Early Diagnostic Assessment Advocacy
Have you considered that your child may need evaluation for autism, or are you a provider concerned that a child on your caseload may show signs of autism? Review some of the behavioral differences to know what to look for, and learn more about advocacy surrounding early assessment.
Early Diagnostic Assessment Advocacy Checklist for Parents
Language/communication, social interaction, and other behaviors to watch for from 12 months to 2 years old
Early Diagnostic Assessment Advocacy Checklist for Providers
Considerations for starting a conversation with a child’s caretakers about observed behaviors
Next steps: Parent & Caretaker Advocacy
Information about funding assessment through Regional Center, tips for being an effective advocate, and other resources
These resources were created as a collaboration of five professionals and clinicians and may be shared freely with professionals and families working in support of children.
Following a rewarding career as a Speech Language Pathologist, Educational Administrator and Clinical Leader, Shellie Bader, M.A., CCC-SLP is now semi-retired and continues to serve the profession as a consultant, guest speaker, and strategic advisor. Serving as the administrator for the Speech and Language Program in LAUSD, as the COO and Clinical Director in a pediatric private practice, and on the CSHA Board of Directors are just a few highlights of her 40 years in the profession.
Lisa Concoff Kronbeck advocates for her daughter Leah, who was born two months early with Down syndrome and multiple structural birth defects. Before Leah was born, Lisa was an advocate at a disability rights nonprofit, working primarily in the public benefits unit with services like Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, and Social Security Disability Insurance. At present, she is the Public Benefits Specialist at Undivided. Lisa also identifies as a person with disabilities.
Dane Fitzmorris, M.A. has worked on a variety of federal and state-funded projects, all of which have focused on home, center-based and hospital-based interventions with families and young children, birth to three years. She is co-author of the Legacy for Children parenting curriculum, published by The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is now the project director of the Legacy for Children™ training center at UCLA. She is also currently the Director of the UCLA Intervention Program, a program for infants and toddlers with a wide range of disabilities and risk factors.
Leslie Lobel advocates for an adult daughter with complex needs and has been working for the past decade with parents of children with disabilities who require assistance with the private insurance system to rectify billing issues, pursue claims payment, or initiate medical pre-authorizations and appeals to overturn unjust denials. Currently the Director of Health Plan Advocacy services at Undivided.
Hope Morris-Baldridge, M.S., CCC-SLP, FNAP is a Clinical Instructor and professor in the Speech-Language Pathology graduate program in the Caruso Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Cancer at the University of Southern California. She has supported neurodiverse individuals and their families as a practicing SLP for over 23 years and teaches students these skills as an educator. She participates actively in research to develop supports for individuals on the autism spectrum and is passionate about advocating for the neurodiverse and their families.
What’s your burning question? We’ll help!
We’ll help you find the answer to all your IEP, public benefits, insurance questions, and more.