Month: September 2022

Having a child who is on the autism spectrum can put a strain on your finances. You may not know where to turn to for help or how to get the best educational opportunities for your child. 

In Houston, there are a variety of resources for your child with autism. Keep reading to learn more about the resources that are available. 

Resource List for Children with Autism in Houston

Whether you want to find a grant, scholarship, or summer camp suitable for a child with autism, Houston has resources you can turn to. 

Family to Family Network

Family to Family Network helps families with children who have disabilities set goals and find ways of succeeding at them. They provide a variety of services, including:

• Financial planning and security
• Navigating the healthcare, educational, and social services systems
• Referrals to community resources

They also offer training for family members and access to support groups. 

Justin Dart, Jr. Student Accessibility Center

This center is part of the University of Houston. It offers teenagers with disabilities the chance to study in a safe and equal environment. 

They have onsite counseling and all of the needed resources to help your child get the education they deserve in an inclusive manner. 

Texas Parent to Parent

Texas Parent to Parent offers information, resources, support, and education for families with children on the autism spectrum. They offer healthcare training information, as well as the chance for parents to offer each other support. 

There are numerous in-person and online support groups Texas Parent to Parent can put you in contact with. 

Medicaid Buy-In for Children

This program offers Medicaid services at low costs for children with certain disabilities. To be eligible, the child must come from a family that makes too much money to get Medicaid but cannot afford healthcare services. 

Some of the services they cover include:

• Vaccinations
• Checkups
• Hospital services
• Lab tests and X-rays
• Hearing and vision care
• Mental health care
• Treatment of pre-existing conditions

This buy-in option also offers long-term options like nursing home care. 

Lions Clubs of Texas

This organization offers financial assistance for the purchasing of equipment and technology that helps children with disabilities or serious illnesses. 

Variety of Texas

Variety of Texas helps children by providing equipment and medical assistance based on diagnoses. They can cover critical therapies, learning equipment, and much more. 

To apply, you must meet financial criteria. A committee evaluates each application. 

Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)

CARD is the world’s largest autism services provider with a focus on offering behavior analysis to help children learn the social skills they need. It also offers therapy sessions online. 

CARD provides a large amount of support and resources to help parents who have a child on the autism spectrum. 

Autism Care Today

Autism Care Today offers grants for families impacted by autism. The grants can be up to $5,000, and they can cover medical bills, equipment, therapy sessions, as well as personal needs like rent or electric bills. 

To apply, you will need a copy of the autism diagnosis and financial records. 

Friends of Man

Friends of Man offers financial assistance to families who need medical assistance. To qualify, you need to have someone sponsor you. 

This charitable organization can help with medications, dental care, therapy, and more. 

The People Project of Texas

The People Project of Texas provides funding for individuals with special needs, learning disabilities, a history of abuse, or mental health concerns. This funding can go toward finding the right therapy options. 

The Canyon Rice Hope Scholarship

This scholarship offers grants to people with autism and other developmental disorders. The grants can cover equipment, therapy, and even camp costs that insurance does not cover. 

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy in Houston

Many of these grants and scholarships focus on finding the right type of therapy for children on the autism spectrum. One of these therapies is ABA therapy. 

Applied Behavior Analysis is a type of therapy that uses the understanding of how children learn and how to influence behavior to teach a child with autism new social skills and manage behavioral difficulties. 

During ABA therapy, your child will work one-on-one with the provider. ABA teaches them the negative and positive consequences of their behaviors, allowing them to take that information and apply it to new situations. 

It is a type of therapy that can help children learn simple and complex skills, and it can help parents teach their children at home.

Hidden Talents offers ABA therapy in Houston to help children improve their social skills and learn self-regulation. Each child gets a customized treatment plan to ensure they get the exact help they need. 

You Are Not Alone

If you live in Houston, TX, and you have a child on the autism spectrum, you do not have to feel alone. With all of the resources available, you can get the help you need to improve your child’s life. 

It is very common for children with autism spectrum disorder to have vision issues and even more common for those issues to go undetected, according to the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 

Below, you can learn what type of visual problems a child on the autism spectrum may have and how you can help.

