Telehealth

For some autistic people, receiving treatment via telehealth might be the best option.  Telehealth is a way for doctors to provide consultations and therapies to patients using electronic devices (iPads, tablets, smartphones, home computers, etc…).  For families with an autistic child, telehealth can save on transportation costs and can be done from the comfort of home.  As a note, while telehealth can be a way for autistic people to receive treatment, it should always be done under the guidance of a physician.

Telehealth options:

Autism Learning Partners:

  • Services Atlanta, Cumming, Dublin, Lithonia, and Suwanee
  • Providers offer Home-based/Comprehensive or Focused ABA therapy, parent education and training, social skills programs, and Telehealth Services.
  • Services through Telehealth include
    • Parent Coaching & Behavior Management Support
    • Supervision of In-home ABA Sessions
    • Functional Behavioral Assessments
    • Behavior technician sessions
    • Group Therapy

Early Autism Services:

  • Early Autism Services offers telehealth options for ABA therapy using electronic devices for families who live in rural areas.
  • Early Autism Services offers guidance for parents, behavior assessments, therapeutic services, and supervision of therapy services through telehealth.
  • These telehealth ABA services may be a right fit for families if:
    • They are in a remote location
    • Parents schedules have limited availability
    • The child’s behavior changes when being watched
    • If parents/guardians reside in separate locations but both want to participate in the child’s therapy sessions.
  • Early Autism offers a free consultation to get started.

Voices for Georgia’s Children:

  • Voices for Georgia’s Children is an independent organization devoted to statewide systemic change, advocating for Georgia’s 2.5 million children – particularly those affected by difficulties associated with location, race, family income, mental health, disabilities, and life or community circumstances. They advance laws and policies to improve those families’ lives.
    • Voices for Georgia’s Children’s ‘Healthy Minds and Bodies’ initiative is concerned with creating access to quality healthcare and insurance for children.
    • Areas of concern include: increasing insurance coverage for children, improving access to behavioral healthcare for children, increasing healthcare access through school based programs and telemedicine programs.
  • Voices for Georgia’s Children’s is working on a school-based telemedicine project in partnership with Emory University
  • If you would like to know more about school-based telehealth, please see Voices for Georgia’s Children school-based telehealth fact sheet. If you would like to know more about health issues that concern children, please see Voices for Georgia’s Children fact sheet section.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta:  

What if I don’t have internet at home?

Telehealth can be a great option for autistic people in rural areas, but what if you don’t have internet access?  Certain telecommunication companies have enacted programs to help people in low-service areas get internet access.  Please see below for a list options that may help you get online.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

  • Lifeline VerifierLifeline is a federal benefit that allows a lower monthly cost to consumers for phone or internet service.
  • Telecommunication companies such as Charter use Lifeline to verify that households qualify for service

Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Benefit Program

  • In May 2021, Charter announced its participation in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, part of the company’s ongoing commitment to help close the digital divide. Applicable households will be eligible for a credit up to $50 per month (up to $75 for households on Tribal Lands) toward qualifying Spectrum Internet plans for the duration of the program.
  • Charter is offering a variety of broadband options under the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, and all Spectrum Internet plans available have no modem fees, data caps or contracts and include free self-installation.
  • Household qualification criteria: income level and eligibility for the National School Lunch Program (or the Community Eligibility Provision of the NSLP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Emergency Broadband Benefit:

  • This is a program constructed by the FCC to help families receive and afford internet services during the pandemic.
  • A household is eligible if:
    • Their income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
    • If it participates in assistance programs: s SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline
    • They have been approved for benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program
    • Received a Federal Pell Grant. This must be during the current award year.
    • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020
    • The household has had a total income at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers in 2020
    • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Georgia Department of Community Affairs: GA Broadband

  • In 2018 Georgia launched the Georgia Broadband Program. This was created to promote deployment of broadband services throughout the state to unserved areas with a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. This was a specific concern for rural communities that remained without access to high-speed internet.
  • Through the Georgia Broadband Program, the Georgia Broadband Map was completed on June 15, 2021. The map is created by overlaying: (1) all the locations of homes and businesses in the State of Georgia, and (2) broadband provider service availability for those locations within the State.
  • Communities within Georgia can apply for improved broadband internet access By visiting the Broadband Community Application page and filling out an application.

List/Map of areas that offer Public WIFI in Georgia. If driving to a location near you that has free wifi would be more convenient, please see the map of public wifi locations.

What if I don’t have a computer?

  • Internet Essentials offers customers the option of purchasing computing devices at the discounted price of $149.99.

 

Article by: Sabrina Worrell-Fraser, Sage Havrilla, and The Autism ToolKit