November 6, 2006

New Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Autism Clinic

Parents of young children with autism need cutting-edge information and high-quality support. Vanderbilt Kennedy TRIAD (Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders) has established a new program for parents of young children who have, or are suspected of having, an autism spectrum disorder.

Parents of young children with autism need cutting-edge information and high-quality support. Vanderbilt Kennedy TRIAD (Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders) has established a new program for parents of young children who have, or are suspected of having, an autism spectrum disorder.
Through the Parent Support and Education Program (PSEP), autism specialists provide information, support and consultation for parents of children under 4 and siblings in areas such as: identifying the characteristics of autism in young children, implementing behavior management strategies, choosing and evaluating intervention approaches, and developing children‘s social and communication skills during everyday home routines.
The PSEP Clinic was designed because of the long wait all over the country to get a diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders.
PSEP provides three clinic visits. Consultations are individualized to each family. During the first visit, an assessment is conducted to understand the child, identify parents‘ needs and concerns, and determine the specific focus of subsequent visits.

PSEP is staffed by a TRIAD psychologist, social worker and autism consultants.
The clinic is located at Monroe Carell Jr. Children‘s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Doctor‘s Office Tower (9th Floor), 2200 Children‘s Way, Nashville.
Currently, the PSEP program cannot bill insurance companies. Scholarships are available based on income.
For information contact (615) 936-1705 or e-mail sherry.conatser@vanderbilt.edu.
-VU-