Diagnosis and Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorders


	How and Where to Obtain a Diagnosis/Assessment in Indiana
	When an individual is suspected of having an autism spectrum disorder, obtaining an accurate diagnosis can be a time consuming, costly and confusing process. However, the process can be made easier when qualified personnel are located who can thoroughly assess the individual to determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria for an autism spectrum disorder, including Asperger’s syndrome, autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. An initial diagnosis can be made by a psychologist and/or medical doctor who has training and experience in understanding autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. Remember that there is no medical test for autism. While professionals can suggest, based on observation or a brief office visit, that your child may have an autism spectrum disorder, an accurate diagnosis requires an appropriate and thorough assessment and observation. An accurate diagnosis is based on an observation of specific behavioral characteristics across a variety of environments/situations and a comprehensive history of early development. The behavioral characteristics typically used are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association. A copy of the current diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM can be obtained from the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism recommends a multidisciplinary assessment that includes a psychologist and family members. Since communication is always affected to some degree, it is important to include a communication assessment from a certified speech language pathologist. If the individual seems to be exhibiting sensory processing difficulties, it would be appropriate to have an assessment performed by a qualified professional. Often times, occupational therapists have the necessary training to assess individuals for sensory processing difficulties. Medical personnel, including neurologists, psychiatrists and pediatricians should be involved when there are issues related to medication and to assess for potential neurological, genetic or physical difficulties (e.g., seizures, brain lesions, Fragile X, allergies, digestive system problems). If the child is in a school program, an educator should be involved in the assessment to address a child’s performance in the school curriculum, and to determine additional educational support needs. Other team members who might be involved include social workers, physical therapists, audiologists, and other health professionals. For infants or toddlers ages 0-2, the local First Steps Service Coordinator or Systems Point of Entry Coordinator (SPOE) may be able to assist in locating trained personnel. The phone number for your local First Steps can be obtained by calling 1-317-232-1144 or 1-800-441-7837. If you are seeking a diagnosis and/or assessment for an individual of school age, including ages 3 through 5, contact your local school district for information. School districts employ psychologists and other professionals who can assess school-age children to determine if they meet eligibility criteria for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child is between the ages of 3 to 21, an educational assessment with a team of qualified professionals will be needed to determine eligibility for special education and related services. A “medical diagnosis” from a physician does not necessarily qualify an individual for educational services. Evaluations conducted through the school district are conducted at no cost to parents. The Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) provides diagnostic/evaluation services for individuals in need of residential services. Individuals will have to be assessed to determine initial and continuing eligibility for services. Call the state BDDS office at 1-317-232-7933 or 1-800-545-7763 to request contact information (e.g., phone numbers, names, addresses) for the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Field Service Office for the county in which you live. If a family or agency wants a private or second evaluation, the following agencies and individuals have experience diagnosing and assessing autism spectrum disorders. Some of the professionals on this list also may be able to provide assistance with medications, educational programming, speech therapy, behavioral support, and/or with counseling or psychiatric services. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism does not recommend a specific organization or person. When contacting those listed below, discuss the cost of the evaluation, the testing procedures and assessment instruments used, and the type of follow-up report. A thorough assessment should allow the examiner to gather sufficient information about areas of strength and need, educate the family regarding the diagnosis, and provide information that logically leads to programming recommendations. When pursuing a private evaluation, contact your insurance company to determine how much and what portions of the assessment will be covered. And ask the person/agency doing the testing, whether they accept Medicaid or if there are other payment options they will or will not accept. Once a diagnosis is made, contact the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at 812-855-6508 for more information about autism spectrum disorders.
