Frequently Asked Questions

You are not alone in this process. The CDC, AAP, and NIH recommend interventions start early, are intense, and involve the family. Treatments can be broken down in the categories of behavioral, developmental, educational, and psychological.

Additionally, we recommend the following questions/review when meeting with different service providers:

For Speech

1. What is important to you when starting with a new client?

2. How do you typically run your speech sessions?

3. What disabilities or delays have you worked within the past?

4. What other certifications or special trainings do you have?

*Questions provided by Alyssa Shaw, MA, CCC-SLP

For OT

1. Look for episodic care model

2. Functional goals & focus rather than impairment focused

3. Evidence-based approach to sensory regulation needs

*Review provided by Jordan Wentz, MSOTR/L, OTD, BCP

For Behavioral Therapy

1. What does the intake process look like?

2. What tools do you use for assessing my child?

3. What type of programming/curriculum is implemented across the center, and is it individualized per child?

4. What of collaboration do the other BCBA’s and Clinical Director have as a company?

5. Does the BCBA have experience working with children similar to my child?

6. How often will I meet with you, and how do you assess progress?

*Questions provided by Carly Steiner, M.Ed, BCBA & Chandler Wentz, PhD, BCBA-D

For School

Following a medical diagnosis, it is important to determine if the child’s Autism diagnosis interfereces with his or her success in a school setting – academically & socially. Request a meeting with Special Education Services if you feel the diagnosis may interfere.

While at the Meeting:

1. Request a full evaluation by the school– this is called a MET (Multidisciplinary evaluation team), and it is required before an Individual Education Program (IEP) can be written. The MTE will include data from observations of your child in a classroom setting, unstructured settings at school, along with psychological and academic testing. These along with your medical diagnosis determines your child’s qualifications for Special Education.

2. If your child qualifies for Special Education, an IEP is developed by the team. The parents should be an active participant to this team. An IEP is an annual document with the purpose being to help your child be successful at school. It is completed annually, where you review progress and determine future needs. Things like time spent in General Education vs. Special Educations, additional services such as ABA, Social Work, Speech, OT, etc., will be highlighted as well. You should receive information surrounding measurable goals quarterly.

3. If your child does not qualify for Special Education, you must request for a 504 Plan.

4. A 504 plan is developed to ensure your child receives accommodations that ensure his or her academic success and access to the learning environment. This is provided when your child is not receive Special Education Services, but still does require additional support.

Chandler& is a podcast, Youtube channel, website, and overall resource for parents and caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Chandler& provides parents and caregivers with easy, accessible parenting tools to navigate the ups and downs of parenting a child with ASD. You can expect weekly videos, worksheets, and updates from the team at Chandler&.

Parent involvement is integral to the child's success. Not only can parents and caregivers support the process, development, and expansion of skills within their child, but research also tells us that parent training can lead to parents feeling less stress in their daily life and overall family well-being can be improved, as well. So, not only does parent involvement help the child who is receiving intervention but it also helps the parents themselves and the family as a whole (Koegel, Bimbela, & Schreibman, 1996).

At the top of the Chandler&, the Resources tab is a conduit to worksheets that complement the Chandler& Podcast. There you will find different worksheets, specific to the fundamental principles, along with scenarios you may be facing at home or in the community. We recommend starting with anything identified as a core component to the Parent Toolbox Kit!

Yes you can! In the top left corner of the home screen you can find a tab labeled consultation. We offer at minimum a 12-week consultation program for families that want a little more support. Our program requires a commitment of one hour of consulting weekly with the option to add more hourly sessions per week.