Autism Welcome Information

WELCOME!

This page will guide you through the process of our autism program. It provides information about the application process, the flow of the autism program, who will be working with your child, and answers some frequently asked questions.

A Letter from a Parent:

We’ve likely never met, yet we already have several things in common. You love someone with autism and you want to do whatever you can to help them reach their full potential. This journey is certainly not the easiest one, but there are many of us walking this path together.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program

Additional cognitive testing is completed if not done before start of services. An Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) Meeting occurs prior to the start of the treatment plan date and Behavioral Outcomes: AFLS, VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R are completed.
IPOS Review
Behavioral Outcomes: AFLS, VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R are re-completed.
Annual Assessment
Annual IPOS Meeting will occur around the time of start of service anniversary.
An Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) evaluation and Global Assessment Scale-DD with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Access staff is completed.
Your child’s last day in the program will be the day before their 21st birthday. To help you transition out of the program, you will have a transition meeting with your team to talk about what steps will be taken next and what services your child will have after the program. You will also have an exit ADOS with LifeWays’ Access Center within 14 days of your child’s 21st birthday.

TREATMENT TIMELINE

INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT

ABA Therapy is not a pre-set guide that is applied the same way to each individual. Every individual is treated as such, since different people respond to the exact same instruction and stimuli differently.

Factors that play a role in determining a treatment plan include but are not limited to current skill set, needs, interests/preferences, and family situation.

ELIGIBILITY

The Behavioral Health Treatment program is available to children who:

Have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by LifeWays’ Autism Spectrum Disorder Staff,
Are ages 18 months to 20 years old (benefit ends on 21st birthday),
Live in Jackson or Hillsdale counties, and
Are enrolled in Medicaid or MIChild.

PERSON CENTERED PLANNING

When possible, LifeWays uses “person-centered planning” (PCP) to ensure your dependent’s desires and needs are taken into consideration during the care planning process. While in the Autism Program at LifeWays, your child will go through a Person Centered Planning process with the members of their service team to help determine what will best suit their needs.
Person-Centered Planning (PCP) is a process for planning and supporting the individuals receiving services that builds upon the individual’s capacity to engage in activities that promote community life and that honors the individual’s preferences, choices and abilities.

For children, the concepts of person-centered planning are incorporated into a family driven, youth-guided approach. This approach recognizes the importance of family in the lives of children and that supports and services impact the entire family.
Person-centered planning focuses on what you CAN do versus focusing on what you cannot do.
Person-centered planning is a highly individualized process designed to respond to the expressed needs/desires of the individual.

(Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 2011)
Prior to the PCP meeting, will be a pre-planning meeting to prepare for the PCP process. The pre-plan is where it is decided who will be involved in the PCP process, what will be discussed and where the meeting will be held.
The results of the PCP will be a developed into a Individual Plan of Service (IPOS). The IPOS is a plan that includes the vision of what your child would like to be and do. The services and supports included in the plan are intended to support.
(Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 2011)

PROGRAM INFORMATION

LifeWays staff will work directly with you and your child to complete several assessments. If your child is approved for the program, they will work with a team of experts that will provide intensive autism support services.
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R) are considered to be the ‘gold standard’ in diagnostic evaluations for autism.
The ABA Program is a results-based program which uses a multitude of tests and assessments to track the progress your child is making while they are in the program.

PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS

Contact LifeWays to complete a phone screening and schedule an assessment.
(517) 789-1209
Total Time: 10 min
Complete an assessment with a mental health professional at LifeWays.*
Total time: 60-90 min
* If the results of the intake assessment indicate the need for treatment other than autism, appropriate referrals will be made.
If appropriate, a referral will be made to an ASD case manager.
Total time: Referral times can vary.
A referral packet is completed with you and your case manager and submitted for approval. **
** If you have commercial insurance with coverage for autism we will assist you in scheduling an assessment with an approved center/provider. if you have Medicaid only. LifeWays CAN provide services.
If referral is approved, an evaluation for autism and medical necessity for ABA is completed. ***
Total time: 3-4 hours across 2 sessions
*** If referral is pended for information, differential/psychological testing will be requested prior to scheduling.
If evaluation indicates an autism diagnosis and meets medical necessity, a referral to the ABA provider is made****
Total time: Referral times can vary.
**** If you are denied, you will be notified.

ELIGIBILITY

ABA provider will schedule a time to complete a Functional Behavioral Assessment.
A comprehensive Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) is developed including ABA.
ABA services will begin, utilizing a schedule developed with you and your child.
ABA provider will complete periodic reviews of services and progress. *****
***** A determination of continued eligibility is completed minimally every three years. Can be completed more often if necessary.

SERVICE DELIVERY

AUTISM PROGRAM PROVIDERS

1 (800) 653-4077
hello@bluelakesaba.com
1 (855) 77-AUTISM
41521 W. 11 Mile Rd.
Novi, MI 48375
(517) 750-4777
1001 Laurence Ave., Ste E
Jackson, MI 49202
(248) 846-8700
info@illumtherapy.com
Jackson Location
(517) 513-3297
1220 Parnall Rd.
Jackson, MI 49201
Okemos Location
(517) 253-7901
2400 Science Pkwy.
Okemos, MI 48864

