Recorded presentation

David S. Mandell, ScD, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-2504, mandelld@mail.med.upenn.edu

As the number of children diagnosed with autism increases, it is likely that local and state systems will be challenged to meet the associated service and treatment needs associated with these children. In order to examine existing practices and barriers to appropriate services, the investigators conducted 10 focus groups of parents of children with autism (n = 65) in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. Topics addressed in the focus groups included screening, diagnosis, referrals, access to education and Medicaid-funded services, services across the age and disability spectrum, gaps in the current spectrum of available services, and coordination of care across systems. Recordings from the focus groups were transcribed and coded using Nudist software to identify salient themes. A grounded theory approach was used to describe models of current service delivery and propose mechanisms to address existing barriers. These results are presented in the context of the report of the Pennsylvania Autism Taskforce, which was convened to make recommendations to the Commonwealth regarding the organization, financing and delivery of services to individuals with autism.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe existing practice in the care and treatment of autism.
• Describe barriers to coordinated care for autism.
• Discuss possible mechanism to address barriers to care in autism.

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation