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    Supports and Services for Children with Autism

    By 
    Autism Spectrum Disorder
    Posted: July 24, 2023

    It can be overwhelming when your child receives an autism diagnosis. What services and supports are available? Where can you access various supports? How many hours a week? What is right for your child? 

    It is important to remember that all individuals diagnosed with autism are just that – individuals. This means that each child’s needs will be different. They will have different strengths and weaknesses, meaning that one size fits all service recommendations will not apply. In the article below, I will go over typical recommendations for children with autism, including why each service may be needed and how to access the service. That being said, refer to your evaluating provider for which services are best for your child. 

    If you have general questions or concerns about autism, see  Autism in Children: What you need to know. Wondering what autism looks like as your child ages, see How Symptoms of Autism Can Change with Age. Thinking about how this diagnosis may effect your other children, see Siblings of Children with Autism: What to consider. 

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    Services & Supports

    Remember, all children with autism are unique and have individual strengths and weaknesses. Below are general examples of services recommended for children with autism, but be sure to refer to your evaluating provider for specific recommendations for your child.

    Common Goals for ABA
    • Communication and language
    • Academic skills
    • Social skills
    • Self-care skills
    Where are services provided?
    • Private clinic
    • In-home
    • At school (if allowed by the school district)
    Frequency of Services

    Frequency of services depends on your child’s unique needs though ABA is typically provided in 2-hour to 3-hour long sessions multiple times weekly. 

    How to Find an ABA Provider

    ABA is provided by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or a supervised Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). To find a provider in your area, call your insurance company for in-network referrals or visit the Autism Speaks Directory. 

    Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

    Applied Behavior Analysis is recommended for children with autism as a way to increase positive behaviors and decrease challenging or unwanted behaviors. ABA should be individualized to each child with the focus on increasing independence in daily life. 

    Learn more
    Common Supports in the School Setting
    • Speech therapy
    • Occupational therapy
    • Physical therapy 
    • Small group teaching
    • Social skills
    • Behavioral supports
    How to initiate an IEP evaluation

    Contact your school principal or special education director to request an evaluation to determine special education eligibility. 

    School Supports

    School supports begin with an evaluation for an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is a plan that determines the supports that the child needs to be successful in the school setting. An IEP includes measurable goals that can be either functional or academic based. 

    Learn more
    Common Goals for Parent Training
    • Decrease tantrums
    • Increase compliance 
    • Improve sleep concerns
    • Managing a child’s anxiety
    • Strengthen parent child relationship 
    Where are services provided?

    Parent training is provided in-person in a private clinic, or via telehealth. 

    Frequency of Services

    Parent training sessions typically occur once weekly for 50-minutes. Realistic goals will be set and sessions will be faded and scheduled lesser over time as behaviors improve.

    How to Find Parent Training Services

    Parent training is provided by a psychologist with a behavioral focus. To find a provider in your area, call your insurance company for in-network referrals or visit the Seedling Behavioral Psychology homepage.  

    Parent Training

    Parent training is recommended as a way to empower parents with the knowledge of how to respond to difficult behaviors and keep their kids safe. Through behavioral techniques, parents will be taught how to appropriately manage challenging behavior and promote positive behavior. 

    Learn more
    Common Goals for Speech Therapy
    • Learning signs or gestures
    • Requesting an item
    • Increasing spoken language
    • Using conversational speech
    • Understanding nonverbal cues and the nuances of speech
    Where are services provided?
    • Public school via a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP; see “School Supports” for more details)
    • Private clinic through insurance or private pay
    • At home via an Early Intervention Program (children under 3)
    Frequency of Services

    Frequency of services depends on your child’s unique needs though speech therapy typically occurs once weekly (60 minutes) to a few times weekly.

    How to Find a Speech Therapist

    Speech therapy is provided by a Speech Language Pathologist. To find a provider in your area, call your insurance company for in-network referrals or visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 

    Speech Therapy

    Speech therapy is recommended for children that are not using speech effectively to communicate their wants and needs. Speech therapy can be conducted one-to-one or in a small group setting.

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    Common Goals for Occupational Therapy
    • Toileting
    • Independent dressing
    • Improving fine motor skills
    • Feeding
    Where are services provided?
    • Public school via a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP; see “School Supports” for more details)
    • Private clinic through insurance or private pay
    • At home via an Early Intervention Program (children under 3)
    Frequency of Services

    Frequency of services depends on your child’s unique needs, though occupation therapy is typically provided in 30-minute or 60-minute sessions. 

    How to Find an Occupational Thearpist

    Occupational therapy is provided by a licensed Occupational Therapist. To find a provider in your area, call your insurance company for in-network referrals or visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website.

    Occupational Therapy

    Occupational therapy is recommended to help children improve cognitive, motor, and physical skills. The main goal of occupational therapy is to increase a child’s independence to an age appropriate level by improving skills such as self-care and play. 

    Learn more
    Common Goals for Physical Therapy
    • Improving balance
    • Improving coordination
    • Improving muscle tone
    Where are services provided?
    • Public school via a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP; see “School Supports” for more details)
    • Private clinic through insurance or private pay
    • At home via an Early Intervention Program (children under 3)
    Frequency of Services

    Frequency of services depends on your child’s unique needs, though physical therapy is typically provided in 30-minute or 60-minute sessions.

    How to Find a Physical Therapist

    Physical therapy is provided by a Certified physical therapist. To find a provider in your area, call your insurance company for in-network referrals or visit the American Physical Therapy Association website.

    Physical Therapy

    Physical therapy is recommended for children that have challenges with motor skills. Physical therapy often includes exercises and assisted movement. 

    Common Topics Addressed with Social Skills Training
    • Starting a conversation
    • Ending a conversation
    • How to make friends
    • How to order at a restaurant 
    • Turn taking
    Where are services provided?

    Social skills training can be provided in many different settings – at school, at home, in clinic, in the community – and it is best to practice in various locations/environments to help generalize new skills to the natural environment.

    Frequency of Services

    Social skills training groups typically have a set structure and start/end date, though this can vary across providers and curriculum used. 

    How to Find Social Skills Groups

    Social skills training can be provided by a variety of professionals including: occupational therapists, behavioral therapists, and school psychologists. To find a provider in your area, call your insurance company for in-network referrals or visit the Autism Speaks Directory.

    Social Skills Training

    Social skills training groups are recommended for children that desire to engage socially but may not know how to do so in a successful and appropriate way. Social skills are often taught in a group session which creates an opportunity to practice the skills that are being learned. 

    Learn more
    How to Find Services

    Start by talking to your child’s pediatrician if you have any medical concerns. The pediatrician may have recommendations or may refer out to a specialist for further evaluation and/or treatment. 

    Medical Support

    Autism can also be associated with additional medical and mental health concerns such as: gastrointestinal issues, sleep concerns, challenging behaviors, ADHD, and anxiety. As a result, a child with autism may need to see a medical specialist, such as a gastroenterologist for gastrointestinal issues, or a psychiatrist for medication management.

    A free therapy consultation in Draper

    Hopefully this helps answer your questions about services and supports for children with autism. If you have other questions, feel free to call me at (801)-613-9184 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I’d be happy to answer additional questions and direct you to the right person. If you are looking for parent training or challenging behavior support for your children, you can read more about how I can help HERE.

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