Arizona Autism United Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP AS MANY FAMILIES AS POSSIBLE WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS. THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION IS TO HELP FAMILIES STATEWIDE WITH COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL AGES. IN CARRYING OUT ITS MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY ACTIVITIES ARE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND RELATED PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING HABILITATION, SPEECH THERAPY, INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION, RESPITE CARE, PARENT TRAINING, SCHOOL SUPPORT, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES:HABILITATION THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY SETTING BY HABILITATION PROVIDERS THAT WORK ONE-TO-ONE WITH CHILDREN. HABILITATION SERVICES ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE ARIZONA DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DDD). TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, FAMILIES MUST BE APPROVED THROUGH ARIZONA LONG TERM CARE SERVICES (ALTCS). THE ORGANIZATION IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST FAMILIES AT NO COST THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR ALTCS ELIGIBILITY AND REQUESTING HABILITATION SERVICES THROUGH DDD. RESPITE THIS SERVICE PROVIDES SHORT-TERM CARE AND SUPERVISION FOR THE CHILD TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THE PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS. IT MAY TAKE PLACE IN THE CHILDS HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY. RESPITE SERVICES ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE ARIZONA DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DDD). THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL APPROVAL FOR RESPITE IS TYPICALLY 600 HOURS. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, FAMILIES MUST BE APPROVED THROUGH ARIZONA LONG TERM CARE SERVICES (ALTCS). THE ORGANIZATION IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST FAMILIES AT NO COST THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR ALTCS ELIGIBILITY AND REQUESTING HABILITATION SERVICES THROUGH DDD.APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS TREATMENT (ABA) ABA THERAPY IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND RESEARCH-SUPPORTED TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. A TEAM OF HIGHLY TRAINED CLINICIANS PROVIDE A CUSTOM AND COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PACKAGE. OVERSEEN BY LICENSED BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS (BCBAS) AND IMPLEMENTED BY BEHAVIOR TECHNICIANS, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE NEEDED TO HELP A CHILD LEARN COMPREHENSIVE LIFE SKILLS AND IMPROVE INTERFERING BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES TO MEET THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL. THIS SERVICE TAKES PLACE IN THE HOME OR IN AN ARIZONA AUTISM UNITED CLINIC SETTING. TREATMENT IS TAILORED TO THE CHILDS STRENGTHS AND NEEDS; ADDRESSING COMMUNICATION, SOCIALIZATION, BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES, SELF-HELP SKILLS OR OTHER LIVING SKILLS THAT IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FAMILY AND CHILD. SPEECH THERAPY THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED BY A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST (SLP) OR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANTS (SLPA). IT INCLUDES EVALUATION AND TREATMENT. ASSESSMENTS ARE ADMINISTERED TO MEASURE THE CHILDS SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SKILLS. ASSESSMENTS MAY INCLUDE FORMAL STANDARDIZED TESTS OR AN INFORMAL ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS ALONG WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PARENT INTERVIEW AND DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY. OBSERVATION OF SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND PLAY WILL ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO ESTABLISHING GOALS. BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE ASSESSMENT, GOALS ARE SELECTED, AND IMPLEMENTED DURING INDIVIDUAL SPEECH THERAPY SESSIONS. SESSIONS ARE TYPICALLY SCHEDULED FOR ONE HOUR, ONE TIME PER WEEK. PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EACH SESSION IS ENCOURAGED AS MUCH OF THE SESSION WILL INCLUDE DIALOGUE OF SPECIFIC THERAPY TECHNIQUES AND A SUGGESTED PLAN FOR AT-HOME PRACTICE. SESSIONS TAKE PLACE IN THE HOME OR AT THE ORGANIZATIONS CLINIC.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES:CLINICAL FAMILY COACHING (CFC) THIS UNIQUE TREATMENT MODEL CONSISTS OF INTENSIVE PARENT AND FAMILY TRAINING OVER A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 6 MONTHS. THIS PROGRAM INVOLVES PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH A CLINICAL TEAM FROM 2-5 DAYS PER WEEK, FOR 2-4 HOURS AT A TIME, IN THE FAMILY HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE SESSIONS FOCUS ON HELPING PARENTS LEARN THE SKILLS TO PREVENT, MANAGE, AND REPLACE COMPLEX BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES AND OTHER BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS LEARN HOW MAKING CHANGES TO HOW THEY APPROACH DISCIPLINE, COMMUNICATION, REWARDS, AND ROUTINES CAN IMPACT BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES THEY ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THEIR CHILD(REN). PARENTS ARE ALSO TAUGHT STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS THEIR OWN CHALLENGING EMOTIONS IF AND WHEN THEY ARE AN OBSTACLE TO BEHAVIOR CHANGE.