Project Description:
The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Service provides a full range of outpatient clinical services to persons with all kinds of developmental disabilities and their families. Services are organized around the client and family goals. Clinical activities focus on increasing personal independence, social relationships, participation and responsibility, and community involvement and inclusion for persons with developmental disabilities of all ages. Services available to clients include: disciplinary and interdisciplinary evaluations; individual or group treatment in any of the disciplines; family guidance; counseling, and therapy; and consultation to schools, work, school and home environments, and other community settings. Clinical services are provided by faculty, staff members, and pre- and post-doctoral training from child psychiatry, clinical psychology, social work, a speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, and developmental pediatrics. In addition, the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Service is available to assist educational programs. Local school districts contract with the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Service for on-site multidisciplinary assessments and intervention services. The Denver Model of early intervention originated here. The Service also provides weekly Social Skills Groups for children and adults. Early intervention services, including intensive home programs for young children with autism are provided, including training of home teachers and ongoing development and monitoring of home programs. Using the Denver Mode of learning intervention originated here.
Major Goals:
-Provide a vehicle for the training of interdisciplinary professionals in their final years of preservice training in clinical skills, inclusive education, and community based programs;
-Provide state of the art clinical services to individuals of all ages and families who have autism or other developmental disorders, often in combination with psychiatric disorders;
-Join with and support community agencies and resources in providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families;
-Provide ongoing consultation to school districts serving children with severe disabilities in inclusive educational settings;
-Increase the network of social contacts and skills for adults with developmental disabilities.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups
