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New autism center fulfills urgent need
Every year, thousands of toddlers and children throughout the U.S. are diagnosed with a developmental disability or one of the conditions that falls under the category of autistic spectrum disorder. For most parents, this type of diagnosis fills them with an extreme urgency to find the best care and treatment for their child.
This past spring, parents in Bay Area Houston facing this challenge received a new option with the opening of the University of Houston-Clear Lake Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. Housed within the UH-Clear Lake Psychological Services Clinic, the Center gives hope to many families of children with autism or a defined developmental disability who had nowhere else to turn.
“My son learned more in the first two weeks of therapy than he has learned in two years of school,” said Melissa Martinez. Her 4-year-old son had been diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and mental retardation and had made little progress before his treatments at the Center in early June. “He’s able to do things now that we’ve been working on with him for years, such as being able to sit still and focus. Best of all, what he’s learning at UH-Clear Lake is carrying over to our home life which is really wonderful.”
Noel and Ana Perez share Marinez’s opinion of the center and what it has done to help their five-year-old son Gabriel.
“This program has proven to me that Gabriel can be taught many skills to improve his quality of life,” explained Ana Perez. “I am excited to see my son becoming more expressive and social. I thank God and everyone who made this program available to us.”
Giving families a local option
“I definitely think the Bay Area needs more support and our program is working to fill the gap,” explained Dorothea Lerman, UH-Clear Lake professor of psychology, who oversees the work related to autism and developmental disabilities training and intervention as well as programs for the local school districts. “There have not been a lot of specialized services for children with autism or developmental disabilities in this area of Houston. We have the potential to help a great many people through the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities.”
The center comprises four main areas:
* Evaluations – Under the direction of Associate Professor of Psychology Gail Cheramie, graduate students provide comprehensive evaluations for autistic spectrum disorders.
* Behavioral services, intervention and training – Led by Lerman, this area includes working with school districts to find ways to better serve children with a range of problem behaviors and intervention services and caregiver training for those diagnosed with autism. The autism component received funding via the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services through August 2009.
* Early Learning Clinic – Under the direction of Special Education Instructor Denise Chapman, graduate students work with children who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome to develop communication, language and literacy skills. The majority of this work is done within homes to include parent training.
* Severe Behavior Disorders Clinic - Under the direction of visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology Jennifer Fritz, students in applied behavior analysis provide assessment and treatment services for individuals diagnosed with a developmental disability who engage in severe problem behaviors (e.g., self-injurious behavior, aggression, and property destruction). Services are available to individuals of all ages with behavior disorders and are conducted in the context of ongoing research.
“We have had a great deal of interest from hundreds of families looking for a way to help their children,” noted Lerman. “We do hope to find more grant avenues and support from the community so we can continue our work long into the future.”
“I truly believe that Liana would have continued regressing had she not been given this life-changing opportunity,” said Melissa Zilembo whose five-year-old daughter is receiving assistance from the center. “I believe that this therapy is vital to give Liana her best hope at a promising future.”
For more information on the UH-Clear Lake Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, visit http://hsh.uhcl.edu/CADD or send an e-mail to AutismCenter@uhcl.edu.
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