An Overview

The State of California recognizes the need for support and services for individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and related conditions.

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) distributes funds to nonprofit regional centers and state-operated developmental centers to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities can receive the services they need. There are 21 regional centers located throughout California that serve as a resource for these individuals and as a liaison between individuals and agencies providing therapeutic services. The regional centers themselves do not provide any services; instead, they contract with outside agencies in order to provide a wide range of services to individuals and families in need, including behavioral therapy such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Autism Spectrum Therapies contracts with a number of regional centers and is an authorized provider of state-funded ABA-based behavioral programs. Click here for a listing of California Regional Centers.

For children under age three, state funding for autism services comes exclusively from the regional centers. To qualify for services, families should contact their local regional center to get the evaluation and approval process started. After an initial interview with the parents or guardians, the regional center will schedule a licensed psychologist to assess the child’s development. Based on this assessment, the regional center will authorize funding for autism services and develop a unique, customized program plan that targets the child’s specific developmental deficits and goals.

As the child approaches his/her third birthday, the regional center will once again assess the child’s eligibility for continued services beyond age three. If approved, this assessment provides the basis for a new program plan which may incorporate new and continued services, in addition to services developed in collaboration with the child’s local school district (see additional information below).

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Funding for Academic Services

In addition to funding from the California Department of Developmental Services, additional services are available for children who have been diagnosed with autism (and/or other learning disabilities), as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is a federal program that guarantees access to public education for individuals ages three to 21 years old. The State of California implements IDEA through the California Department of Education (CDE), the county Offices of Education, and local school districts to provide guidance and financial resources that ensure each child has an opportunity to fulfill his or her academic potential. For more information on IDEA, visit their website at www.idea.ed.gov.

Families seeking access to public education for their child should contact their local school district’s Department of Special Education to initiate the required evaluation process. Similar to the process used by regional centers, the local school district will conduct an assessment to determine if a child is eligibile for services. The eligibility criteria for school districts, as mandated under IDEA, is broader than those utilized by the regional centers, so a child who isn’t eligible for funding through the regional centers may still be eligible for services through their school district.

Once IDEA eligibility is determined, the IEP team and the family work together to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for the child, which outlines specific educational goals and required services. Under IDEA, the school district must provide a “fair and appropriate public education” (FAPE), which may include services provided directly by district personnel or through contracted outside vendors, such as private schools or other service providers. Many different services are available, including behavioral therapy such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Autism Spectrum Therapies is licensed by the California Department of Education as a nonprofit agency and has contracts with over 25 school districts to provide behavioral services to students in both school and home environments.

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Appeals Process for State Funding

The State of California, through DDS and CDE, work to provide appropriate services for individuals with autism. From time to time, disagreements over eligibility and the appropriateness of the offered services may arise. An appeals process has been created to handle these disagreements and to safeguard both the State of California and families seeking services.

Families experiencing difficulties accessing appropriate services through their local regional center may contact the California Department of Developmental Services to initiate the fair hearing process. More information can be found at www.dds.ca.gov/complaints.

Families experiencing difficulties accessing appropriate services through their local school district may also file an appeal. Additional information regarding this process and other safeguards afforded to parents can be found on the California Department of Education website at www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/fp.

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Available Government Services through TRICARE

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) is a provider of behavioral therapy services for military children with the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) or Autism Services Demonstration (ASD).

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) meets and/or exceeds all of the criteria for a service provider under the TRICARE Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration. Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST):

• Implements basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and target behaviors associated with the core deficits of autism.
• Focuses on changing the child's behavior by observing and measuring the behavior in real-life environments.
• Uses scientific behavioral data to identify functional relationships between environmental events and behavior.
• Gathers behavioral data to track progress in reaching behavioral objectives identified in the Behavior Plan and periodically modifies the plan to adapt to the child's response to the intervention.
• Incorporates parent training so family members/caregivers can teach and support skills during typical family activities.
• Requires meetings between family members/caregivers and those designing and implementing the intervention program.

For more information about Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) and our behavioral therapy services for TRICARE beneficiaries, please contact us.