Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy

WAA EXPANDS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM AND OTHER OTHER INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE.

HEALTH LAW NAVIGATION - WAA 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 WAA (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. WAA PROVIDES DENIED CONSUMERS WITH APPEALS SUPPORT BY INSURANCE NAVIGATORS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR STAFF ATTORNEY. THE INSURANCE NAVIGATORS WILL ALSO REFER MEMBERS TO WAA'S STAFF ATTORNEY FOR REPRESENTATION IN THE INTERNAL APPEALS PROCESS WHEN NEEDED. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF WAA'S ATTORNEY, FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS COVERAGE OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY ABA AND NDT SERVICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITHOUT THE TIME AND EXPENSE OF LITIGATION.

SPECIAL EDUCATION - CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (ASD/DD) NEED SPECIAL EDUCATION (SPED) SERVICES FROM THEIR SCHOOLS. GETTING THOSE SERVICES IS COMPLICATED, FRUSTRATING AND TIME-CONSUMING, ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES OF LIMITED MEANS. WAA HELPS THOSE PARENTS ENGAGE IN THE SPED PROCESS MORE EFFECTIVELY AND OBTAIN THOSE SERVICES FROM THEIR SCHOOLS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE WAY. THE EDUCATION PROGRAM HAS TWO COMPONENTS: DIRECT FAMILY/STUDENT SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY AND POLICY. DIRECT FAMILY/STUDENT SUPPORT INCLUDES: PARENT AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS, PEER TO PEER MENTORSHIP AND FULL SERVICES EDUCATION NAVIGATION INCLUDING CIVIL LEGAL AID. WE WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, THERAPISTS AND OTHERS TO HELP DEVELOP EFFECTIVE IEPS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH ASD/DD.

TRAINING WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL AND SUPPORT NETWORKS - PROVIDING SUPPORT ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE, OUR PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WORK TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH ASD AND RELATED INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND BE PRODUCTIVE. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND OTHER CAREGIVERS CAN LEARN TO HELP THOSE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM 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) ONLINE SUPPORT NETWORK ALLOWS PARENTS TO SHARE STRUGGLES, CHALLENGES AND JOYS. FRIENDSHIP MATTERS ALLOWS TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS ON THE SPECTRUM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE WITH PEERS THEIR OWN AGE AND INTERACT POSITIVELY THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED CONTEXTUAL SOCIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.