Program Description
The Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health funds an Autism Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) through a grant with Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania. Easterseals provides access to early diagnostic services, client and family education, and community resources to support children and their family members, at no cost to families. Children are referred to the ADC through Early Intervention Services, community-based organizations, and self-referral.
The ADC provides services in collaboration with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Pike counties. The ADC is designed to:
- Provide access to early autism diagnostic services for children ages 18 months to three years of age and receiving Early Intervention services.
- For children with developmental delays, provide access to therapy services such as:
- Physical: for gross motor skills, movement, balance, and coordination
- Speech: speaking, communication using sign language and pictures
- Occupational: fine motor skills, sensory processing, play and social skills, as well as activities of daily living
- Increase communication among clients with autism, their family members, and community-based organizations.
- Provide equitable access to autism services for clients and their family members.
Goal
To offer autism services that support children to live their best lives.
Why is the Autism Diagnostic Clinic Important?
First, it screens for autism at younger ages. Prior to the establishment of the ADC, children exhibiting signs of autism were waiting until ages 5-7 for evaluation and diagnosis, which delayed the family's ability to obtain supportive educational resources and access to community-based services for their child.
Second, it evaluates children in their home. With the utilization of telehealth technology, children can be assessed and evaluated in their natural environment rather than a clinical setting.
Third, it offers access to ABA. Parents of children diagnosed with autism are provided with Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) coaching which teaches parents how to address the daily behaviors of their child, educational resources and community-based agency support services to support children and families.
Fourth, the host organization has other resources in house. Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania has resources to address everyday challenges such as: food insecurity, housing/rent assistance, utility assistance, transportation difficulties and other expressed needs to identify and remediate disparities, to alleviate barriers to care, and ultimately improve the health outcomes and quality of life for those families with a family member diagnosed with autism.
Through Easterseals Eastern Pennsylvania, the ADC can also help clients with:
- Coordinating care with various providers
- Transition and planning for all stages of life
- Educational and employment support
- Developing and connecting to peer and community supports
- Client, family and social support engagement
Contact Information
Testing and evaluation – Easterseals at 610-289-0114 x435 or info@easterseals.com
General autism information - outside the six service counties, contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or info@paautism.org
If you represent an organization desiring to learn more about the funding for the ADC, please contact the Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach at DH, CSDO.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? | CDC
ASERT Autism Resource Guide