Autism Support (Dallas, Denton, Keller: appointed, for rent, insurance)

[ts_123]

Hi all,

I'm moving from Canada and Dallas end of Dec and have 2 kids on the spectrum. How would I start my search in terms of determining what health coverage would cover autism therapy and also, what reputable companies that provide in-house therapy that are BCBA certified.

Thank you kindly,

[DitsyD]

An online resource for special needs services is "THRIVE" magazine. It covers the DFW area, can be read online, and has an online directory of service providers, doctors, private schools, and such.

DFWChild Special Needs - Articles for parents of special needs children in DFW

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

You may be disappointed in the quality of services available here. I have no personal knowledge but have seen other parents complain here about the lack of services. You might do better with private schools such as the Winston School.. WHere will the job location be and what is your budget for renting or buying?

[EcoDeb]

Parents to build autism community in DFW | WFAA.com

You might want to contact these folks

[ts_123]

Thank you for your responses. Much appreciated!

I will buying/residing in Prosper TX. My 6 year old is very high functioning to the degree that aside from a professional BCBA, one would not see the difference between him and a nerotypical 6 year old. He's doing well in school socially and academically. I also understand that Prosper ISD is a well reputable school district so hopefully, they will have the support in place should need be.

My daughter is 2 and was just diagnosed with a lack of social communication and high anxiety. This where I would appreciate a good BCBA recommendation. Also, coming from Canada, all the expenses for therapy are covered where as in the US, I have to navigate the many health insurers in Texas. Having said that, what would be the best method of approach to determine what insurance company will cover my children's autism therapy?

Thank you,

[tcualum]

Keep in mind that Prosper is not a very big place and services can really vary from school district to district. The move will also be a huge adjustment and a lot of neurotypical kids can have a tough time adjusting. Your child has autism and many ASD kids have a tough time adjusting to relatively minor changes. For your 2 year old you’ll need a referral to Early Childhood Intervention which works with kids 3 and under. You’ll need to get that going with your pediatrician as soon as you get here.

Honestly, moving to a small place like Prosper might not be the best choice for your family especially since you’ll have a big learning curve already with moving countries. You might want to consider Denton or Keller instead. If you access private therapy you’ll probably have to drive to either city anyways.

[derekv]

Originally Posted by ts_123

Hi all,

I'm moving from Canada and Dallas end of Dec and have 2 kids on the spectrum. How would I start my search in terms of determining what health coverage would cover autism therapy and also, what reputable companies that provide in-house therapy that are BCBA certified.

Thank you kindly,

Will you be purchasing insurance on the market? The majority of folks in the US have employer sponsored healthcare plans. Autism treatments which are prescribed by a physician are covered under any Texas plan. For ABA there are plan and treatment caps depending on the age of your child. I think the cutoff is age 9 for the caps to kick in. (Maybe 30k a year cap?)

Treatments are still subject to any deductible/copay of the particular plan.

[ts_123]

Originally Posted by tcualum

Keep in mind that Prosper is not a very big place and services can really vary from school district to district. The move will also be a huge adjustment and a lot of neurotypical kids can have a tough time adjusting. Your child has autism and many ASD kids have a tough time adjusting to relatively minor changes. For your 2 year old you’ll need a referral to Early Childhood Intervention which works with kids 3 and under. You’ll need to get that going with your pediatrician as soon as you get here.

Honestly, moving to a small place like Prosper might not be the best choice for your family especially since you’ll have a big learning curve already with moving countries. You might want to consider Denton or Keller instead. If you access private therapy you’ll probably have to drive to either city anyways.

Thankfully, my 6 year old is very social and can adapt very easily to new surroundings and people. It's too soon to tell with my daughter as she just turned to 2 hence me opening this thread.

As far as relocating from Prosper, thats a non starter as we built a home from ground up and are closing end of Dec. Driving isn't really a consideration as I'm counting on in house therapy just as we did with my 6 year old in Canada. Was looking for recommendations for BCBA's but none as yet. Hopefully someone will chime in soon in that regard.

Didn't know you needed a pediatrician for early intervention services. Good to know... Thank you!

[ts_123]

Originally Posted by derekv

Will you be purchasing insurance on the market? The majority of folks in the US have employer sponsored healthcare plans. Autism treatments which are prescribed by a physician are covered under any Texas plan. For ABA there are plan and treatment caps depending on the age of your child. I think the cutoff is age 9 for the caps to kick in. (Maybe 30k a year cap?)

Treatments are still subject to any deductible/copay of the particular plan.

Not employed as yet as my visa was just approved and residency to be issued at point of entry so will need private insurance.

Did not know however, that autism related services were subject to deductibles/copay...thats expected news...will have to call around insurance companies that will best accommodate my specific situation. Thank you for your input.

[UnfairPark]

I guess it’s too late for this question but why would one build a house in a random place without knowing about job location or services available for special need children? Do you have family ties in Prosper or have a job lined up there?