Autism Resources

TEXAS RESOURCES & HELP

Most of the information found here is specific for San Antonio, Texas, but you should be able to find similar places in your area.
These are some ideas of places to start:

1. Call Any Baby Can (ABC) and get a case worker 210-227-0170.  They are located at 217 Howard, San Antonio, TX.   They can help with waiting lists for programs in the state of Texas. There are great programs out there that they can help connect you to (free). They service children with disabilities from birth to 12 years old. They have a long list of services they can assist you with such as their resource library and their support groups for families living with autism.  
2. Call the ARC of Texas and explain your situation 210-490-4300. They can give you a case worker if you have a need. They will make sure you are on all the waiting lists (double check ABC) and get you in touch with respite care.
3. Contact In-Home and Family Support Services 210-731-1335. They are a part of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. They will give you a caseworker if accepted and you will receive an application to fill out. They are a last resort financial assistance program. If you are not eligible for other programs (you may make too much money), they can assist you with services, medical equipment, software, training and such. A child with autism can receive an allotted amount of funds a year to use for things not covered under your insurance. They can help with co-pays, some therapy assistance, and therapeutic equipment to use at home.  They also have a one-time grant and a special 599 fund. Their fiscal year runs September 1st-August 31st and there is a list to get on.
4. Contact the Autism Society of Greater San Antonio and attend a meeting , www.sanantonioautism.org. They meet every 3rd Saturday of the month at Shepard of the Hills Lutheran School off of Wurzbach and Merkens.  The President of the Autism Society is Teresa Diaz and she can be contacted at 210-256-6698 or cell – 210-535-6208. If you are interested in joining the group you can go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sanantonioasa/ and follow the prompts.  Baby-sitting is available if you call ahead.  
5. Try to get a referral to see a DAN doctor in your area.  We see Dr. Melissa Kempf in San Antonio : 1777 NE Loop 410, Ste. 200, San Antonio, TX 78217, ph: 210-822-3646, fax: 210-822-5242. She has been great and through various labs and tests, she was able to help us with many necessary supplemental and dietary interventions tailored for Nicholas’ needs.  She is also a family practice physician.   Another resource for a doctor who can help with treatments following the DAN is Dr. Boyle at 11345 West Ave.  Phone:  210-690-6393.
6. For information regarding Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy a good resource is San Antonio Hyperbarics located at 12702 Toepperwein Rd. Ste. 115    Phone:  210-654-6464  Toll Free – 1-866-249-3680  Raymond D. Barnes - Executive Director, Garry Moore, MD – Medical Director.  Their website is  www.SanAntonioHyperbarics.com
7. Auditory Integrated Therapy and Occupational, Speech, Physical and Aquatic Therapy, and now ABA – Stone Oak Therapy 18587 Sigma Rd  San Antonio, TX 78258  (210) 798-2273  Visit :  www.stoneoaktherapy.com
8. Music Therapy – A-Z Music Therapy

       20770 HWY 281 NO. STE 108-188
       San Antonio, TX 78258
       PHONE: 210-497-6858   Cell: 2210-392-1277 Fax: 210-4970918
       EMAIL: info@a-zmusictherapy.com

