One Voice in West Virginia dedicated to early Autism detection, diagnosis and early intensive behavioral intervention

The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities is a helpful resource for families who are seeking services related to ASD and other disabilities. They are currently providing social skills groups, parent support groups, group parent/teacher trainings, and 1:1 individualized training. No diagnosis is required to receive these services. They can be contacted at (304) 293-4692. You can also visit www.cedwvu.org.

The West Virginia Autism Training Center is also a helpful resource for families in the state who need recommendations and referral sources. It also offers a “futures program” or Positive Behavior Support program that develops action plans to help ensure productive futures for children and adults on the autism spectrum. They can be reached at 1-800-344-5115. The West Virginia Autism Training Center website (www.marshall.edu/atc) also offers a variety of helpful resources, such as the 2019 Autism Awareness Toolkit that services as a Resource Guide for West Virginia Schools.

WV Developmental Disabilities Council provides resources and access to trainings which support innovative practices that promote the independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and their communities. Christy Black is their resource specialist. You can reach them at 304-558-0416 or visit www.ddc.wv.gov.

Social Security Disability (SSI) is based on both disability and income eligibility for children with special health care needs. If children qualify, they are eligible for a WV Medical Card to help cover expenses and cost of care, in addition to need-based funding from the state. To apply, contact your local DHHR. If denied for SSI, request a formal denial letter and apply for the CDCSP Program.

Children with Disabilities Community Service Program (CDCSP) is an optional Medicaid program that allows children with disabilities to receive medical assistance. Children must qualify to receive the level of care provided in a medical institution, though they do not need to be receiving services from a medical institution. Only the child’s income and assets are considered, providing all other eligibility criteria are met. Children receive a West Virginia Medicaid card through this program. For more information, visit www.pcasolutions.com or call (304) 776-7230.

Title 19 Home and Community Based Waiver (I/DD Waiver) is run through APS Healthcare. This program is designated for individuals age 3 and up. The IDD Waiver provides a lifetime medical card and a host of other services for children with lifelong disabilities. These services may include respite care, paid transportation, and therapeutic services. To apply, call 1-866-385-8920.

West Virginia Health Insurance Premium Payment (WV HIPP) is a state-funded program for qualifying Medicaid recipients and their families who have access to health insurance that is either self-funded, available through a job, or COBRA. If an applicant qualifies, the state will pay the monthly cost of the premium for a health insurance policy that covers the policyholder and their Medicaid dependent(s). Medicaid may also pay out-of-pocket medical expenses when the HIPP member sees a qualifying physician. For more information, visit www.mywvhipp.com or call 1-855-699-8447. 

WV ABLE is a specialized savings account for individuals with disabilities. It allows families to save money for their child without jeopardizing their eligibility for SSI/Medicaid. Children can have over $2,000 in financial resources in their ABLE account while still receiving government disability benefits. For more information call (304) 340-5050 or visit https://wvable.com/.

Children with Special Health Care Needs Program (CSHCN) provides care coordination, assistance in navigating DHHR & community resources, and provides financial assistance with medical foods. CSHCN is intended for children and youth with certain chronic, debilitating conditions by providing specialized medical care and care coordination services who meet financial and medical eligibility criteria. For more information visit https://www.wvdhhr.org/cshcn/ or call 1-800-642-9704.

LogistiCare provides non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) provides transportation for eligible WV Medicaid Members to travel to and from their Medicaid covered healthcare services. NEMT services include gas mileage reimbursement, passes for fixed route buses, and transportation supplied by private transportation providers. Trip requests require 5 business days’ notice and transportation will only be provided to and from your address on record with WV Medicaid. For more information visit http://www.logisticarewv.net/Members/Overview or call 844-549-8353.

WVU College of Law Child and Family Law Clinic provides legal assistance on a sliding fee scale to qualified children and families. They can assist with family law (i.e., matters of domestic violence, protection orders, adoption, custody, and guardianship matters), education law (i.e., special education and early intervention advocacy), housing (i.e., landlord-tenant issues, public housing problems), trust and estate law (i.e., special needs trusts and wills), and other legal issues that impact children and families. They primarily service Monongalia, Marion, Preston, Taylor, Barbour, Harrison, Randolph, Doddridge, Lewis, and Ritchie counties. For information, call (304) 293-6808.

Diapers and Pull-ups can be free of charge through the WV Medical Card for children age 3 and up. A prescription from the child’s primary care doctor indicating “urinary incontinence” is required. Families then take their child’s medical card and the prescription to any local home health care supply company. For example, one company that ships statewide is Family Medical Supply, 1 (800) 374-3795.

Feeding and Swallowing Clinic at WVUCED serves patients aged 0-18 to provide multidisciplinary feeding evaluations, follow-up treatment sessions, written treatment plans, collaboration with your child’s current therapy and/or medical team, and Telehealth service delivery options for WV residents. For more information on their services and to request an appointment, you may visit web site at https://cedwvu.org/feeding-swallowing-clinic/ or call Cassaundra Miller at (304) 293-4692. 

