Holmes County Help Me Grow, Early Intervention create opportunity for families dealing with autism
Dealing with the possibility that your child may be suffering from autism is in itself a harrowing experience. Trying to figure out what steps to take can be overwhelming and frightening, as parents are unsure where to turn, where to find answers and solutions which are in their child’s best interest.
After a great deal of education, a team of dedicated professionals from Holmes County Help Me Grow and Holmes County Early Intervention are now capable of providing developmental evaluations for children who may suffer from autism.
The team, consisting of Sharon Allison, developmental specialist, Denise Estill, developmental specialist and social worker, Lynn Allison, occupational therapist, Lacy Iberis, speech and language pathologist, and Dr. Karen Bringelsen, have gone through extensive training to be able to perform the assessments. Because of the commitment they made, area families who want to have a child tested, from birth to 3 years, will benefit in terms of time and expense. They have successfully helped to make the experience of getting a child help easier and less painstaking.
“Before this, the typical family would have to go to Akron Children’s Hospital, and it would take close to one year to do all of the assessments and final appointments with a pediatrician there,” said Sharon Allison. “We estimate that we can do this in about two to three months, and families won’t have to travel as far.”
The project was done in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Ohio Department of Health, so that the county could improve access to timely screenings and evaluations. In going through the stringent training process, the team members will also provide an increased accuracy of diagnosis, mainly because of the diversity of the staff members involved in the program.
“We all bring our own specialty to the assessment process, and because of that, we have the ability to provide a very in-depth assessment, which we then pass on to Dr. Bringelsen,” said Estill. “We feel that we can deliver a very precise, accurate diagnosis, and at the same time, save the families from the rigors of having to drive long distances and spend extra money.”
In addition, rather than have the children diagnosed in a sterile, unfamiliar hospital setting, the team brings the child to the training center, where they will be more familiar with their surroundings, making them more at ease during the testing process.
“Going to a place that is familiar can put people at ease, as well as the children themselves,” said Allison. “It’s more inviting and parents are encouraged to observe the process. We saw that there was a real need for something like this in our community and listened to what people wanted. It is going to be a tremendous addition to our community families.”
What’s more, because the training has been paid for through a grant, the assessment and evaluation are free for families getting tests done as a service of the Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The three-visit assessment plan, known as the Battelle Developmental Assessment, focuses on gross motor skills like movement and walking, fine motor skills pertaining to how a child uses their hands and eyes, how a child communicates, how well they comprehend, how they act around others and how well they can do things for themselves.
Should the team find delays in the child in any of these categories, they will then conduct two additional tests, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Routines Based Interview (RBI).
The results of the tests are then sent to Dr. Bringelsen, who then consults with the child and their family. The report is also sent to the family’s doctor. The process allows families to get professional help, close to home, that is both personal and confidential.
“This is a great opportunity for families in this area,” said Bringelsen. “The team can go right to the home, the parents don’t have to go anyplace, and both the child and the family become immediately comfortable with the team here. In a sense, they kind of become a part of the family through the testing process, and if they do have autistic tendencies, then the staff is set up to provide very capable help at the facility. It’s a perfect set up.”
Once Bringelsen makes the initial assessment and sets up the proper references to the family physicians, the staff steps in and provides all of the necessary measures in providing a child with therapy and education. While there may be some trepidation about having to switch doctors through the program, that is not the case. Families may continue to use their family doctor, since Bringelsen can readily transfer all of her data to local family doctors.
“Our goal is not to steal anyone’s patients, but rather to provide a service that can help them better understand a child’s situation,” said Bringelsen.
The ability to produce results locally, along with the opportunity to save families money, are both wonderful by-products of the Early Intervention program, but according to Estill, what makes the biggest impact is the time factor.
“Any time you start intervention early, the impact is greater because so much development occurs in the first year,” said Estill. “Autistic children who are bright tend to respond very well to treatment, and to do that early and to have them learn, they can come a long way quickly. Helping them to function on their own is crucial, and they can learn to contribute to society.”
And because the team is around the children and the family so often, the development of a real bond of trust and love develops that allows even greater growth in the child, which promotes a better relationship between the staff and the family.
In addition to the program, two of the staff members are currently being trained in the PLAY Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) through a state grant, and the staff is working closely with both East and West Holmes school districts to develop a primary class for the coming year to assist students with autism.