Vision Problems for Children with Autism

Children who are on the autism spectrum can have a variety of vision problems that have a significant impact on their daily lives. They tend to have visual processing issues that manifest as vision problems. 

One typical concern children with autism face is coordinating central and peripheral vision, which makes it difficult for them to follow an object with their eyes. The child may also turn their head to use peripheral vision instead of central vision. 

A child with autism may also have an eye movement disorder. Eye movement disorders include crossed eyes, or strabismus, which occurs when the eyes are not aligned and point in different directions. 

There may also be issues with visual stimuli, as some autistic children are very sensitive to visual input. This can mean that they may not want to make eye contact with people or that they may constantly move their eyes. 

Other common concerns are visual-spatial processing issues. These issues can lead to repetitive actions like blinking or wanting to watch spinning objects. 

Some children with autism spectrum disorder might want to run instead of walk because of vision midline shift syndrome. In this syndrome, visual-spatial processing does not match up with the balance centers. 

Symptoms that can indicate your autistic child may have visual problems include:

• Looking beyond or through objects
• Extreme fear of heights
• Absence of appropriate fear of heights
• Lazy eye
• Rolling eyes
• Visual stimming, such as moving hands in front of eyes rapidly
• Light sensitivity 
• Head-turning

These symptoms can make a child feel confused and anxious, lowering their quality of life. 

Effects of Vision Problems

A child with autism spectrum disorder with vision problems is less likely to want to make eye contact, which can affect them socially. They may not want to verbalize or engage in playing with others if they are visually overstimulated.

Visual stimming is another concern for children with autism and vision problems. 

To manage visual overload, many autistic children choose to flap their hands in front of their eyes. This can also soothe strained eyes, so the child may engage in visual stimming behavior if they feel tired or overwhelmed. 

Some children on the autistic spectrum develop posture issues due to vision problems, too, especially if there is an interruption to the organization of visual-spatial processing. Children with these issues may frequently trip and fall or develop the habit of walking on their toes. 

You can seek a vision evaluation to determine the specific vision concerns affecting your child.

Visual Evaluations for Children With Autism

If you think your child may have vision problems, the best thing to do is to reach out to experts. Professionals who have experience treating children on the autism spectrum will perform several evaluations to see what the problem is.

These evaluations will assess various factors, including your child’s eye tracking, which refers to the eyes’ ability to track moving objects. Eye tracking problems may result in your child tending to look at things or people sideways. 

The professional will also evaluate whether your child has binocular vision or eye teaming problems, which refers to limitations in their eyes’ ability to work together to gather visual information. If your child has headaches, double or blurry vision, or eye strain, these signs could indicate a binocular vision problem. 

The exam will also check for eye movement disorders, which can make unified eye movements difficult. In children with autism, the most common eye movement disorder is strabismus. 

Most professionals will also check the child’s visual acuity to see how well they identify shapes and details at a distance. 

After the evaluation, you will be able to begin treatment for your child’s vision issues.

Treatment 

Several options are available for the treatment of vision problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. 

One that can be extremely helpful is vision therapy, an evidence-based treatment that helps strengthen the coordination and connection of the brain and eyes. 

Vision therapy can take place both in-office and at home. It often yields results after about four months. 

To supplement this therapy, a professional may want to add computer-based games and balance boards. 

Prism lenses are another treatment option for children with visual-spatial problems. 

These lenses move objects and images to the locations where the brain thinks they should go. Prism lenses might also tremendously reduce your child’s anxiety by helping them feel physically safe. 

Know Your Options

If you think your child has vision issues, contact professionals who will help you find the right treatments. You can give your child a higher quality of life by assisting them in interpreting visual input better. 

Autism walks have made it easier for people to understand the challenges those with autism and their families face. 

Below, you can learn more about what autism walks are and how to participate in walks in Georgia. 

What Are Walks for Autism?

A walk for autism is an event that spreads autism awareness and helps raise funds for medical research. Participants usually obtain support from sponsors who donate to the cause. 