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

*Indicates tests and assessments

Assistive Augmentative Communication or Alternative Augmentative Communication
Includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Focuses on the principles that explain how learning takes place.
Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills
An assessment tool, curriculum guide and skills-tracking system used to help guide the instructions of language and critical learner skills (completed by a BCBA, LP, LLP, or CMHP every 6 months).
Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
An observation tool that can be used to collect information about the events that are occurring within a student’s environment.
Applied Behavioral Intervention
Variety of ABA established treatments to increase functional communication, independent self-care tasks, receptive language, expressive language, play behaviors, social skills, imitation, and/or any additional behaviors that will enable the child to more readily integrate with typically developing peers.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Wide ranging civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.
Attention Deficit Disorder/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

Autism Diagnostic Interview
A structured interview that can be used for diagnostic purposes in measuring behavior in the areas of reciprocal social interaction, communication and language and patterns of behavior.
Activities of Daily Living
Basic tasks of everyday life, such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and transferring.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale
An assessment of communication, social interaction, and play (or imaginative use of materials) for individuals suspected of having autism or other pervasive developmental disorders.
Assessment of Functional Living Skills
An assessment of basic living skills, home skills and community participation skills, school skills, independent living skills and vocational skills (completed by a BCBA, LP, LLP, or CMHP every 6 months).
Autism Spectrum Disorder
A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact.
American Sign Language
The predominant sign language of deaf communities in the United States.
Assistive Technology
An umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and also includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Individuals with a Doctoral or Master’s degree in Behavior Analysis, Education, Psychology, and other related fields. They have extensive training and experience in designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating a wide range of ABA programs for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Behavior Intervention Plan
Detailed plans that include data gathering during the Functional Behavior Assessment such as function, frequency, severity, consequence, etc.
Community Mental Health Service Program (also known as Community Mental Health)
How mental health services are coordinated through in Michigan. LifeWays is a CMHSP.
Children’s Special Health Care
A program within the MDHHS for children and some adults with special health care needs and their families.
Differential Ability Scales
An evaluation tool for the cognitive ability and achievement of children to provide insight into the manner in which a child processes information.
Differential Ability Skills - Second Edition
Provides a psychologist with insight into how a child processes information, enabling appropriate interventions and/or recommendations for the classroom and at home.
Discontinue
Abbreviation for discontinue or discharge.

Department of Health and Human Services
The U.S. federal government agency responsible for protecting the public’s health and providing important services, especially for people in need.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals.
Diagnosis
The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Early Intervention
A system of coordinated services that promotes the child’s age-appropriate growth and development and supports families during the critical early years.
Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention
Services that use behavioral treatment methods to change socially important behaviors in measurable and meaningful ways in the child’s daily life.
Functional Behavioral Assessment
A variation on procedures originally developed to ascertain the purpose or reason for behaviors displayed by individuals with severe cognitive or communication disabilities.
Individualized Plan of Service
Also known as a treatment plan; a personalized treatment plan specific to your child developed using a person-centered planning process and reflects the supports and services that will be used to help the consumer achieve their goals.

Individualized Transition Plan
The template for mapping out long-term outcomes from which annual goals and objectives are defined.
Least Restrictive Environment
Someone who has a disability should have the opportunity to be educated with non-disabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate.
Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
A screening tool for children that assesses risk for autism spectrum disorder.
A health insurance program for uninsured children of Michigan’s working families.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
A principal department of the State of Michigan that provides public assistance, child and family welfare services combined with services to promote better health outcomes, reduce health risks, and support stable and safe families while encouraging self-sufficiency.
Mid State Health Network
The Medicaid managed care organization for a portion of Michigan’s behavioral health services for twenty-one (21) counties through contracts with twelve (12) Community Mental Health Services Programs.
Mullens Scale of Early Learning
A developmentally integrated system that assesses language, motor, and perceptual abilities, measures cognitive ability and motor development quickly and reliability.

Occupational Therapy
A form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required in daily life.
Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports
A proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture and needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.
Person-Centered Planning (can also mean Primary Care Provider)
A process for planning and supporting an individual consumer receiving services. It builds upon the individual consumer’s capacity to engage in activities that promote community life and that honor the individual consumer’s preferences, choices, and abilities.
Picture Exchange Communication System
A form of augmentative and alternative communication.
Physical Therapy
The treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.
Social Communication Questionnaire
An assessment tool to screen for autism spectrum disorder in children with a mental age of four years and older.
Sensory Integration
The brain’s ability to organize and process information received from the environment through the senses.

Speech and Language Pathologist
A highly trained professional who evaluates and treats children and adults who have difficulty with speech or language.
Supplemental Security Income
A United States government program that provides stipends to low-income people who are either aged (65 or older), blind, or disabled.
Speech Therapy
Training to help people with speech and language problems to speak more clearly.
Self-Stimulating Behaviors
The repetition of physical movements, sounds, or repetitive movement of objects common in individuals with developmental disabilities, but most prevalent in people with autistic spectrum disorders.
Treatment
A session of medical care or the administration of a dose of medicine.
Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scale
An assessment of adaptive behaviors in four domains: communication, daily living skills, socialization, and motor skills.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale - Second Edition
Adaptive Behavior Assessment completed by a Psychologist at his/her office initially and annually, changing in intensity.

Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment & Placement Program
A skills-tracking system to asses the language, learning and social skills of children with autism or other developmental disabilities (completed by a BCBA, LP, LLP, or CMHP every 6 months).
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence
A standardized intelligence test for assessing preschool children.
Weschler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Third Edition
An assessment of cognitive development for preschool and young children.
Weschler Preschol and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Fourth Edition
An innovative measure of cognitive development for preschoolers and young children, rooted in contemporary theory and research.