Impact Project: Autism Testing

For parents who suspect autism, children in SETX with Medicaid insurance are referred to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. It is a 2+ year wait. The CDC reports 1 in 36 kids are on the spectrum. To help alleviate this wait, United Way of Orange County partnered with Shorkey Center earlier this year to provide an interdisciplinary assessment which includes the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS), language assessment, and occupational therapy sensory battery assessment. This Impact Project served 14 children from Orange County, thereby eliminating the waitlist at Shorkey Center. Parent 1, “I have been so concerned about his behavior, he gets so mad. I’m concerned he has autism but didn’t know where to turn.” Parent 2 told the therapist, “I’ve been so worried because she does not talk and lines up all her toys. I have been wanting and waiting a long time to have her tested to see what was wrong.”