The best walks for autism have clear goals, including:

• Improving screening and prevention services
• Funding breakthrough research
• Helping autistic children transition into adulthood
• Providing improved information and local services

Some walks are more structured, while others allow participants to go at their own pace. Some are free, while others have a small participation fee or a minimum amount of money a sponsor must provide. 

For these walks, many people choose to create T-shirts. If you decide to do this, opt for bright colors to help you identify your team and to help others know the purpose of the walk. 

People on the autism spectrum are welcomed at these events. If you want to help someone with autism participate in the walk, you should have a plan ready in case the event becomes overwhelming. 

The Main Walks in Georgia

Georgia offers excellent opportunities for people who want to participate in a walk for autism. Here are the main walks to consider. 

1. Autism Speaks Walk

The largest autism fundraising walk in the world, the Autism Speaks Walk, raises funds to help with research and advocacy and create essential services and programs. 

Because people with autism can sometimes feel overwhelmed by sensory stimuli, the walk provides quiet spaces where walkers with autism can get a bit of respite. 

You can participate as a Team Captain and recruit more people for your team or fundraise through Facebook and other social media platforms. You can support participants via the walk’s website. 

The walk allows people to meet service providers in the area and get to know other local families who face the same challenges. 

The Autism Speaks Walk does not charge a registration fee, but it does encourage you to set a fundraising goal. 

The next Atlanta walk is on October 1, 2022. It begins at 8 a.m. with registration and concludes at 11 a.m. 

The walk begins at The Battery Atlanta, located at 800 Battery Avenue SE in Atlanta, GA. For more information, call 470-924-0639 or email MidSouth@AutismSpeaks.org.

2. Georgia Race for Autism

The Georgia Race for Autism helps Spectrum Support Group fund summer camps and clubs for people in the community who are on the autism spectrum. 

Along with a 5K race, the event also features a one-mile Fun Run, a 100-yard dash, and a Tot Trot, allowing entire families to participate. 

Race day coincides with the Fall Festival, which includes the following fun activities:

• Petting zoo
• Pony rides
• Inflatable slides
• Bounce house
• Cornhole games
• Hayrides
• Velcro sticky wall
• Face painting
• Hamster balls
• Inflatable obstacle course

There will also be a clown, a silent auction, and food vendors that offer gluten-free options. 

You can register as a vendor, sponsor, or race participant. 

Participant fees are $30 for the full 5K run, $25 for the one-mile run, and $20 for the Tot Trot and 100-yard dash. 

The race begins at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds at 405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville, GA. You can learn more by contacting claire@atl-spectrum.com

Help Autism Research and More

Whether you have a family member or another loved one on the autism spectrum or want to help people in your community who do, joining these events is a great place to start. 

Contact the race or walk to register and reserve your spot.

If you are looking for the best ABA therapy in Georgia give us a call. Our friendly team is ready to answer any of your questions. 

Parenting a child on the autism spectrum can often make you feel isolated and without support. If you live in Georgia, however, you have access to multiple support groups that can make your and your child’s life a bit easier.

But what are support groups for autism, and how can they help? 

What Are Autism Support Groups?

Autism support groups are a group of parents, grandparents, caretakers, or anyone else who is raising a child with autism. Some support groups also welcome teachers or other professionals who want to learn how to interact with and help children with autism. 

These groups make it possible for parents to help each other, offering support through difficult moments and sharing information on educational or medical matters. Autism support groups can help those who are caring for a child with autism feel less alone with the challenges they face.

Primarily run by volunteers, these supportive communities can be of any size. But whatever their size, they are of profound importance. 

The Importance of Having an Autism Support Group

Autism support groups offer support to the entire family of a child on the autism spectrum. They provide a way to gather information on autism and learn new strategies.

They also give you a space to vent frustrations without fear of judgment. Raising a child with autism is challenging and can be overwhelming, so having an outlet that lets you express what you are going through is essential. 

Siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder can have complicated feelings about their siblings and are often also in unique positions from which to offer care. Including them in a support group can ensure they get the information and encouragement they need. 