As the program continues to grow and blossom, the hope is that the entire process will help children with autism and their families overcome this challenging disease.
For further information on the program, or to have a child tested, call 330-674-0177.
After a great deal of education, a team of dedicated professionals from Holmes County Help Me Grow and Holmes County Early Intervention are now capable of providing developmental evaluations for children who may suffer from autism.
The team, consisting of Sharon Allison, developmental specialist, Denise Estill, developmental specialist and social worker, Lynn Allison, occupational therapist, Lacy Iberis, speech and language pathologist, and Dr. Karen Bringelsen, have gone through extensive training to be able to perform the assessments. Because of the commitment they made, area families who want to have a child tested, from birth to 3 years, will benefit in terms of time and expense. They have successfully helped to make the experience of getting a child help easier and less painstaking.
“Before this, the typical family would have to go to Akron Children’s Hospital, and it would take close to one year to do all of the assessments and final appointments with a pediatrician there,” said Sharon Allison. “We estimate that we can do this in about two to three months, and families won’t have to travel as far.”
The project was done in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Ohio Department of Health, so that the county could improve access to timely screenings and evaluations. In going through the stringent training process, the team members will also provide an increased accuracy of diagnosis, mainly because of the diversity of the staff members involved in the program.
“We all bring our own specialty to the assessment process, and because of that, we have the ability to provide a very in-depth assessment, which we then pass on to Dr. Bringelsen,” said Estill. “We feel that we can deliver a very precise, accurate diagnosis, and at the same time, save the families from the rigors of having to drive long distances and spend extra money.”
In addition, rather than have the children diagnosed in a sterile, unfamiliar hospital setting, the team brings the child to the training center, where they will be more familiar with their surroundings, making them more at ease during the testing process.
“Going to a place that is familiar can put people at ease, as well as the children themselves,” said Allison. “It’s more inviting and parents are encouraged to observe the process. We saw that there was a real need for something like this in our community and listened to what people wanted. It is going to be a tremendous addition to our community families.”
What’s more, because the training has been paid for through a grant, the assessment and evaluation are free for families getting tests done as a service of the Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The three-visit assessment plan, known as the Battelle Developmental Assessment, focuses on gross motor skills like movement and walking, fine motor skills pertaining to how a child uses their hands and eyes, how a child communicates, how well they comprehend, how they act around others and how well they can do things for themselves.
Should the team find delays in the child in any of these categories, they will then conduct two additional tests, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Routines Based Interview (RBI).
The results of the tests are then sent to Dr. Bringelsen, who then consults with the child and their family. The report is also sent to the family’s doctor. The process allows families to get professional help, close to home, that is both personal and confidential.
“This is a great opportunity for families in this area,” said Bringelsen. “The team can go right to the home, the parents don’t have to go anyplace, and both the child and the family become immediately comfortable with the team here. In a sense, they kind of become a part of the family through the testing process, and if they do have autistic tendencies, then the staff is set up to provide very capable help at the facility. It’s a perfect set up.”
Once Bringelsen makes the initial assessment and sets up the proper references to the family physicians, the staff steps in and provides all of the necessary measures in providing a child with therapy and education. While there may be some trepidation about having to switch doctors through the program, that is not the case. Families may continue to use their family doctor, since Bringelsen can readily transfer all of her data to local family doctors.
“Our goal is not to steal anyone’s patients, but rather to provide a service that can help them better understand a child’s situation,” said Bringelsen.
The ability to produce results locally, along with the opportunity to save families money, are both wonderful by-products of the Early Intervention program, but according to Estill, what makes the biggest impact is the time factor.
“Any time you start intervention early, the impact is greater because so much development occurs in the first year,” said Estill. “Autistic children who are bright tend to respond very well to treatment, and to do that early and to have them learn, they can come a long way quickly. Helping them to function on their own is crucial, and they can learn to contribute to society.”
And because the team is around the children and the family so often, the development of a real bond of trust and love develops that allows even greater growth in the child, which promotes a better relationship between the staff and the family.
In addition to the program, two of the staff members are currently being trained in the PLAY Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) through a state grant, and the staff is working closely with both East and West Holmes school districts to develop a primary class for the coming year to assist students with autism.
As the program continues to grow and blossom, the hope is that the entire process will help children with autism and their families overcome this challenging disease.
For further information on the program, or to have a child tested, call 330-674-0177.
Published: July 7, 2011