	Resources for the Diagnosis/Assessment of Children and Adults Across the Autism Spectrum
	Indiana
	Edward B. Aull, M.D. Behavioral Pediatrics 13450 North Meridian, Suite 354, Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 582-7654 Ball State University Psychoeducational, Diagnostic, and Intervention Clinic David E. McIntosh, Ph.D., HSPP, ABPP, FAASP Teachers College 524 Ball State University Muncie, IN 47306 (765) 285-8526 Behavior Specialists of Indiana, LLC Debra Farrar-Schneider, Ph.D., HSPP P.O. Box 1564 Valparaiso, IN 46384 (219) 462-6705 FAX: (219) 464-4318 Email: dfarrarschneider@behaviorspecialists.com M. Lezlie Blackford, Ph.D., HSPP 668 E. 62nd Street Indianapolis, IN 46222 (317) 257-4029 Corby A. Bubp, Ph.D., HSPP Professional Psychological Services 10293 N. Meridian Street, #375 Indianapolis, IN 46290 (317) 581-2288 Email: propsychserv.aol.com (sees adults also) Child Development Center Jon Bos, Psy.D., ABPdN Suzanne A Courtney, Psy.D., HSPP Roger B. Hensley, M.D. Lisa Sexton, M.S., LMHC Warren Sibilla, Ph.D., HSPP 105 East Jefferson Blvd, Suite 500 South Bend, IN 46628 (574) 232-4453 FAX: (574) 232-7718 Children's Resource Group Lynda Boehme, MSW, LCSW Andrew Brothers, Ph.D., HSPP Sharon Bruner, MS Janel Burchfield, M.A. Amy Creigh, RN Karen Dougherty, Ed.S. Kim East, MSW, LCSW Tonya Foreman, M.D. Mark Hermann, Ph.D., HSPP Carole Hoge Pifer, RN, MSN, FNP, CNS Dennis Ray Kinder, Ph.D., HSPP Christine Kerr, M.A., LMHC Jennifer Levett, MS, CCC-SLP Christine Light, RN Nancy Lindhjem, Ed.S., NCSP Joshua Lowinsky, M.D Amy Martin, MSW, LCSW Kristine McCready, RN Jason Rowland, M.D. Stacey Salamon, MSW, LCSW Julie T. Steck, Ph.D., HSPP Mary Teter, RN Linda Vermillion, M.A., NCSP Diane Widdifield, Ed.S., NCSP Wendy Wilson, Ed.S. 9106 North Meridian Street, Suite 100 Indianapolis, IN 46260 (317) 575-9111 Fax: (317) 571-4470 Email: crg@childrensresourcegroup.org www.childrensresourcegroup.com Christopher and Associates Evaluation and Counseling Center Inc. Jill Christopher, Psy.D., HSPP Bradley Estes, Psy.D. 407 South Garner Street Scottsburg, IN 47170 (812) 752-3800 FAX: (812) 523-8416 Alternate Phone: (812) 523-0386 Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Ernest Smith, M.D. Lucy Dawson, LPN 301 East Carmel Drive Suite H400 Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 569-1650 Fax: (317) 569-1652 Email: DevBehPeds@aol.com The Rehabilitation Center Olivia King, LCSW, ACSW 3701 Bellemeade Avenue Evansville, IN 47714 (812) 479 1411 (Has a team including a clinical psychologist.) Kimberley A. Green, Ph.D., HSPP P.O. Box 213 Bedford, IN 47421 (812) 275-7765 (Answering service - leave a message) Richard Jones, Ph.D., HSPP Indiana Health Group 703 Pro Med Lane Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 843-9922 FAX: (317) 581-3918 Email: rjones@indianahealthgroup.com www.indianahealthgroup.net Peg (Mary M.) Maginn Speech Language Pathologist 7811 Watersedge Cove Ft. Wayne, IN 46804 (260) 483-2100 Extension 229 Limited Assessment Services Only Pegmaginn@comcast.net Meridian Youth Psychiatric Center, P.C. Jerry H. Fletcher, M.D. Danita Lively, M.D. Matthew Galvin, M.D. Fiona Kress, Ph.D., HSPP Ken Lovko, Ph.D., HSPP Megan