Corpus Christi, TX (PRWEB) October 30, 2014
Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Inc. today announced the receipt of a $448,000 Autism Program grant from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The grant will allow CARD to provide home-based, center-based, and school services for up to 24 months to underserved children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who live in Corpus Christi and outlining areas.
We are excited that Texas has allocated the resources to ensure that all children with autism get the treatment they need to lead happy, healthy lives, said CARD operations manager, Dorothy Light, M.A. Our team will partner with families, teachers and administrators to ensure these children see measurable results from their behavioral treatment.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission GIS/Demographic Team estimates 26,700 children in Texas, between the ages of three and eight years old, are diagnosed with autism. The DARS Autism Program will help the state identify models that best serve these children and will enable lawmakers to strengthen the state's efforts to serve those affected by autism.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimates that one in every 68 children in America is diagnosed with ASD, with one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls diagnosed. This is more than a 30 percent increase since the 2008 report. As the prevalence of ASD has increased, services for children with ASD have not always kept pace with demand. As a result, families affected by ASD may encounter challenges when trying to access quality treatment. The increase in autism diagnoses and the lack of resources available to families in many communities leave parents struggling to access the services that are crucial to their childs development.
CARD is one of the worlds largest and most effective autism treatment providers offering evidence-based, state-of-the-art services to individuals of all ages. CARD is also the nations third largest non-governmental organization contributing to autism research. In August 2009, CARD researchers published "Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Records in 38 Cases of Recovery from Autism in the Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, showing that recovery from autism is possible with early, intensive intervention using applied behavior analysis (ABA).
One-to-one ABA therapy and Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) will be provided to participants of the DARS Autism Program. Individual client assessment and intervention will be combined with caregiver training to provide optimal treatment for each family. The DARS Autism Program offers a sliding-scale fee based on adjusted gross income. Participating children must be between the ages of three and 15 years old, have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, and be a Texas resident. For more information about the DARS Autism Program, contact Dorothy Light at (512) 330-9520.
About Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS) DARS is a state agency that works in partnership with Texans with disabilities and families with children who have developmental delays to improve the quality of their lives and to enable their full participation in society. To find out more about the agencys services, call the DARS Inquiries Line at 1-800-628-5115. Information about DARS is also available at http://www.dars.state.tx.us.
About Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) CARD treats individuals of all ages who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at its 29 treatment centers around the globe. CARD was founded in 1990 by leading autism expert and clinical psychologist Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D. CARD treats individuals with ASD using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with ASD and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General. CARD employs a dedicated team of nearly 2,000 individuals across the nation and internationally. For more information, visit http://www.centerforautism.com or call (855) 345-2273.