Autism Service Center Of San Antonio

THE MISSION OF THE CENTER IS TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF CHILDREN WITHAUTISM BY PROVIDING EARLY DIAGNOSIS FOR THOSE WITH LIMITED ACCESS ANDEDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THEM. THE PRIMARY GOALS OF ACN ARE TO PROVIDE EARLY, HIGH QUALITY, INTERDISCIPLINARY DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER; EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR AUTISM SERVICE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES TOUCHED BY AUTISM; AND COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND NETWORKING FOR THE AUTISM COMMUNITY.

THE GOAL OF ACN'S CLINICAL SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY AND TIMELY AUTISMDIAGNOSES TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IN MARCH 2020 DUE TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, ACN NEEDED TO CONDUCT SERVICES VIRTUALLY TO PROTECT CLIENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND STAFF. SERVICES WERE SHIFTED OVER ONE WEEKEND TO BRING SERVICES TO FAMILIES VIA TELEMEDICINE. AS AN AGENCY, NOT ONE APPOINTMENT WAS CANCELED IN AN EFFORT TO SHIFT TO TELEMEDICINE. THE SHIFT WAS SEAMLESS FOR THE FAMILIES SERVED. IN 2021, ACN BEGAN BRINGING SOME OF THE CLINIC APPOINTMENTS BACK IN-HOUSE WITH OTHER APPOINTMENTS REMAINING VIA TELEMEDICINE. IN 2021, AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK (ACN) RECEIVED 866 REFERRALS FROM PEDIATRICIANS OR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS. OF THE 866 CHILDREN REFERRED FOR SERVICES, 88 WERE OVER THE AGE OF SERVICES. 244 WERE UNDER 30 MONTHS AT THE TIME OF REFERRAL AND THUS PLACED INTO EARLIEST CONNECTIONS CLINIC (ECC) DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM. ECC WAS INITIATED IN 2019 TO SERVE HIGH RISK INFANTS IN ORDER TO AFFORD THESE CHILDREN EARLIER ACCESS TO DIAGNOSIS AND CRUCIAL EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. 215 WERE UNABLE TO BE SCHEDULED DUE TO NO-SHOWS OR CHOOSING TO BE SEEN BY ANOTHER OFFICE. OF THE REMAINING CHILDREN, ACN CONDUCTED 383 LEVEL 2 FOCUSED ASSESSMENTS (L2FA). 100% OF THESE FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED EDUCATION REGARDING THEIR CHILDS DEVELOPMENT AND RECEIVED COACHING IN DEVELOPMENTALLY SUPPORTIVE STRATEGIES TO USE WITH THEIR CHILD IN EVERYDAY INTERACTIONS TO SUPPORT CHILD OUTCOMES. 303 WERE RECOMMENDED TO RETURN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THERE WERE 16 CANCELLATIONS AND 19 FAMILIES WHO DID NOT ATTEND THEIR SCHEDULED DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT258 DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS WERE SCHEDULED IN 2021.250 FAMILIES WERE REGISTERED WITH TAV (SIGNIFY) AND BY EXTENSION, AUTISM LIFELINE LINKS. ACN HAS DEDICATED 30 HOURS A WEEK OF STAFF TIME TO SERVING THE AUTISM LIFELINE LINKS PROGRAM. ACNS FAMILY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM HAS OFFICIALLY UNDERGONE A NAME CHANGE. IT IS NOW ACNS CAREGIVER EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. WHEN ACN SHIFTED INTO LOCKDOWN IN MARCH 2020, ACN BEGAN PROVIDING VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME. WITHIN FOUR WEEKS OF SHUTDOWN, ACN LAUNCHED AN ONLINE WEEKLY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM CALLED COFFEE & CONNECTION FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, IT WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF FAMILY EMPOWERMENT CLASSES WHICH WERE HOSTED AT ACN FOR MANY YEARS. SECOND, CONNECTION COULD BE MAINTAINED WITH FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS, AS MOST WERE NAVIGATING UNCHARTED WATERS, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN WHO WERE NOW RELEGATED TO VIRTUAL LEARNING, ESSENTIALLY PUTTING SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES IN QUESTION. TO THIS DAY, ACN HAS HELD OVER 98 SESSIONS AND THE AUDIENCE IS CONSISTENTLY PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS ALL CAREGIVERS TO CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. ACN INTENDS TO HOLD THESE CLASSES IN PERPETUITY AND CONTINUE TO INVITE SPEAKERS FROM COLLECTIVE IMPACT GROUP MEMBERS SUCH AS BRIGHTON CENTER AND SOUTHWIND FIELDS, AS WELL AS SPEAKERS SOUGHT OUT TO TARGET SPECIFIC, UNDERSERVED SUBSETS OF OUR DEMOGRAPHIC (THE COLOR OF AUTISM- A NON-PROFIT SUPPORTING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY). THIS DEMONSTRATES ACNS EFFORTS TO FACILITATE ALIGNMENT. FURTHERMORE, ACN IS ABLE TO OFFER PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES THROUGH EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS ACN CLINIC STAFF HAVE. ACN HAS HAD ATTENDEES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT MOSTLY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. IN 2020, ACN HOSTED 34 COFFEE & CONNECTION CLASSES AND HOSTED 423 (DUPLICATED) ATTENDEES VIA ZOOM. IN 2021, ACN WAS ABLE TO HOST 48 COFFEE & CONNECTION CLASSES WITH 1,006 (DUPLICATED) ATTENDEES VIA ZOOM.