Support groups can also help fill a gap in local services. Some groups offer training for parents and other family members, as well, to help improve skills that can help them raise an autistic child. 

Support groups can offer training in:

• Behavior management 
• Self-help skills
• Understanding the special education system
• Working with medical professionals 
• Learning to use adaptive technology and equipment 
• Identifying community services

They also help teachers who have children with autism under their professional care, offering guidance and teaching strategies to handle behavioral concerns.

The 5 Best Autism Support Groups in Georgia

If you have a child on the autism spectrum and live in Georgia, these are some of the best support groups to which you can turn. 

1. Autism Speaks Georgia Support Group

This support group provides information and promotes solutions for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. They offer advocacy and support and provide education to promote understanding and acceptance of people with autism. 

Autism Speaks also helps fund research and focuses on helping families get the proper diagnosis as early as possible. It is a group that helps families have reliable access to the information they need. 

This group serves the entire state of Georgia. You can contact them at georgia@autismspeaks.org or by phone at 770-451-0570

2. Spectrum Autism Support Group

Spectrum Autism Support Group offers monthly sessions, respite programs, and summer camps to help families of children with autism, providing information, support, and social skills improvement. They offer groups for:

• Siblings
• Spanish speakers
• Parents of teens with Asperger’s syndrome
• Grandparents
• Parents
• Adults on the autism spectrum

These support groups help over 1,500 Atlanta area and Gwinnett County families. You can reach them at info@atl-spectrum.com or at their mailing address: P.O. Box 3132, Suwanee, GA 30024.

3. Marcus Autism Center Support Group

Marcus Autism Center helps fund autism research and provides support groups for parents and programs for young adults and children with autism. It also offers bilingual groups and groups geared toward all members of a family of someone with autism. 

You can reach the Marcus Autism Center at 404-785-9400 or visit their main campus at 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329-4010, Monday to Friday.

4. Georgia Parents Support Network

The Georgia Parents Support Network offers information and support for families of children with autism as well as other developmental and mental health concerns. This includes a new program that helps identify and provide outreach to teens and young adults on the autism spectrum who are facing homelessness. 

You can reach the Georgia Parents Support Network at info@gpsn.org or by calling 844-278-6945 or 404-758-4500.

5. Autism Engagement Group

The Autism Engagement Group is a support group for young adults on the autism spectrum. It offers the chance to build social skills, find community, discuss daily challenges, and much more. 

The group serves the Atlanta area and surrounding counties. You can reach them at 404-860-1894.

How to Find the Right Support Group for You

Finding the right autism support group can be a significant step towards gaining understanding, advice, and emotional backup. Here’s how you can go about finding the right autism support group for you or your loved ones:

Start with Online Research: Websites like Autism Speaks offer comprehensive lists of community groups and services that cater to individuals with autism and their families. They also provide resources that can help support family members of children and adults with autism.

Autism Support Groups for Parents: Websites provide ultimate guides on finding reliable online support groups specifically for parents of children with autism. These platforms can guide you on how to find a support group in your city or state.

Expert-Led Sessions: Many autism support groups, as suggested by Therapyland, have expert-led sessions where you can learn and practice new skills and techniques to handle different behaviors associated with autism.

Local Autism Support Groups: Marcus Autism Center offers resources on finding local autism support groups in Atlanta, Georgia. These groups can be a great way to meet other families dealing with similar circumstances.

Family Support Groups for Autism: Autism Parenting Magazine mentions that thousands of these groups are often run by psychologists, social workers, or school personnel.

Utilize Social Media: Platforms like Facebook often have numerous groups dedicated to autism support, as mentioned by Naturally Recovering Autism.

Autism Truths: This website provides a parent’s guide to help identify autism support groups that exist nationally, in your state, and community.

Remember, the goal is to find a group that aligns with your specific needs and background. You’re not alone in this journey, and these resources can provide you with the support and community you need.

Get the Support You Need

You do not have to go through this on your own. By turning to support groups for autism, you can get the information and assistance you need. 

