Autism Spectrum Disorder

Each year, Fraser works with thousands of families affected by autism spectrum disorders. Fraser provides evaluation, direct services, information, and support for children, adults, and their families. Our programs are nationally recognized for their high quality and innovation, and our staff is skilled and caring. Perhaps the best way to understand how Fraser can help your family is to read our stories of success.

Definition

Neurological disorders that affect the way a child's brain develops, hindering the ability to communicate and interact with others.

Related Disorders

  • Asperger’s Disorder
  • Autism
  • Childhood disintegrative disorder
  • Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)
  • Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specific (PDD-NOS)
  • Rett’s syndrome

Evaluations

Autism Evaluation— comprehensive interview, standardized testing and clinical observation to confirm a diagnosis of autism.

Neuropsychology evaluation — diagnostic evaluations for children and young adults who have neurological challenges or neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, brain injury, attention deficit disorder or learning disabilities.

Direct Services

Autism Preschool Day Treatment Program— award-winning autism program that helps children develop skills to regulate their emotions and better control their behavior.

Autism Therapy Services— individual, group and family therapy sessions with licensed psychologists and mental health practitioners.

Autism Skills Training— services designed to improve specific skills important to a child’s daily-living activities and participation in the community.

Asperger’s Disorder Day Treatment Program— group therapy and skills training for children and adolescents with Asperger’s syndrome.

Physical therapy— play and functional activities that improve children’s mobility, motor development, posture, strength, range of motion, balance, and coordination.

Occupational therapy— evaluations and treatment that improve children’s fine and gross motor skills, self-care, and sensory integration.

Feeding programs— evaluation and treatment to help children manage or overcome common feeding difficulties.

Speech-language therapy— play and structured activities that improve children’s language and communication skills, articulation, social communication, eating and swallowing.

Social Language Groups— small group settings designed to improve communication and social interaction skills for children with autism spectrum disorders or who demonstrate difficulty with social interactions.

Music therapy— play and structured activities using music that help children improve academic, social, emotional, communication and physical skills.

Specialized Services

Autism Consultation— consultation with schools, agencies and direct care staff to help develop intervention programs and strategies.

Psychoeducational Consultation/Visual Strategies— assists families of children with autism spectrum disorders in designing visual supports and environments.

TEACCH Consultation— a structured teaching model developed at the University of North Carolina.

Child Care Consultation and Support Services— practical strategies for child care and school-age care providers to enable them to include and retain children with special needs and/or challenging behaviors in community child care programs.

Autism Behavioral Aide Services— one-on-one therapy to help children replace inappropriate behaviors with developmentally appropriate ones.

Fast ForWord™— computer-based learning programs designed to improve language, reading, and overall communication skills.

Family Support

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Program— personal care and nursing support services for children and adults with disabilities in the home and the community.

Waivered Services— in-home support services for children and adults with disabilities which help them to remain in their home.

Home-Based Respite Services— short-term relief for the primary caregiver of young children with special needs (must reside in Hennepin County).

Center-Based Respite Care Program— comprehensive respite services for parents of children with special needs.

Flexible Case Management— services designed to help families access services and support, including an individualized assessment of family needs and assistance in communicating with other agencies.

Autism Case Management Services— services which help families obtain and coordinate educational, health, mental health, recreational, social, vocational, and other related services.

Housing

Fraser Residences— residential housing for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Education

Infant, toddler, and preschool programs at Fraser School— inclusive child care and educational curriculum for children of all abilities.

Ready 4K Program at Fraser School— structured learning to prepare children for kindergarten.

Resources

Autism Resource Directory, 6th edition (PDF, 234 KB)
This valuable directory is a must-have for any family with a child who has autism spectrum disorder. Updated each year by the experts at Fraser Child & Family Center, this directory focuses on services available in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.