THE GOAL OF ACN'S TRAINING AND EDUCATION SERVICES IS TOPROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, BEST PRACTICES TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR AUTISMSERVICE PROVIDERS AND PARENTS/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

THE GOAL OF THE ACN'S AWARENESS, OUTREACH, AND COLLABORATIONPROGRAM IS TO CULTIVATE A HIGH LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF AUTISM IN THE SANANTONIO AREA, CREATE SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS FOR FAMILIES THAT ARESAFE FOR CHILDREN AND ALLOW PARENTS/CAREGIVERS TO CONNECT, AND GENERATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCED PROGRAM AND SERVICE DELIVERY THROUGH COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.2021 ACN COLLABORATIONS LOCAL AGENCIES/SCHOOL DISTRICT COLLABORATIONS: SAISD, NISD, BOERNE ISD, CHILDSAFE, VOICES FOR CHILDREN, YMCA, DHS EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, DOSEUM, EISD, EARLY HEAD START, KLRN, SOUTHWIND FIELDS, AUTISM LIFELINE LINKS, COSA, BRIGHTON ECI, CARE WARRIORS, INC, PEDIATRIC THERAPY SPECIALISTS, METHODIST CHILDRENS HOSPITAL'S SENSORY FRIENDLY ER, KINETIC KIDS, EASTER SEALS ECI, CHILDRENS BEREAVEMENT CENTER OF SOUTH TEXAS , SHIRE HOUSE AND THE MAC. NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES/PROGRAMS COLLOBARATIONS: STAR INSTITUTE, DENVER CO, PROFECTUM FOUNDATION, THE COLOR OF AUTISM, PACT UK, INTEGRATED LEARNING SYSTEMS, NEXTALK AND NEUROALLIES. MENTORSHIP/TRAINING WITH AREA UNIVERSITIES: UT HEALTH OTD PROGRAM, UTSA CITYMESTER PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD; SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, AND UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD; SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES.ACN WAS UNABLE TO HOST THE PREMIER ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT IN APRIL, 2021 (LE BRUNCH DES CHAPEAUX). THE GOLF TOURNAMENT, ALL TEED UP FOR AUTISM, WAS HOSTED AT CANYON SPRING GOLF COURSE OCTOBER, 2021.