O’Bryan, Ph.D., HSPP Mimi Brittingham, MSN, RN, CS, APN Rita Langlois, LCSW Julie Martin, LMHC Danny Waddle, LMHC 210 East 91st Street, Suite C Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317) 844-0055 FAX: (317) 571-5040 Mike Monahan, Ph.D., HSPP Graham Plaza, Suite 314 205 North College Avenue Bloomington, IN 47404 (800) 489-4280 or (317) 881-5050 Robin R. Murphy, Ph.D., HSPP Clinical Psychologist 2213 Queensway Bloomington, IN 47401 (812) 333-1990 FAX: (812) 333-8081 Dennis R. Olvera, Ph.D. Developmental Disabilities Systems, Inc. 1278 N. State Street PMB #122 Greenfield, IN 46140 (317) 477-8240 Stacy Quint, Psy.D. Ireland and Luzio Behavioral Services, Inc. 3101 North Green River Road, Suite 910 Evansville, IN 47715 (812) 479-1916 FAX: (812) 479-5014 www.irelandluzio.com Robert Pearce, M.D. 6081 East 82nd Street, Suite 410 Indianapolis, IN 46250 (317) 576-9928 (Children and Adolescents) Susan J. Rautio Dietz, Ph.D. HSPP 532 North Walnut Street, Suite D P.O. Box 5185 Bloomington, IN 47407 5185 (812) 332 7394 (Also sees adults) Riley Hospital for Children Riley Child Development Center John D. Rau, M.D., Director Bill Beechler, M.D. Behavioral Pediatrician Jessica Bissey, Psy,D., HSPP Cheryl Crisp, MSN, RN, CDDN, CRRN Sara Davis, Ph.D. Alicia Dillingham, MA, CCC-SLP Steven M. Koch, Ph.D., HSPP Eli Lopes, MS, PT Susan McIlvried, MA Lorrie Ippensen-Vrieman, DPT, PT Sarah Muir, MS, CCC-SLP Stephanie Nicolini, MOT, OTR Christina Rhoad, MA, CCC-SLP Rebecca Roberts, MS, RD Jessica Stenz, MSW Lynne Sturm, Ph.D. HSPP Paula D. Sullivan, Ph.D., HSPP Lann Thompson, Ed.D. ACSW, LCSW Angela M. Tomlin, Ph.D., HSPP Stephan Viehweg, MSW, ACSW, LCSW Barbara Weidenbener, BA, Intake Specialist 702 Barnhill, Room 5837 Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 274 8167 FAX: (317) 274-9760 Email: autism@child-dev.com www.child-dev.com Riley Hospital for Children Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center David J. Posey, M.D., Chief Naomi B. Swiezy, Ph.D., HSPP Kimberly A. Stigler, M.D Heather Coates, Coordinator Melissa Franklin, Clinic Director Doug Gaebler, MSW, LCSW Arlene Kohn, BA Patricia Korzekwa, MS Melissa Maynard, BA Jennifer McCarthy, BS Jennifer Mullett, RN, BC Stacie Pozdol, MS Jennifer Wilkerson, BSW, CCRP Marianna Zaphiriou, BA Christopher J. McDougle, M.D., Senior Consultant 702 Barnhill Drive, Suite 4300 Indianapolis, IN 46202-5200 (317) 274-8162 http://www.iupui.edu/~psycdept/autism/ Riley Hospital for Children Child Development Paula Sullivan, Ph.D., HSPP 702 Barnhill Drive, Room 5837 Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 274-8167 FAX: (317) 274-9760 Riley Hospital for Children Developmental Pediatrics Darlene Kardatzke, M.D. Heike Minnich, Psy.D., HSPP Maria Stanley, M.D. Greg Wilson, M.D. 702 Barnhill Drive, Room 1601 Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 274-4846 Rick Robertson, M.D. Valle Vista Hospital 898 E. Main Street Greenwood, IN 46143 (317) 887-1348 www.psysolutions.com St. Mary’s Center for Children Pediatric Sub-Specialty Clinic Joseph Hersh, M.D. Neurodevelopmental Medicine and Genetics Lonnie Sears, Ph.D., HSPP Pediatric Psychology 3700 Washington Avenue Evansville, IN 47750 (812) 485-7425 