WAVES

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Waves' Autism Spectrum Disorders Program wants to help your child reach the pinnacle of potential. We provide a continuum of services for young children and their families throughout Middle Tennessee. Our highly qualified Autism Team provides a family-centered, comprehensive, 3-tiered approach, individualized to meet your child’s specific needs.

Social-Emotional Skill

We believe in building a FOUNDATION FIRST of social-emotional skills that strengthen relationships, and provide a secure, nurturing home environment for growth and development. A secure foundation helps children apply what they learn to their every day life.

Waves’ Autism Spectrum Disorders Program provides evaluation, planning and/or programming for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Evaluation:

Waves' ASD program offers a comprehensive Psychological Evaluation to children from 2 to 5 years old. Referral for evaluation can be made by Tennessee’s Early Intervention System (TEIS); Primary Care Physicians; or local School Systems. Evaluation is completed by the Autism Team and consists of home and clinical observation; parent interview; review of medical records; family history; and administration of ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale); CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale); and they DAYC (Developmental Assessment of Young Children). Additional standardized testing tools may be used as needed.

Planning:

Our Autism Team offers this unique phase to help families build a framework for success for their child. Together, we will create functional goals from which all service providers will work. We will help your family better understand your child’s learning differences and appropriate resources available in your community.

Your Child’s Program:

Waves' ASD Program provides services for children ages 18 months to 5 years old who have an ASD diagnosis or are awaiting Evaluation. We believe the most effective programming is individualized, multi-disciplinary and fluid to best meet the changing needs of your child and family. Programs may include:

• Family Training: to help parents and caregivers effectively engage, communicate, and play with their child
• Structured Peer Interactions: Facilitated by training staff to enhance social skills development, whether in our classroom or in a community preschool or daycare
• Speech-Language Therapy: to help your child develop functional communication skills
• Occupational Therapy: for teaching functional play skills, address sensory integration/modulation/regulation and self-care skills
• Physical Therapy: for motor planning and motor sequencing development
• Behavioral Consultation: to address problem behaviors and specific skill acquisition
• Family Supports and Counseling