9. If you are interested in the DIR/Floortime Model.  There are many training conferences and at-home educational programs and DVD’s to help you get going with this awesome new approach to intervention!  We use it and Nicholas has come so far through this.  Go to www.floortime.org for more information.  There are also great archives from Dr. Stanley Greenspan that are downloadable and can help in so many areas of interest and concern.    
10. For an ABA consultant.  You may want to contact Olga Silva at One for Autism located just off IH10 at Huebner and Vance Jackson – www.oneforautism.com .  You can also contact Terri Locke, pager: 210-713-9533 (San Antonio).  They can provide help with school district problems, and other challenges involved with having an autistic child (including behavior problems).   There is also Busy Bodies 210-545-2840 for gross motor/behavior therapy, Warm Springs for speech and occupational therapy (they do sensory integration), Stone Oak Therapy as mentioned before http://www.stoneoaktherapy.com (210) 798-2273, and Tree House Pediatrics: http://www.treehousepediatrics.com Atrium 85 NE Loop 410 Ste. 312, San Antonio, Tx 78215, Phone: 210-340-2627, 210-599-2030(NE side).   These are just some resources for services such as these, but I’m sure there are plenty more.
11. For Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Physical Therapy, we use Therapy Links 15316 Huebner Rd. in Huebner Towne Center (just before Bitters) Kim Redding, OT - co-owner, and Rehab Associates 4093 De Zavala Rd, Shavano Park, 78249 - (210) 493-8100.  Rehab Associates also runs some social skills groups for kids during evening hours.  Both of these practices have been awesome in their work with Nicholas!!!  We can highly recommend!!
12. Join an e-mail group for informational purposes.  Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/ to search for a group you like or create your own group. Some good groups to visit are: Recovered Kids , Texas Autism Advocacy , Verbal Behavior , Autism Awareness Action , CAN Alert , Autism List , Autism-Mercury , Allergy-Related Vaccine Induced Autism.  
13. You may also choose to join a respite program such as: Respite Care of San Antonio, 210-737-1212, or CAMP 210-292-3575 email campmail@sprynet.com. Good social skills therapy for your autistic/pdd child.
    Respite care of San Antonio offers: In-Home Care, Family Day Out, Parents Night Out, Mother's Day Out and the Davidson Respite House for emergency situations. I have not used this but have heard good things about it. 
14. C.A.M.P. provides respite and recreational opportunities to children with disabilities. A nurse is present at all events. To join you must pay a $25.00 annual fee, complete an application, present documentation of a physical exam within the last 18 months, and provide a current 1040 (to receive discount coupons for respite). CAMP has Respite Weekends $185-$225 for children w/disabilities, $80-$125 for siblings, Parent's Night Out-free, Teen's Night Out-$10.00 per event, Emergency Respite with nursing care-sliding fee cost, and Emergency Respite for short-term emergencies-begin at $5.00 an hour.
15. Learn all you can about special education law. Call the TEA Parent Support Hotline 1-800-252-9668 for any questions you have about the law or to file a grievance against your district. They can give hints on how best to approach school districts when they are not following the IDEA correctly (which they verify). Don't forget to get a copy of the IDEA from the ARC or download it from one of these places along with other informational documents: TEA , Special Education at About.com , Developing the Individual Education Plan , The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , Wrights Law , or go to Ask.com and ask a question. Call 1-877-4ED-PUBS to request free IDEA information (they send a big book for FREE)!

Learn all you can about the medical/biological aspects of autism – it is a neurological AND immune dysfunction.  Some great books that I’ve read are Special Diets for Special Kids, and Special Diets for Special Kids II, by Lisa Lewis, PhD, Unraveling the Mystery of Autism and PDD by Karen Seroussi, Children with Starving Brains by Jaquelyn McCandless, MD.  The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller, Activities for the Out-Of-Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz. Our kids may have food allergies/sensitivities(need to eliminate!), thyroid problems (need to be treated), viruses (medications), yeast & bacterial overgrowth in their intestines (Probiotics, Ntstatin, other meds), leaky guts (Labs, Diet), heavy metal problems (Research Chelation and avoid future exposure), nutritional deficiencies (Supplents/Amino Acids), spikes in the EEGs-even though they are not having seizures (Anti Epileptic Drugs-Alternative Meds), abnormal MRI’s (Steroids), auditory processing problems (AIT), sensory issues (Sensory Integration), and more.  There are treatments to help these problems and alleviate the stress on our kid’s systems.  This is overwhelming.  That is why a great Autism doctor is so important.  You are the manager of your child’s health.  When it comes to your child, you have the PhD and the instincts to know when something is off or wrong, and when something truly works!
Keep up with the research and findings and talk to other knowledgeable parents.  This has been one of the biggest blessings to our family – finding others who were willing to share their experiences and roads traveled.   
Other Good Books and resources are: The Child With Special Needs, by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder.  We also use the ABLC - Affect Based Language Curriculum: An Intensive Program for Families, Therapists and Teachers (Spiral-bound) by Stanley I. Greenspan, Diane Lewis. 

When all is said and done – the most important thing you can do is to take care of yourself & your WHOLE family.  Remember that you are not alone.
There are so many other avenues to help your children and that is one of the most important reasons to network with other families. The parents that have lived this life are truly the experts.

Know the Signs!!!
http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/learnsigns.php
http://www.firstsigns.org/
http://www.zerotothree.org/ztt_parents.html

Learning about early signs of autism or PDD as well as typical healthy developmental milestones will help you to know what to look for and what to expect of your child as he grows.  If you think your child might be in need of early intervention or evaluation, the best thing to do is call and talk with someone about what you are observing.  You cannot go wrong in simply asking questions and seeking advice from professionals – if there is something that warrants addressing - Early intervention is KEY!! 
Some resources for early intervention services are:

• Easter Seals ECI –

  2203 Babcock Rd
  San Antonio, TX 78229
 (210) 614-3911

• Brighton Center for Inclusive Communities

14207 Higgins Rd. SA, TX  78217
210-826-4492
Brighton/Bright Beginnings.  Lorene Dillard can help with ARDs and navigating the school systems and offers a class called Precious Minds.  Everything is free and childcare is provided.  Classes are offered at One for Autism and Brighton School.  You can contact her at (210) 826-4492 (work) Mobile : (210) 367-5710 email is  ldillard@brightonsa.org

• Paces Program

      The Center For Health Care Services (CHCS)
       227 W. Drexel
       San Antonio, TX  78210
       210-532-5158