CSC Operates Autism Therapeutic Center

Center for Social Change operates Autism Therapeutic Center in Howard County, Maryland. The Center that is located at 6600 Amberton Drive in Elkridge, Maryland can admit up to 100 children with autism for their after school therapeutic program services for 4 hours daily during school days. CSC, a non-profit organization that has been serving people with developmental disabilities in the community since 1993, has served children with developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorders through its residential program and respite care in the past.

Autism affects 1 in 150 U.S. children and may be more common than previously thought. In April 2008 researchers from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders presented a report emphasizing earlier diagnosis and treatment.

The report said that about 17 percent of U.S. children have a developmental disability such as autism, mental retardation and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, but that fewer than half are diagnosed before starting school.

The authors of the Report states warning signs that include failure to :

• focus on lights and sounds by 2 months
• initiate joyful behavior with parents by 4 months
• exchange smiles and sounds with parents by 8 to 9 months
• take a parent's hand to find a toy and point to objects by 12 to 16 months

Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that pediatricians routinely evaluate children for developmental problems such as autism starting in infancy, and begin testing at age 9 months.

The after school program involves lots of repetition, and rewards, including praise and treats, for a job well done by the children. To teach language, our trained professionals use activities like swinging that get the child excited enough to make sounds, then offer rewards for sounds like vowels or consonants rather than humming. Then they name objects, encourage mimicking, and offer more rewards. Children learn the alphabet, understand commands like "Bring me the cow and the horse toy," and can say simple sentences like "I want juice." We definitely hope to mainstream.

The center is open between 3 PM and 7 PM during school days and involves a cost that is generally covered by the Medicaid House and Community waiver for children with ASD. The program is administered by the State Department of Education in Maryland. For those children who are not covered under the waiver services of the state, a cost arrangement under a private payee contract will be implemented prior to the services.

For a tour of the facility that has a miniature golf with water fountains, and Go-Cart to stimulate children, please contact the Coordinator for Therapeutic Program Services at 410-579-6789 or email info@centerforsocialchange.org. (Please note that the TI program is temporarily closed due to renovation of facility).