Camp Gizmo is a five day, hands-on camp where parents, professionals, and students learn how assistive technology can help young children (birth – 8 years) with significant and multiple developmental needs. It is typically held in July on the campus of the WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney, WV. For more information, visit http://www.wvearlychildhood.org/Camp_Gizmo.html

Best Buddies creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies gives people with special abilities a chance to make friends, speak up, and be heard and advocate for themselves and others within their community. They also have an e-Buddies program designed to develop friendships through virtual events for anyone age 13 and older. For more information, visit https://www.bestbuddies.org/westvirginia/.

Special Olympics provides year-round sports programs for people with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. Special Olympics programs are available for anyone age 8 and older. The Young Athletes program is designed for children ages 2-7. For more information about the West Virginia chapters, visit https://sowv.org/ or e-mail info@sowv.org.

PACE Enterprises helps adults with disabilities obtain meaningful employment. When an individual with a disability comes to PACE, they are evaluated and counseled to determine their skills and career goals. Then, training is provided to polish the individual’s talents and overcome shortcomings. Finally, the individual is either introduced to a local employer with whom they have forged a long-term relationship with or is employed in one of PACE’s business endeavors. Employment opportunities are available in Morgantown, Fairmont, Grafton, and Charleston, WV. For more information visit http://paceenterprises.org or call (304) 983-7223.

Project Life Saver is a national search and rescue system using radio transmitters and electronic tracking equipment. This transmitter bracelet is worn by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other cognitive disabilities. Because the equipment is paid for through donations, the monthly maintenance cost to the client is $10.00 per month. For more information, please contact Monongalia Sheriff’s Office, Deputy A.D. Bise at (304) 291-7260 or Russell Kirk (304) 291-7260 or check out their website www.monsheriff.com/lifesaver. Other counties have access to this program as well. To search for the closest agency in your county, please visit https://projectlifesaver.org/about-us/where-we-are/ and type in your zip code. 

Autism Care Today is an organization that has grants for families and will fund safety fencing for families of children with Autism. https://www.act-today.org/apply-for-grant/

Pediatric Dentists that can offer dental exams and procedures with sedation, if needed, include:

• WVU School of Dentistry, Pediatric Dentistry Clinic; Morgantown, WV. Accepts WV Medicaid & United Concordia. Dental Insurance. Fees are at a reduced rate in the student clinic, and payment options are available for patients without insurance. Morgantown, WV (304) 293-0401.
• Pediatric and Teenage Dentistry of Morgantown; Morgantown, WV. Accepts most private insurances. Morgantown, WV (304) 598-5000.
• Erin Branham, DDS; Parkersburg, WV. Accepts WV Medicaid & other private insurances. Parkersburg, WV (304) 485- 7336.

Healthy Grandfamilies is a free initiative led by West Virginia State University to provide information and resources to grandparents who are raising one or more grandchildren. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Healthy Grandfamilies provides information about parenting in the 21^st century, changing family dynamics, technology and social media, nutrition, legal issues, healthcare, stress management, negotiating the public school system, locating community resources, advocacy, and other valuable topics and resources. More information can be found at http://healthygrandparents.com. 

FMRS Health Systems, Inc. provides behavioral health services for Fayette, Monroe, Raleigh, and Summers Counties. They provide a variety of services including Parent Peer Support specialists to help children and families navigate services and ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care. Parent Peer Support is typically used when a family has multiple needs due to caring for a child with severe behavioral or developmental problems. The Parent Peer Support specialist can assist the child and their family in navigating complex systems by providing advocacy and linkage/referral to community resources. The Parent Peer Support specialist facilitates parent support groups and meets one on one with families throughout the region. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. also provide Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Adolescent Substance Abuse Services, Children’s Mobile Crisis Response, Children’s Wraparound, School-Based Mental Health Services, Regional Youth Support, and Life Space Crisis Intervention. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. accept children and youth ages 3+ regardless of insurance or ability to pay. For more information visit www.fmrs.org/childrens-services or call the closest office:

            Fayetteville, WV (304) 574-2100

            Beckley, WV (304) 256-7100

            Hinton, WV (304) 466-3899

            Union, WV (304) 772-5452

Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Center (CMRC) will send a behavioral health crisis responder to the home or other location in the community 24/7 for children ages 0-21 years. Their goal is to respond within 1 hour or less following a crisis call. The CMRC serves the following WV counties: Barbour, Beckley (or within a 1-hour drive from Beckley, WV), Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur. For pre-enrollment through FMRS for Beckley or Raleigh counties, call (304) 256-7100 and ask for a member of the Children’s Mobile Crisis Response team. For pre-enrollment through United Summit Center for Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur counties, call (844) WV-KIDS-1 and ask for a member of Children’s Mobile Crisis Response team.

