Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy

Programs: Health law navigation - waaa has worked since 2007 to remove barriers to insurance coverage of effective treatment for asd/dd in washington state. Families looking for assistance become members of waaa (at no cost) and are paired with an insurance navigator. Our navigators train and educate families on how to pursue critical services and benefits for their children. This involves training workshops, individual consultation, and assessment including review and evaluation of eligibility for services, analysis of insurance plans and prescribed treatments, and referrals to attorneys when needed. Our free membership model allows us to help anyone, regardless of their financial status. Waaa provides denied consumers with appeals support by insurance navigators under the supervision of our staff attorney. The insurance navigators will also refer members to waaa's staff attorney for representation in the internal appeals process when needed. With the assistance of waaa's attorney,families have been able to access coverage of medically necessary aba and not services for their children without the time and expense of litigation.

special education - the organization provides resources and training for families to pursue effective individualized special education programs. This includes review of prior assessments and evaluation of individualized education plan, school performance, eligibility for services and evaluation through the public school system. The organization also educates autistic adults about self-advocacy.

social & support groups - our programs work to ensure that those with asd have every opportunity to thrive and be productive. Through workshops, social & recreational activities, and support and respite care, parents, teachers, and other caregivers can learn how best to help those with asd realize their full potential. We offer training workshops that provide practical information about everything from regulations governing insurance and educational benefits, to how to enhance parental relationship with their child. The supporting parents of autism (spa) group is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional. These monthly meetings allow parents to share struggles, challenges and joys. The aspire girls of puget sound provides girls with asd an opportunity to socialize with girls their own ages so they can learn to interact positively and relate through play, exploring common interests and just being girls. The nature of (continued from page 2, part iii, line 4c) asd can make those activities more difficult without support and guidance. This bi-monthly social group provides a safe place for girls who have asd and are eight to 16 to spread their wings. We offer a social group called friendship matters! Friendship is important for all of us, but for kids and young adults with asd, making friends can be challenging. Autism often interferes with their ability to engage socially and sustain relationships with others. That ability can improve through socially significant interaction. Friendship matters! Provides an avenue for making friends through community-based, indoor and outdoor recreational activities supported by professionals with experience in social communication. Through activities such as visiting teen centers, shopping malls, and parks; racing go-karts, seeing movies; and going to restaurants - all under the guidance of dynamic social skills coaches - participants can improve their social skills, develop lasting friendships, and enjoy a crucial sense of normalcy. Gift of time is a support group that provides parents with a needed parenting break. Finding the right person to take care of their child while they take that break can be difficult. Through the support of our social skills coaches and volunteer network, waaa created the gift of time program to provide parents with options for respite care, and at the same time provide the tweens and teens with a wells supported opportunity for meaningful social interaction.