Clinical Services
CLINICAL SERVICES AT CHARLOTTE CENTER:
The Charlotte TEACCH Center offers clinical services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each autistic individual across the lifespan and their family. Services are designed to promote communication, executive function, social skills, and emotion regulation. Parent coaching is provided to help parents understand their child’s unique learning styles.
Diagnostic Evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults
The Charlotte TEACCH® Center provides diagnostic evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults who are thought to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but have not yet received a diagnosis. Evaluations typically take place over two visits (depending upon the complexity of the case and services provided) at the clinic and focus on issues of diagnosis and educational programming and intervention.
The evaluation includes caregiver interviews; a review of medical, social, academic, and developmental history; caregiver questionnaires, and testing sessions with the individual. The individual is directly assessed using state-of-the-art, empirically-based assessment instruments including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and The Childhood Autism Rating Scale – 2nd edition (CARS2). Results of the evaluation are shared with the parents during an interpretive conference that is typically held at the end of the diagnostic day. An individualized, written evaluation summary with comprehensive recommendations and resources is mailed to the family.
Intervention / Therapy Services – Individual
TEACCH for Toddlers is a comprehensive approach for toddlers diagnosed with autism and their families incorporating naturalistic, structured, and behavioral (e.g., ABA) strategies. An interdisciplinary team of specialists, including psychologists, social workers, and educators will work with you and your child to promote better outcomes for all. TEACCH for Toddlers entails:
One of our Autism Specialists will work with children and caregivers to:
1) promote communication, social, and play skills and increase flexibility
2) provide education, coaching, and parent-to-parent support to parents
The program lasts for approximately 14 weeks per family, with rolling admissions throughout the year.
- Who: Individual with ASD under 3 years and their parents. Child must enroll in Intensive before 2 years and 7 months to complete treatment before turning 3 years of age.
- Location: Clinic
- Duration: 3 hours/week for 14 weeks
- Billing: Adaptive Behavior Therapy Some insurance companies will cover this service, while others may not. Recent legislative changes in NC ensure that more and more insurance companies will cover this type of service.
TEACCH for Toddlers (TFT) is a comprehensive approach for autistic toddlers and their families, incorporating naturalistic, structured, and behavioral intervention strategies. Family Implemented TEACCH for Toddlers (FITT) is our way of coaching parents to (1) understand how their toddler learns and (2) use naturalistic and structured strategies to promote engagement. The Interventionist conducts an initial interview to determine a treatment plan and broad goals for parents and the child. Weekly TEACCH for Toddlers sessions are focused on child and parental goals.
- Who: Individual with ASD under 4 years and their parents.
- Location: Clinic or Virtual
- Duration: 60 min/week for 12 weeks
Supporting clients to build awareness and skills in the areas of emotional literacy, sensory regulation, and executive functioning, to promote success and independence in school, vocation, independent living, and leisure pursuits.
- Who: Individual with ASD school age through adulthood
- Location: Clinic Only
- Duration: 60 min/Week for 12-15 weeks
This service is designed for individuals to address social communication challenges, emotional dysregulation, daily living, executive functioning, and self-advocacy. We utilize evidence-based modalities (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) combined with structured TEACCHing strategies (e.g., visual supports) to work on treatment goals. Depending on age and preference, sessions may be individual or may include involvement from caregivers/family members. Typically therapy sessions at TEACCH are time-limited and solution-focused.
- Who: Individual with ASD, adolescents and adulthood age
- Location: Clinic or Virtual
- Duration: 45-60 minute/Week, session total based on need
Intervention / Therapy Services – Group
The Growing, Learning, and Living with Autism (GoriLLA) group sessions are parent-assisted group interventions, intended for children who are primarily included in regular education in their school and have on grade level reading skills. At least one parent is required to attend each session.
Students will be assigned in groups of 4-5 students by grade level:
- 1st and 2nd graders
- 3rd to 5th graders
One initial individual assessment session with an autism specialist is scheduled with the child and parent to determine learning style and strengths and challenges and group readiness, and to discuss concerns and goals for the intervention sessions. Some groups have 2 parent lectures prior to the start of the group to introduce parents to the content of the intervention.
Group sessions with parents and child – these consist of a mix of large group activities (parents and children together) and small group activities in which the children will work with one autism specialist while the parents work with another. The curriculum includes activities from Social Thinking™, Zones of Regulation, and other evidence-based intervention methodologies. Structured TEACCHing strategies will be used throughout the intervention and parents will be coached on how to use Structured TEACCHing strategies outside of the clinical setting.
Autism will be discussed with the children in the older groups, and it is expected that older students will have some understanding of their diagnosis before the sessions start.
- Who: Individual with ASD in grades 1-5 with grade level reading proficiency/some writing skills and their parents
- Location: Clinic
- Duration: 90 minutes/week for 14 weeks
This group focuses on teaching and practicing skill-focused modules (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness) which are designed to help individuals improve management of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive instability. New skills are presented each week, and homework is assigned for individuals to practice during the week and reviewed in future groups.
- Age: Individuals with ASD age 18 and older
- Location: Virtual
- Duration: 90 minutes/week for 16 weeks
Vocational
The TEACCH® School Transition to Employment and Postsecondary Education Program (T-STEP) FREE, evidence-based college class to help autistic students transition to adulthood. The program is for 16–21 year-olds with Autism Spectrum Disorder who will or have received a Future-Ready Core high school diploma.
Support and Education
Charlotte TEACCH offers a seminar for parents to ensure that all parents of children with a diagnosis of autism have access to information that will help in better understanding autism as well as the behaviors and learning styles that accompany autism. The focus of the seminar is understanding autism, understanding the learning, social, communication, and behavioral needs of autistic individuals, and understanding your child’s individuality and how to use this information to problem solve and advocate for them. This seminar is designed for parents of newly diagnosed individuals, but the information shared is helpful to all parents, regardless of a child’s age, development, or length of time since diagnosis. The seminar combines lectures, discussions, and time for individual questions.
This series will begin in January 2025
This free service is provided to families of children under the age of 4 years who are currently on our waitlist. The focus of the series is on an introduction to the use of naturalistic, developmental, behavioral, and Structured TEACCHing strategies to be used in the home and community. The series runs for a total of 6 weeks and meets for 1 ¾ hours, and is virtual. This is offered in both English and Spanish.
Consultation to Schools, Group Homes, and Other Agencies
TEACCH provides consultation services to local school systems, group homes, and other agencies providing services to autistic individuals and their families. Agencies can request consultation for a program and an individual client. Please call your local TEACCH office at 919-445-2365 for more information.