff training,
• TA and professional training
• Case management w/ expertise in Autism