HJAR Mar/Apr 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAR / APR 2025 27 care coordination for children birth to age 21 years and can help with referrals and getting applications completed for these needed services. All families of children with autism and/or developmental delay should be directed to these services by their care providers and can be reached at (501) 682- 2277 or online at ar.gov/css. National Safety Resources • National AutismAssociation • Big Red Safety Toolkit: https:// nationalautismassociation.org/ docs/BigRedSafetyToolkit.pdf • Big Red Safety Shop: https:// nationalautismassociation. org/store/#!/Big-Red-Safety- Shop/c/2416355 • Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE): https://nationalautismassociation.org/ resources/wandering/ • Smart911: https://www.smart911.com • Autism Speaks Safety Kit: https://www. autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/autism- safety-kit n Full citations and footnotes for this article are available at the end of this digital book. Autism Services & Referral Guide Arkansas Decision Tree A. When a Child Comes into the Clinic 1. Screening Measures: • Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) • Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) with Follow-up (M- CHAT-F/U) 2. If Developmental Delays Are Suspected: • Refer for audiology and visual acuity assessments B. While Waiting for an Autism Evaluation For children ages 0-3 years, refer to one of the following resources: • Arkansas First Connections / Early Intervention Phone: 800-643-8258 Website: www.firstconnectionsar.org • Early Intervention Day Treatment (EIDT) Centers • Private Therapy Providers (Speech, OT, PT) • Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) / Title V (to help access services) Phone: 501-682-2277 or 501-683-5687 For children ages 3-5 years, refer to one of the following resources: • Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Phone: 501-682-4221 • Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) Program, Head Start / Early Head Start • Selective Daycares with Early Intervention • Early Intervention Day Treatment (EIDT) Centers • Private Therapy Providers • Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) / Title V (to help access services) Phone: 501-682-2277 or 501-683-5687 For children over 5 years, refer to one of the following resources: • Public School Special Education Services (Includes Homeschool) • IEP/504 plan with therapy services in school • Private Therapy Providers • Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) / Title V (to help access services) Phone: 501-682-2277 or 501-683-5687 C. Referring for an Autism Evaluation Ensure all supporting reports (screening results, observations, therapy notes) are included when submitting to an autism diagnostic center. EDITOR’S NOTE: A heartfelt thank you to Jayne Bellando, PhD, and Jaimie Flor, MD, for their vision, leadership, and coordination in bringing this special report to life. And to all of the report’s authors, their dedication to advancing autism care in Arkansas has made this deep dive possible, and we are grateful for their expertise and commitment to this vital work.