Raising Arizona Kids Feature; Phoenix, AZ
Southwest Autism Center of Excellence was one of many community resources featured in the September digital issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine; this "Special Needs Resources" issue includes a directory of resources offering help for children with learning differences and resources for families with disabled or medically fragile children, as well as tips for what parents can do to get help for children who are struggling in school.
When Rebekah McConnell's daughter Sarah turned nine, she was diagnosed with pervasive developmental and attention deficit disorder, followed by Asperger’s and anxiety. After a bit of research, they discovered Southwest Autism Center of Excellence, a collaborative effort of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services and Southwest Human Development. April is Autism Awareness Month, and Rebekah's hope is that rather than just making people aware of the fact that autism exists, that everyone would take the extra step and promote acceptance and inclusion in schools and communities.
Molly Arriaga, whose daughter Alexandra enjoys many of the things that other 17-year-olds enjoy despite the challenges of autism, shares the story of how her family found help through the Southwest Autism Center of Excellence, a collaborative effort of Southwest Behavioral & Health Services and Southwest Human Development.
Autism "centers of excellence" are opening up around the Valley, hoping to ease the burden on families by providing a variety of resources and care under one roof. The Southwest Autism Center of Excellence opens Tuesday near the I-17 and Cactus.
The center is the result of a partnership between Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care.
Touchstone Health Services and Southwest Behavioral & Health Services and Southwest Human Development were picked as community providers to provide better access to care and an earlier diagnosis.
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 64 children in Arizona are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). On average, children in Arizona are diagnosed at 5 years 3 months. Hispanic children are even more likely to be misdiagnosed or receive a diagnosis later in life.
April is Autism Awareness Month. This year, we’re celebrating a milestone in autism care. We’ve selected two local providers to serve as Autism Spectrum Disorder Centers of Excellence. They are Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (SB&H) and Touchstone Health Services.