If you are looking for the best ABA therapy in Georgia give us a call. Our friendly team is ready to answer any of your questions. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 44 children in the US gets a diagnosis that falls within the autism spectrum. Having a child with autism can be rewarding as well as challenging, which is why the state of Georgia offers a variety of resources to help. 

Learn more about the options available. 

Resource List for Children with Autism in Georgia

If your child has autism and you live in Georgia, there are financial resources, scholarship opportunities, and support groups you can turn to for help. Here are some of the best in the state.

Parent to Parent (P2P) of Georgia

This resource offers help to parents of children with disabilities or who have special healthcare needs. It allows parents to help others, and it offers various support groups parents can join in person or online. 

West Georgia Autism Foundation

The West Georgia Autism Foundation offers grants to families who need help caring for an autistic child. You can receive one grant each year. 

This foundation offers community outreach and focuses on helping families enrich the life of a child on the autism spectrum. 

Social Skills Summer Camp

The Social Skills Summer Camp is a camp that welcomes children ranging from kindergarten age to teens who are on the autism spectrum. It helps children improve social skills in a fun environment. 

There are scholarships available. The children best suited for the camp are those who have verbal skills. 

Learning on the Log

This recreational program teaches social skills to help build relationships using sensory recreational activities. Team building exercises, swimming, and hiking are some of the many activities. 

For younger children, the program also offers a day camp and preschool camp. They offer scholarships for those in need. 

Georgia Autism Center

The Georgia Autism Center helps families of children on the autism spectrum get accurate diagnoses, create the best developmental strategies, and teach the child how to gain independence. 

Specialists assess the financial circumstances of each family to provide the community and financial support needed. 

Dottie Adams Scholarship Fund

The Georgia Council of Developmental Abilities offers grants to help individuals and families with autistic children go to events and conferences related to advocacy or that have an educational purpose. 

Georgia Kids FIRST Special Needs Fund

This is a general scholarship fund focusing on offering scholarships for children K-12 with autism and other special needs that make learning difficult. The scholarships allow families to get the educational help their child needs. 

Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship

This scholarship allows parents of children with special needs, including those who have autism, to use state money to send the child to a private school that can offer the educational help the child deserves. 

Autism Foundation of Georgia

The Autism Foundation of Georgia offers funding for the creation of programs geared toward people with autism, especially children. 

PeachCare for Kids

The Georgia Department of Community Health has PeachCare for Kids, which helps children who do not have insurance that covers the healthcare needs they have. The program offers:

• Preventive care
• Primary care
• Specialist care
• Dental care
• Vision care

It can also cover hospitalizations, emergency room service visits, mental healthcare, and medications. To be eligible, your child cannot have current coverage or Medicaid eligibility. 

ABA therapy is one of the treatment options they offer. 

ABA Therapy in Georgia

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a type of therapy that focuses on the science of behavior and learning. During ABA therapy, your child works one-on-one with the practitioner. 

The goal of ABA therapy is to improve social skills. It can also help:

• Teach the child to transfer learned behaviors to new situations
• Teach the child how to react to new environments
• Reduce negative behaviors
• Implement self-control and self-regulation 

It is a particularly excellent treatment option to help children on the autism spectrum adapt to different social scenarios. 

It can teach a child that negative behavior is not accepted while also rewarding positive behavior. This teaches the child that there are consequences to how they act. 

ABA therapy also helps with the improvement of language skills. This therapy can be easily customized to fit each child and their particular needs. 

One of the centers that focus on this type of therapy is Hidden Talents. Hidden Talents is one of the premier providers of ABA therapy in Georgia. 

Hidden Talents offers ABA Therapy throughout Georgia from the comfort of your home so your child feels comfortable. The providers of this type of therapy will always work closely with the parents to create the best type of therapy plan for the child. 

Get Help in Georgia

If you live in Georgia and have a child diagnosed with autism, it is crucial that you know what kind of help you can turn to. There are excellent resources out there that can make a difference for your family. 

If you are ready to work with the best Applied Behavior Analysis therapy provider in Texas or Georgia, give us a call at (404) 487-6005. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.