Health Services

As you become an adult, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will become your responsibility. Understanding health care is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Autism and Sleep: A guide to Empowering Children with ASD for Better Sleep – Coping, Optimal Settings, Sleep Toolkit, Routine, Bedtime Pass and more.

Florida Hats Florida Health and Transition Services Transition services from pediatric to adult-oriented systems of health care.

“Greet all people with a smile.”

Ethics of the Fathers 3:16

Tips

Start early! Learn about your health care needs at an early age.
Create a medical summary. Put all of the important information about your health care in one place, including plans for an emergency. Give any new health care providers a copy of the summary so they will know all of the important details about your medical history.
Create a health care transition plan. This plan should include future goals, what services you will need and how these could be paid for. This plan should first be written when you are 14, but should be updated yearly.
Focus on health care responsibility. Ask your parents and health care providers for insight on understanding and taking responsibility for your healthcare.
Consider additional supports. With the help of your family, explore what types of supports you might need such as medical guardianship, home health aides and personal care attendants.
Maintain wellness. Live a healthy lifestyle by implementing good nutrition and plenty of exercise. Avoid risky behaviors like smoking, alcohol use and unprotected sex.
Know your health insurance options. Look into maintaining health insurance coverage. The options can depend on your age, health conditions, income and ability to work. Also, if your family has a specific health care provider, ensure you are covered.
Find new providers. Pick a primary care doctor that meets your needs and works with adults. You can interview possible doctors with a parent.
Include health in other areas of transition. Find out how your specific health care needs may impact your future and other areas of life such as independent living, work and relationships. Consider whether accommodations will be needed in the home, workplace, et cetera. Ask your primary care physician to provide documentation of your medical conditions and special health care needs for other programs or agencies as needed.
Celebrate moving on. Remember that transition is a part of growing up, and you deserve the right to take on adult roles wherever possible. Taking responsibility for your health care is one of them, even if it requires help from a parent or service provider.

Source: The Maryland Office for Genetics and Children with Special Health Care Needs

Local Resources

Boca OT/Occupational Therapy: Marie Birchansky,OTR/L provides evaluation and treatment of children. She specializes in sensory processing, fine motor coordination, reflex integration, motor planning, visual motor integration challenges and integrated listening systems with treatment. Her practice is devoted to helping children to reach their maximum potential. Home visits, telehealth and free phone consultations available.

Dedicated Pediatric Therapy offers home-based occupational & speech therapy services for children ages 0-21years in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. Therapy sessions are available to take place during school hours, at aftercare, in the home, or via teletherapy- whichever is more convenient for the child and their family

Dr. Judith Aronson-Ramos is a Board Certified Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrician. Her medical practice is devoted exclusively to the evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients (birth – 18 years) with challenges in learning, behavior, development and social-emotional functioning. She is located in Coconut Creek, Florida. Click here to visit her website

Alpert Jewish Family Services offers psychological testing, counseling and psychiatric services in North Palm Beach County.

Behavioral Intervention for Autism offers ABA, speech and occupational therapy in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

Beyond Book Smart offers executive function and ADHD coaching for students K through college.

Exceptional Wellness provides individual, group and couples counseling as well as support services for individuals and their families. In addition, we are experts in therapy and services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Joe DiMaggio Children’s HospitalDivision of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics located in Hollywood, Florida provides comprehensive services for children experiencing developmental or behavior problems.

Kiso Swim School – It is KISO Swim School’s mission to provide water safety and swimming education while promoting a healthy lifestyle, via positive constructive coaching, as well as instilling strong core values imperative to growth and development in the sport of swimming and in life. They offer a wide range of swim programs for all ages and abilities.

National Seating Mobility North America’s most experienced provider of complex rehabilitation seating, mobility, and positioning systems.

Neurofeedback & Brain Performance Center uses the latest in applied neuroscience and technology to offer custom, alternative solutions for children and adults of all ages.

PediPec – PPEC is a non-residential facility available for up to 12 hours a day for children who require skilled nursing intervention. It offers all therapies, door to door transportation

Dr. Roberto F Tuchman, Chief, Department of Neurology, Director of Autism Program and Neurodevelopment Program at Nicklaus Children’s Dan Marino Outpatient Center in Weston, FL.

Royal Palm Hearing Centers

Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services provides psychological testing, counseling and psychiatric services in South Palm Beach County.

Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services Therapy & Family Resource Center – One Stop Shop for Special Needs Families, offering speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and ABA therapy, along with parents, grandparents support groups and Sibshops and parenting classes.

0.5M

Americans Live With an Autism Spectrum Disorder

of Children Have Been Diagnosed with a Developmental Disability