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Diagnosis Autism: What now?

Marlene HauckDiane Booth &

Cheryl Young

July 22, 2010MSU-Billings 7th Annual Conference on Autism

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Session overviewShare storiesTalk about interventionsDiscuss insuranceClose with Questions

July 22, 2010

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Marlene Hauck & Jared

July 22, 2010

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TherapiesSpeech therapy (started at age 2 and

ongoing)Occupational therapy (started at age 3 and

ongoing)Floortime and Hannen program (started at

age 2 until age 5)PLAY therapy thru Easter Seals (started at

age 4 until age 5)Social group thru Scottish Rites and Easter

Seals (ages 4 and ongoing)

July 22, 2010

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Medical InterventionsVitamin B12 (age 5)Sugar free/dye free

diet (age 5)Probiotic (age 5)ADHD medication

(started at age 6 and ongoing)

July 22, 2010

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ActivitiesLittle Gym (age 3 until

age 5)Private swimming lessons

(age 6 and ongoing)Coach Pitch Baseball (age

7)

July 22, 2010

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Dianne Booth & Logan

Logan is a twin and they just turned 17 years old on July 7.  These are some of the therapies that Logan has participated in.  All have been successful in one way or another and all have been worth the effort.

July 22, 2010

Age: 24 months, 3 months prior to decline

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Therapeutic InterventionsHome based ABA program for two years (age 5

through 7) AIT Therapy (age 4) Visual Therapy (age 8 or 9, received prism glasses) Informative Pointing Method (because Logan is non-

verbal we introduced typing and writing as another form of communication – this also is ongoing and continues to be successful)

Horse Back Riding (Because we live on a ranch we wanted Logan to learn to ride and handle a horse)

Speech Therapy (on going) OT Therapy (on going)

July 22, 2010

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4-H Club & Horseback Riding:

July 22, 2010

Riding horses helped Logan develop confidence and independence.

In 4-H, Logan made projects and sold them at the fair.

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Educational InterventionsGymnastic course (age 8, my sister attended these

classes with him) Learned to ride a two wheel bike (age 9) Swimming lessons (age 12, learned to swim during

these lessons) Cooking lessons (Logan decided he enjoyed cooking

so this is ongoing) 4-H member (age 15 and 16, completed and sold

projects at the 4-H fair sale) 1 on 1 education in the school setting (this included

football season when Logan was the waterboy)

July 22, 2010

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Just hanging out and fitting in:

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Medical TreatmentsTreatment for seizure disorder Numerous EEG’s & MRI’s PET scans IVIG Allergy testing Homeopathic intervention Mitochondrial disorder testing and treatment

July 22, 2010

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Where should parents start?Research and create

an inventory of local services:

1. Evaluation Providers2. Governmental

Resources3. Parent Organizations4. Non-profit

Organizations5. Therapy Consultants 6. Insurance Providers

Autism ScreeningsPLUK Children’s Autism

WaiverSTEPAWAREPLAY ProjectScottish RiteMAHCPPrivate Practitioners

July 22, 2010

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MT Department of Health & Human Services offers FREE Autism Screenings

Central MT Full Circle : (406) 248-2055 (Billings/STEP)(406) 452-9531 (Great Falls/QLC)

Eastern MT Dev. Ed. Assist. Prog. (DEAP)(406) 234-6034 (Miles City)

Western MT Child Development Center (CDC)(406) 549-6413 (Missoula)(406) 755-2425 (Kalispell) or Toll Free 1-800-914-4779

July 22, 2010

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PLUK – Parents Let’s Unite for KidsPLUK – Billings

516 N. 32nd Street, Billings, MT 59101-6003

(406) 255-0540 or Toll Free 1-800-222-7585

plukinfo@pluk.org (See handout)July 22, 2010

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Children’s Autism Waiverhttp://www.dphhs.mt.gov/dsd/mt0667rwaiver/

Dept. of Public Health & Human Services

Children’s Autism WaiverP. O. Box 4210 (111 Sanders)Helena, MT 59604

406-444-5662July 22, 2010

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Local Non-Profit Agency ServicesSTEP (Support &

Techniques for Empowering People)644 Grand Ave. #1Billings, MT 59101406-248-2055 or 1-800-820-

4180

A.W.A.R.E. (Anaconda work and Rehabilitation Enterprises)

1050 S. 25th St. W. Ste. 2Billings, MT 59102406-656-0928

PLAY Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters)Easter Seals – Goodwill1537 Ave. D, Suite 210Billings, MT 59102406-252-9600

Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic50 27th W.Billings, MT 59102406-727-1088

July 22, 2010

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Parent’s choiceNancy Rice and Vicki

AndreSpeech and Language

Ability CenterBillings 

Paula KitzenbergEaster Seals GoodwillBillings

 Shawna Heiser

Special Learning 1 on 1

Bozeman 

Heather ClareEvery Kid CanCalifornia

July 22, 2010

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Brandon’s Law (2009) 33-22-515Insurance coverage for autism spectrum

disordersUp to $50,000 8 years old and youngerUp to $20,000 9 years old through 18Covered:

Habilitative or rehabilitative care (medically necessary) Medications, psychiatric or psychological care Speech, audiology, occupational therapy, or physical

therapyABA Therapy

Applied behavior analysis, discrete trial training, pivotal response training, & early intensive behavioral intervention

July 22, 2010

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Navigating the Insurance WorldMontana Association for Health Care

Purchasers (MAHCP)Manages State Employee Group, University System,

Community & School District Insurance“Gold Standard” will utilize Autism Waiver providers

and Behavior Analyst Certification Board credentials. Start: Evaluation and Diagnostic Clinic – Dx: Autism

Spectrum Parents can find a “network provider” -low or no

deductible or Parents can find an out-of-network provider

Contact: Don Creveling dcreveling@mahcp.org

July 22, 2010

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Blue Cross Blue Shield: Not coveredAllergy TestingArt TherapyChelation TherapyCognitive RehabilitationErythrocyte glutathione

peroxides studiesFacilitated CommunicationHorseback riding therapyHyperbaric oxygen therapy Immune globulin therapy Intestinal permeability

studiesMusic Therapy

Neuroimaging studiesNutritional supplementsRespite careRhythmic entrainment int.Secretin infusionsSensory Integration TherapySqueeze Machine TherapyStool AnalysisTests of micro-nutrients,

urinary peptides, mitochondrial disorders, celiac antibodies, immunological or neurochemical abnormalities

Vision TherapyJuly 22, 2010

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Troubleshooting Insurance1. Call HR department of your employer – determine coverage

type and contact information2. Have MD recommend evaluation & diagnostic exam through

MT autism screening program3. Follow recommendations from MD and E&D clinic4. Contact providers, review strategies, examine outcome data,

interview therapists (be skeptical)5. If insurance denies a claim, simultaneously

(a) contact the insurance company directly, and (b) contact the state insurance commissioner

406-444-4020 or toll free in MT 1-800-332-6148

Always- maintain records, document calls or conversations, stick to the facts, and be persistent.

July 22, 2010

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Time for Questions:Marlene HauckDianne BoothCheryl Young

July 22, 2010

Logan

Jared

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Contact Information(You can reach Marlene and Dianne through Dr. Young at MSU-

B):

 Cheryl A. Young, Ed. D., BCBAAssistant Professor of Special Education

Department of Educational Theory & PracticeMontana State University - Billings

1500 University Drive, COE 236Billings, MT 59101

 Phone: (406) 657-2195, FAX (406) 657-2104

cyoung@msubillings.eduhttp://www.msubillings.edu/coe/ETP/ABA.htm

July 22, 2010