Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects 1 out of 88
children in the United States. In Colorado, it affects 1 out of 85
children. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
Autism Spectrum Disorder will continue to rise in prevalence creating a public
health concern for all Coloradans. Children on the spectrum need
intensive, quality services for the many areas of development that are affected
by the disorder. Many times, parents find themselves overwhelmed with the
overpowering number of treatments and the expense of those treatments.
For many families that live in rural communities, it is often difficult to find
services in their area. This manual will be a comprehensive guide in
helping direct Colorado parents in deciding what therapies would be best for
their children. It will also provide Colorado families with the latest
information regarding regulations on Medicaid waivers such as the CES and
Autism Waiver, insurance, and suggestions for low cost interventions parents can
try if they need ideas on what to do. We will navigate through the
changes in Health Care policy and give parents an easy to read manual to use
when advocating for their children. Guides will be delivered to all
Colorado libraries printed in both Spanish and English and be available online
for download at no cost. A mirror website will also be connected to the
printed guide with more up-to-date information as well as lists of providers,
resources, ongoing events, and more. Autism will not be leaving soon, we
must protect our children by providing them the best services as
possible. Please help us spread this manual to help families in Colorado!
Meet Ally and Germaine
Ally Garcia M.Ed (2014)
Ally Garcia
is in her last year of graduate school where she is studying Special
Education. This Indiegogo Project is
her Master’s Thesis. She has been working with children on the Autism Spectrum
since she was 16 years old when she volunteered for a local center in her
hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. She is currently
working as a Senior Behavioral therapist.
Her passion is working and advocating for children on the spectrum. Her
future goals include receiving her Principal licensure, BCBA certification as
well as a dual PsyD Degree/Law Degree specializing in Civil Rights and Special
Educational Law.
Germaine Seufert, M.A.; NCC; LPC;
CBIS
Germaine earned her Master’s in
Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education at the University of Colorado at
Denver with an emphasis in Couples and Family Therapy. She is a Licensed
Professional Counselor for the State of Colorado. Germaine has training in the
TEACCH method and as a Lovaas Consultant and has many years of experience
applying these methods. She has worked in the psychiatric department at the
Children’s Hospital of Denver. Overall, she has over a decade working with
children with autism and other developmental differences as well as their
families. Germaine is experienced working in different realms including
in-patient, schools, office and in-home. Over the past eleven years, Germaine
has continued her trainings to expand her understanding of children autism,
brain injury and continues to be up-to-date on best practice strategies. She
has also been invited to be a keynote speaker, is a Certified Teacher in
Therapeutic Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and sits on the Colorado Coalition
for Autism Professionals.
Both Ally and Germaine work for
Consultants for Children Inc. in Denver, Colorado. The manual will only contain information to
help families navigate the autism world in Colorado. This manual will not be promoting the company
in any shape or form. All information
will be evidence-based with no encouragement of one type of therapy over
another. The basis of this manual is to
share the latest information about funding for autism in Colorado. We also would like to share the many options
that Colorado residents have in treatment with families all over the
state. We believe that knowledge is
power!