WV Children’s Mental Health Wraparound Project provide a comprehensive, holistic, youth and family-driven way of responding when children or youth experience serious mental health or behavior challenges. Wraparound puts the child or youth and family at the center. With support from a team of professionals and natural supports, the family’s ideas and perspectives about what they need and what will be helpful drive all of the work in Wraparound. Wraparound services children and families ages 0-21 years with a mental health diagnosis or an intellectual or developmental disability combined with serious behavioral or mental health concerns that are affecting the child or youth at home, school, or in the community and putting him or her at risk of out-of-home placement or getting discharged from placement. The young person and their family work with a Wraparound facilitator to build their Wraparound team, which can include the family’s friends and people from the wider community, as well as providers of services and supports. Contact Tahnee Bryant of the WV Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities at (304) 356-4820 or Tahnee.I.Bryant@wv.gov.

Resilience for Appalachia (RAPP) – Youth Overcoming Trauma Project is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is a collaboration between FMRS Health Systems, Inc., Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, and Seneca Health Services, Inc. The primary goal of RAPP is to bring evidenced-based, trauma-informed treatment to the children of Southern West Virginia. Therapists across three comprehensive agencies are trained in evidenced-based treatment models to better serve our region, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). RAPP is working to change how all child-serving agencies approach children and families by facilitating trauma informed care training throughout the region. Call Leah Kidd, RAPP coordinator at (888) 811-1844 to find the therapist closest to you.

Maryland’s Home and Community Based Services Waiver for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder allows eligible children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to receive specific waiver services and certain Medicaid services to support them in their homes and communities. For more information, please contact the Maryland State Department of Education at 410-767-1446 or visit https://aging.maryland.gov/accesspoint/Pages/Autism-Waiver.aspx.

The Maryland Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Administration offers three waiver programs for children and families with neurodevelopmental disabilities, including the Family Supports Waiver, Community Supports Waiver, and Community Pathway Waiver. For more information, please call (844) 253-8694 or visit https://dda.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Medicaid_Waiver_Programs.aspx. 

Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the success of all children and youth in their school communities, including those who have significant support needs, to be successful academically or behaviorally. Using a student-centered planning process, MCIE professionals help schools bring together the best ideas from family and school staff, create a student action plan and/or behavior plan, and offer additional in-school support to the teaching and related services staff who will be implementing those plans. For more information or help with individual student planning, please e-mail: mcie@mcie.org.

The Parents’ Place of Maryland helps families obtain education and health care services for their children with disabilities; works to improve education and health care for all children; trains and informs parents and professionals on a variety of topics; and connects children with disabilities to community resources that address their needs. They house Maryland’s Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) and Family-to-Family Health Information Center. For more information, visit https://www.ppmd.org/.

• The Parents’ Place (PPMD) is the only organization in Maryland charged by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, to serve as the state’s Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center. PPMD is one of over 100 PTIs nationwide, providing training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with all disabilities – physical, cognitive, emotional and learning. As a PTI, the Parents’ Place provides information and support for families who have children and youth with disabilities or special needs, beginning at birth through age 26. Our Parent Educators and PTI staff are available to help you understand and navigate the special education system and provide you with the information and tools you need to be an informed and active participant in your child’s education. All services are provided to parents and families at no cost!

The Parents’ Place Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F HIC) provides a central source for families of children and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs to obtain support, advocacy, and information about health care. We have a strong commitment to promoting and supporting the needs of families from racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse communities.

Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT) is a statewide initiative that aims to provide streamlined access to information for Pennsylvanians living with Autism. Their website is https://paautism.org. 

The Arc of Pennsylvania has 33 local chapters and represents over 8,000 members. Our state office coordinates strategic, grassroots advocacy efforts; provides policy analysis and trainings, and implements the statewide Include Me and the Arc Discovery Employment Transitions (ADEPT) programs that serve children and adults. The Arc of Pennsylvania focuses on systems advocacy and governmental affairs, demonstrating leadership and guidance among all disability organizations in Pennsylvania. Our local chapters of The Arc provide a variety of critical services, including advocacy services, Early Intervention, residential and day supports, home-care assistance, and job training. To learn more and find your local chapter, visit https://thearcpa.org/.

Include Me is a new model for the inclusive education and gaining meaningful employment for Pennsylvania’s students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc of Pennsylvania and Include Me believes all individuals with significant impact of developmental and intellectual disability deserve equal educational and competitive employment rights. Our mission, build and strengthen the inclusive education capacity for all public-school students, and discover meaningful employment opportunities meeting Pennsylvania employee and employer needs. Include Me strives to ensure all impacted students have equal access to all aspects of life and the community throughout their lifespan. The mission of the Include Me Program is to provide on-site, intensive training and technical assistance to school districts, teachers, and families to increase their capacity to educate students with significant disabilities in general education classes and typical preschool settings. For more information; please call (717) 234-2621 or visit https://includemepa.org/who-we-are/.