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Can't to Can - Kiddo Accomplishments
- 9 Firefly teachers and BCBAs will be presenting 4 research posters at the ABAI convention in Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend. The posters represent single-case designs of the remarkable progress of 4 Firefly students. The research topics are:
- Reducing mouthing behavior
- Increasing time on-task while increasing time on task
- Reducing loud vocal stereotypy
- The effects of cost response on maladaptive behavior
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- Firefly was the recipient of a $10,000 donation from HDR Engineering on May 8th!
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Firefly Autism has a proud association with Autism Society of Colorado (ASC) whose mission is to improve the lives of all affected by autism. ASC is embarking on its inaugural WALK with Autism - Share the Journey on Sunday, June 9, 2013. This event is about bringing the autism community together to celebrate the diversity found within the spectrum. At the Walk, you will be surrounded by individuals, families, and community members with a personal connection to autism.
One of our teachers submitted Firefly to be the recipient of an upcoming "Big 10" social group fundraising event. - Jumpstreet and Pirates Cove have partnered with Firefly Autism to provide summer programs for our kiddos.
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Funding Autism - Q&A with Emily Roche, Clinical Liaison
Diving Deeper Into Funding Autism Treatment
In the March newsletter, we introduced HIMAT (Health Insurance Mandated Autism Treatment) and explained how to verify if your insurance plan falls under this statute. When HIMAT was passed in 2010, it was a huge success for families and providers. Unfortunately there are still a very large number of people who do not receive coverage under HIMAT. So what's next?
1.Why don't all insurance plans fall under HIMAT?
Two major loopholes exist in the HIMAT statute. The first are self-funded plans, which do not have to cover behavioral therapy for autism. An employer can choose to pay the additional premium to include benefits for autism treatment in their plans, but most do not. The second loophole is individual plans. A plan that you choose to go out and purchase on your own does not have to include behavioral therapy benefits (which means most choose not to include it!)
2.What can I do to help find funding for behavioral treatment?
There are two options that you should explore right away for assistance with behavioral therapy in Colorado. Find out if you qualify for a Medicaid Waiver or if you qualify for a Cover Coloardo health insurance plan.
3.What are the Medicaid Waivers?
The state funds a number of waiver programs through each local county human/social services department. Your county will have its own Community Center Board that you can contact to ask what each program provides and how to apply. The two waivers that will provide funding for behavioral therapy for autism are the CWA (Children With Autism) Waiver and the CES (Children's Extensive Support) Waiver. Each waiver provides an annual allotment of funding that can be used for a wide range of supporting services for your child, including behavioral therapy.
4.What is Cover Colorado?
Cover Colorado provides health insurance for people with pre-existing conditions. Thus, if you are being denied claims from you current provider or do not have insurance, you may very well qualify for a Cover Colorado plan. This is not necessarily an inexpensive option, but the plans do follow the HIMAT statue, thus giving you access to either $34,000 (ages 0-8) or $12,000 (ages 9-18) annually. All the info you need to find about them is on their website! |
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Volunteers Needed!
We are in need of volunteers for our upcoming June 2013 events:
Village at Castle Pines Fine Art Show: Friday, June 14th from 4-8:40 p.m.; Saturday June 15th for 2-hour shifts; Sunday, June 16th for 2-hour shifts. This is building momentum, so please consider coming out and representing Firefly Autism.
St. Paul 2013 Golf Classic: we need 8 to 10 volunteers from 1-6 p.m. on June 20th. We get to take care of hole 13 with all the beverages and food we want. Our job is easy - to hand out bottles of water and thank the golfers who have come out to support Firefly Autism.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Charlene Byron or Jesse Ogas at 303-759-1192.
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Sibling Tree
Firefly is happy to announce it's sponsorship of a new summer program called Sibling Tree. Sandra Tucker founded
Sibling Tree stemming from a similar concept called SibShops. The purpose of the program is to support the siblings of children with special needs.
Sibling Tree program will be this summer beginning May 25th through August 3rd, every other Saturday from 9:00-10:45 a.m. at Firefly Autism. The program is free to attend. Snacks and/or material donations are welcome but not necessary.
For more information please contact Sandra Tucker at 720-840-3001 or via e-mail siblingtree@gmail.com. |
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Western Slope Update
One of our students, when properly motivated, removed his shirt from the floor and put it on - backwards or not, he did it completely on his own!
Talk about closing the gap - one of our students made a year's worth of milestones for verbal requests in just 4 months of treatment!
There is something magical about spontaneous conversation between peers. During frequent therapy playdates, one of our students interacts with a typical peer through prompting from his therapist. Recently, when our student spoke to his friend without prompting, shocked the friend turned to her mom and said, "Oh my goodness, he just TALKED to me! Hurry, what do I do?".
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Wellspring Community
 Wellspring Community, a nonprofit organization based in Douglas County, provides innovative and entrepreneurial programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Its mission is to create a faith-based work and residential community where adults with special needs can live full, productive, and satisfying lives in a nurturing environment.
Currently, three programs are offered:
- The Work & Enrichment Program - participants enjoy a variety of educational and enrichment classes, such as social skills, dance, pottery, self-defense, sign language and much more.
- The Wellspring Wonders Choir - under the direction of a professional vocal coach, choir members learn voice, rhythm and breathing exercises, and enjoy the thrill of performing before audiences.
- Club 21 - a social and recreation program.
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Looking for an easy way to help out our kiddos? Consider purchasing one of the items below for our programs. It's easy and greatly appreciated by both our team and kiddos!
Needs: gently used iPods and iPhones; gift cards for staff appreciation; yoga mats; bean bags. |
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Executive Director Update
10 YEARS YOUNG!!!!
On June 16, Firefly Autism will celebrate it's 10 year anniversary of serving children with Autism. Since that time, Firefly has grown from serving just over 10 children to 160 children annually. We are a key partner in the Autism community and consult with other agencies, schools and non-profits on a regular basis. We have invested heavily in technology, processes and people to improve the quality of our service. We have evolved a lot; however, we have remained true to our core mission . . . and that is to support and improve the lives of our children and families living with Autism. Please join me in celebrating 10 years of Firefly . . . it is just the beginning! |
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Thank you to Rita Coltrane and Signature Interiors, for sponsoring Firefly Autism to receive email marketing from Constant Contact, through their Cares4Kids program.
Rita recognizes the relevance of this program to Firefly
Autism and initiated sponsorship to enable the ongoing
delivery of Sparks to our friends and families.
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Thanks to our sponsors including:
Miyo
Biscuits & Berries
Rosacci
Pilates in the Pines
Village Expressions
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Transition planning for students wth autism begins during
the IEP yea in which the student turns 15 years old.
Individualized programming begins to target independent
living skills, education/training, and career/employment
goals. Parents of transition aged children may feel
overwhelmed by this change and the thought of
future planning. Below are two helpful resources for the
transition process:
- Colorado Department of Education:
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