or (877) 589-9558 St. Vincent Hospital Medical Genetics and Neurodevelopment Pediatrics Center Luis F. Escobar, M.D. Deborah A. Spoerner, RN 8402 Harcourt Road, Suite 732 Indianapolis, IN 46260 (317) 338-5288 FAX: (317) 338-7154 Whitewater Valley Care Pavilion Dr. Leonard Ball Tammy Koomer, RN, CNS, BC-APR 450 Erie Street Connersville, IN 47331 (765) 827-7890 (800) 959-4929 FAX: (765) 825-6628 (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Woodview Psychology Group, LLC Jennifer Horn, Ph.D., HSPP Amy Rexroth, Psy.D., HSPP 70 E. 91st Street, Suite 210 Indianapolis, In 46240 (317) 573-0149 Fax: (317) 573-0154 Email: office@woodviewgroup.com www.woodviewgroup.com
	Out of State: Most of These Serve Indiana Also
	Developmental Disorders Clinic Child & Adolescent Psychiatry University of Michigan Medical Center Luke Tsai, M.D., Professor/Director Rachel Upjohn Bldg 4250 Plymouth Road Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (734) 764 7269 (800) 525-5188 Michigan Only FAX: (312) 355-3634 Daniel J. Moran, Ph.D., BCBA MidAmerican Psychological Institute, P.C. 1415 Maple Road Joliet, IL 60432 (815) 735-0732 daniel.moran@comcast.net www.MPInstitute.com The Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Patricia Manning-Courtney, MD, Program Director Donna Murray, PhD, CCC-SLP 3333 Burnet Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 (513) 636-5340 (800) 344-2462 ext. 5340 FAX: (513) 636-0527 www.cincinnatichildrens.org/autism Little Friends Center for Autism, Inc. Dr. Cynthia Brouillard, Psy,D Clinical Director Patti Boheme M.S., LCPC Executive Vice President 140 N. Wright Street Naperville, IL 60540 (630) 305-6039 FAX: (630) 281-1866 www.littlefriendsinc.com Rainbow Autism Center Pediatric Neurology Max Wiznitzer, M.D. Christine Barry, Ph.D. Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital 11100 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106 (216) 844 7700 FAX: (216) 844-8966 University of Louisville Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center Lonnie Sears, Ph.D., HSPP Chief Psychologist 571 South Floyd Street, Suite 100 Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 852-5331 FAX: (502) 852-7679 University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Developmental Disorders Clinic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Bennett Leventhal, M.D. Edwin Cook, M.D. Jennifer Gorski, Ph.D. Carol Macmillan, M.D. Thomas Owley, M.D. Jeff Salt, D.Clin. Psy. Lisa Stanford, Ph.D., ABPP/CN Marrea Winnega, Ph.D. Institute for Juvenille Research The University of Illinois at Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Road Room 155 (M/C 747) Chicago, IL 60608 (312) 413-4624 FAX: (312) 413-4624 http://ldn.psych.uic.edu/ddc.htm University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center Catherine Lord, Ph.D., Director Lee Anne Green Snyder, Ph.D. Amy Esler, Ph.D. Fiona Miller, Ph.D. Susan Risi, Ph.D. 111 East Catherine St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2054 (734) 936-8600 FAX: (734) 936-0068 Email: um.autism@umich.edu www.umaccweb.com Pratt, C. (2007). How and where to obtain a diagnosis/assessment in Indiana. Bloomington, IN: Indiana Resource Center for Autism.