Programs & Services
| Raleigh TEACCH |
|---|
| Additional Info |
Raleigh TEACCH Center
Services Available
- Preschool-Elementary Age Children and their Families
- Adolescents and their Families
- Adults and their Families
- What is TEACCH?
What is TEACCH?
TEACCH is a state-wide, state-funded program in North Carolina which serves people with autism and their families. TEACCH stands for: Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped CHildren. (Now you know why we use the acronym "TEACCH"). We serve children and adults of all ages who are suspected of having autism. For residents of North Carolina, there are no fees for our services.
The Raleigh TEACCH Center is one of nine TEACCH clinics in the state. Our center presently serves the Johnston county and most of Wake county. The Chapel Hill TEACCH Center serves Apex, Cary and Morrisville. We provide a wide range of services, depending upon the individual needs of each family.
These include: diagnosis and assessment; individualized treatment services; consultation to public school classroom programs and residential programs; training for teachers and other professionals; and support groups for parents and individuals with autism
What is Autism?
What Are the Characteristics of Autism?
Where Can I Find Out More About Autism?
Is There a Cure For Autism?
What Does the TEACCH Treatment Program Involve?
What Are the Goals of the TEACCH Treatment Program?
Where Can I Get Help While I'm Waiting For TEACCH Services?
TEACCH And The Public School System
Adolescent and Adult Services
Does TEACCH Have A Residential Program?
What is Autism? [back to top]
The Autism Society of America defines autism as "a severely incapacitating lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of neurological disorder that affects functioning of the brain. Autism and its behavioral symptoms appear in approximately fifteen out of every 10,000 births. Autism is four times more common in boys than girls. It has been found throughout the world in families of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds. No known factors in the psychological environment of a child have been shown to cause autism".
What Are the Characteristics of Autism? [back to top]
There is no "medical" test, such as a blood test or X-ray, which can show who has autism and who does not. Autism is diagnosed when professionals familiar with the disorder spend time with a person to look at the way the person communicates with others, understands and responds to social interactions, and reacts to other things in the environment. People with autism often have:
1. Delayed or unusual language patterns.
2. Difficulty interacting socially with their peers.
3. Unusual and/or restricted interests and sensory responses.
Where Can I Find Out More About Autism? [back to top]
In North Carolina, the Autism Society of North Carolina (ASNC) has an excellent and extensive bookstore, as well as staff who are available to answer questions you may have. They can be reached by telephone at (800) 442-2762 or (919) 743-0204 or by mail at:
Autism Society of North Carolina
505 Oberlin Road, Suite 230
Raleigh, NC 27605-1327
E-mail: DLaxton@AutismSociety-NC.org Web Pages: http://www.autismsociety-nc.org
The Autism Society of America will also provide you with information about programs and services throughout the United States. They can be reached by telephone at (800) 328-8476. Their mailing address is:
Autism Society of America, Inc.
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 650
Bethesda, MD 20814
Web Pages: http://www.autism-society.org
You can find out more about the TEACCH philosophy and general information about autism by starting on the TEACCH home page. The Raleigh TEACCH Center can be reached at (919) 662-4625, FAX (919) 662-4634 or you can send email to RaleighTEACCH@med.unc.edu. To make a referral or find yet more information contact:
Raleigh TEACCH Center
1418 Aversboro Road
Garner, NC 27529-4527
TEACCH Home Page: http://www.teacch.com
Raleigh Home Page: http://www.teacch.com/regionalcenters/raleigh
Is There a Cure For Autism? [back to top]
Presently, there is no documented cure for autism. Autism can be treated, however, and some people with the disorder are eventually able to live reasonably normal lives. In isolated cases, medically based testaments such as special diets or medication have been effective in reducing the symptoms of autism. For the majority of people with autism, the most effective treatment is an individualized educational program designed to address the communication and social deficits associated with the disorder.
Many researchers are now working to find the causes, and possible cures, for autism.
What Does the TEACCH Treatment Program Involve? [back to top]
With younger children, parents observe treatment sessions and carry on this work at home with their child. They demonstrate their "homework" regularly in order to assist the staff in developing ongoing individual treatment and education programs as the client progresses.
These treatment sessions are held at the Raleigh TEACCH Center in Garner. Usually families bring their child to the clinic for a series of one hour sessions every other week for a period of about four months. At the end of the series of treatment sessions, a conference may be held with the parents to discuss progress and to develop recommendations for future intervention.
What Are the Goals of the TEACCH Treatment Program? [back to top]
The purpose of treatment is to maximize adaptation for each client through the two related efforts of improving skills for living and structuring the environment to accommodate specific deficits. These TEACCH treatment objectives include:
- Developing special ways in which the client can enjoy and understand other people and live more harmoniously at home.
- Increasing the client's motivation and ability to explore and learn.
- Improving uneven development of intellectual functions. Therapists and teachers assess the client's learning abilities and design teaching methods and strategies in appropriate developmental sequences to improve the client's communication, social, and coping skills. All programming is designed to meet the unique needs of each client and family.
- Reducing the stress of living with a person with autism for other members of the family.
- Helping with problems in the client's school or vocational adjustment.
Where Can I Get Help While I'm Waiting For TEACCH Services? [back to top]
TEACCH has a rather long waiting list. While you are waiting for your child to be seen at TEACCH, there are other ways you can get help and information. The TEACCH therapist who contacts you after you have been referred to TEACCH will be available by phone to discuss other services with you.
You may be able to join a parent support group, borrow books or video tapes from the TEACCH parent lending library, make contact with another parent of a child with autism, join a local autism society in your area, attend workshops and parent courses, and receive intervention services from other agencies in your county. In most cases, your child does not have to have a TEACCH evaluation before being eligible for services from your public school system (if the child is between the ages of 3 and 21).
TEACCH And The Public School System [back to top]
The Raleigh TEACCH Center works closely and cooperatively with most public school systems in our region. However, it is the school system's responsibility to hire staff and make student placement decisions. They may ask for TEACCH's opinion or assistance with these matters.
Our primary role with each school system is a consultative one. There are more than 50 self-contained classrooms for students with autism within our region. A TEACCH therapist visits each classroom on a regular basis throughout the school year. The frequency of these visits varies and is determined by both the teacher and the TEACCH consultant.
TEACCH also provides a wide array of training opportunities for teachers and classroom assistants. These include the intensive, week-long training provided every summer; various 1 or 2 day workshops for teachers within our region; and the annual state-wide Winter InService which is held every February.
Adolescent and Adult Services [back to top]
The Raleigh TEACCH Center provides diagnostic evaluations and classroom and residential consultation for adolescents and adults just as we do for younger children. In addition, there are opportunities for adult and adolescent clients to participate in Social Skills Groups, or individual counseling sessions. TEACCH also operates a Supported Employment Program. Within this program, vocational service models include job coach, enclave and mobile crew options.
Some of these services are administered by the staff at our Administration and Research (A & R) office, rather than at the clinic. However, the Raleigh TEACCH Center works closely with the A&R staff and can serve as the referral source for any services provided by A&R. Access to some of these services may depend on where a client lives and the ability of a client to qualify for state and federal funds which help pay for these programs.
Does TEACCH Have A Residential Program? [back to top]
The Carolina Living and Learning Center (CLLC) is the only integrated vocational and residential program operated by TEACCH. This program, designed specifically for adults with autism, is located on several acres of land in Pittsboro (Northern Chatham County), approximately 10 miles south of Chapel Hill. For more information about this program, you can call (919) 542-1910.
TEACCH Staff
Raleigh TEACCH Center
RaleighTEACCH@med.unc.edu
