Sunday, November 30, 2008

Easter Seals Provides Medical Rehabilitation to People with Autism

Easter Seals provides medical rehabilitation in the form of occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, audiology, early intervention and other therapies to people have autism and other disabilities. Services are provided in Easter Seals facilities, as well as homes and schools. Funding is provided by insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers’ Compensation and other state programs. Clients may also self-pay or receive public support (if eligible). For more information, contact Easter Seals.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Colorado Helps Families Affected By Autism through Home and Community Based Support Waivers

Colorado residents who are affected by autism can receive assistance through several Home and Community Based Support (HCBS) Waivers.

To qualify for waiver services, children and adults must meet financial, medical and program criteria. Applicant’s income must be less than $1,986.00 (300% of the Supplemental Security Income allowance) per month and must have countable resources of less than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. The applicant must also be at risk of placement in a nursing facility, hospital or intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR).

Individuals approved for waiver services are eligible for all basic Medicaid covered services except nursing facility and long-term hospital care. Waiver services are provided in home and community settings. Services must be provided by certified Medicaid providers or by a Medicaid contracting managed care organization.

Colorado residents with autism may qualify for one of the following HCBS waivers: the Children with Autism Waiver, the Children’s HCBS Waiver, the Children’s Extensive Support Waiver, the Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver, the Supported Living Services Waiver or the Waiver for Persons Developmentally Disabled.

Following is a brief description of each of the aforementioned waiver programs.

Children with Autism Waiver-provides children with autism under age six with case management and behavioral therapies.

Children’s HCBS Waiver-provides disabled children through age 17 with case management and in home support services (IHSS).

Children’s Extensive Support Waiver-provides children with developmentally delays through age 17 with specialized medical equipment and services, community connection services, home modifications, personal assistance and professional services.

Children’s Habilitation Residential Program Waiver-provides developmentally disabled children and youth in foster care who have extraordinary needs with cognitive services, communication services, community connection services, counseling and therapeutic services, emergency assistance training, independent living training, personal care services, self-advocacy training, supervision services and travel services.

Supported Living Services Waiver-provides developmentally disabled adults with specialized medical equipment and supplies, counseling and therapeutic services, dental services, day habilitation services, hearing services, home modifications, personal assistant services, supported living consultation, transportation, vision services and employment services.

Waiver for Persons Developmentally Disabled-provides developmentally disabled adults living outside of their family home with day habilitation, residential habilitation, transportation, specialized medical equipment and supplies, supported employment, skilled nursing, behavioral services, dental services and vision services.

For more information, call Michelle Cason at (303) 866-3895.

Friday, November 28, 2008

RiteCare Childhood Language Program Helps Children with Autism

RiteCare Childhood Language Program, a program of the Scottish Rite Masons, helps children with communication disorders, developmental delays and other disabling conditions through its network of 170 clinics, centers and special programs throughout the U.S. Children with autism are eligible for services through the program. RiteCare clinics provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders. Pre-school children who have difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word are eligible for speech therapy services. Some facilities also provide services to school age children and adults.

Sliding fee scales and financial assistance are available. Check with your local facility for more information.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Children’s Therapy Fund Grants Help Children with Autism and Other Special Needs

The Children’s Therapy Fund provides grants to help Michigan families in need pay for diagnostic and therapeutic services to help their children reach their full potential. Grants from the Children’s Therapy Fund are available to fund physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, vision therapy, hippotherapy and other innovative pediatric therapies that enhance the quality of children’s lives.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Joseph Snyder Autism Fund

The mission of the Joseph Snyder Autism Fund is to provide ongoing financial assistance to help parents of children who have autism pay for medical care, biomedical treatments and therapies that will allow their children to have a hope of a full recovery. For more information, contact info@josephsnyderautismfund.org.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

McKay Scholarships for Students with Autism and Other Disabilities

Children with autism who reside in Florida are eligible for the McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. The program, part of the state’s school choice initiative, offers K-12 students who have autism and other disabilities scholarships to attend private schools of their choice.

Students who have an IEP, were enrolled in a public school in the state during the prior school year, whose parents file intent at least 60 days prior to the date of the first scholarship payment, and who have been accepted to a private school are eligible to receive a McKay Scholarship.

Monday, November 10, 2008

NeighborHeart Grants for Children and Adults with Autism

NeighborHeart Quality of Life Grants are available to families caring for children and adults with autism that reside in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States (i.e., Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York). The $500 grants can be used for anything that improves the family’s quality of life, including therapy, medical treatment and travel, respite care, educational advocacy services, training fees and security improvements.

Click on the link to find out how you can support NeighborHeart by making a donation or volunteering.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Autism Support Daily Grant Programs

Autism Support Daily assists Vermont families coping with autism through its two grant programs. Fall Harvest Grants of up to $400 are available to pay for therapy sessions, evaluations, supplements, prescriptions, medical treatments, laboratory testing, adaptive programs, communication devices, travel costs and other expenses. Applications are due by November 15, 2008.

Autism Support Daily also offers Back to School Sensory Support Grants. The grants are offered in the form of $40 gift certificates to be used at Southpaw Enterprises.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Autism Help Network Grants

The Autism Help Network provides grants of up to $1,000 to provide therapy and non-experimental biomedical treatments to children who have autism. Families that have combined salaries of less than $45,000 per year are eligible to apply for the grants. To apply for a grant or make a donation to the Autism Help Network, send an email to office@autismhelpforyou.org.