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The Autism Treatment Center Rehabilitation Agency (ATCRA) is Medicaid Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (ORF). Utilizing our 30 years of experience in applied behavioral analysis (ABA), the ATCRA provides diagnostics, assessments, screenings, speech and occupational therapy to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related developmental disabilities.
Our mission is to promote the development of functional communication and social skills for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. ATCRA believes in the importance of teaching functional communication to children of all ages.
The professionals employed by the ATCRA believe in exercising best practices and offer research-based treatment and therapy to each patient. Treatment sessions range between 30 minutes to 1 hour and patients can be seen 2-5 times per week. Based on availability, sessions can be scheduled with the specific needs of each patient and family in mind.
Our hours of operation are Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 6:30 pm, with the last therapy session offered at 5:30 pm. We are open on Fridays from 8:00 am – noon for make up sessions, evaluations, and have limited openings for treatment.
The Autism Treatment Center Rehabilitation Agency (ATCRA) provides outpatient therapy services for individuals on the Autism Spectrum including:
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Occupational Therapy (OT)
Speech Therapy (ST)
Diagnostics
Assessments
Quarterly Developmental
Screenings for Autism
Telemedicine
ATCRA and its staff promote best practices and offer research-based treatment and therapy individualized to each patient. ATCRA facilitates the development and functional use of communication and social skills for individuals with autism spectrum disorders by providing assessment, OT, PT, ST, diagnostics and screening services.
All services are designed and implemented by licensed specialists who have experience and training working with individuals with autism and related disorders.
Therapy sessions typically range from 30 minutes to 1 hour, and individuals may receive therapy 2-5 times per week. Intensity of treatment is based on the individual’s needs and therapy schedules are coordinated for the specific needs of each patient and family.
Occupational Therapy (ABA Formatted)
Rehabilitation services for individuals with autism has changed significantly. Regardless of the developmental level of the autistic individual, research now shows intervention is never too late. At the ATCRA, occupational therapy evaluates and establishes a treatment program for learning the necessary skills to function in an interdisciplinary treatment team with a speech language pathologist and a certified applied behavior analyst.
Treatment team members may incorporate some aspects of each other’s care plans in their own interventions. Treatment is established for the features common in autism, including abnormal relationships to objects and events; abnormal responses to sensations in the environment; maladaptive behavior; impairments in socialization, imagination, and communication. Occupational therapists also address deficits in self care, coordination, clumsiness, poor balance and delays in motor skills.
Autism is a neurobiological disorder, and therefore, a neuromotor developmental approach is utilized. Through therapeutic play, in a gym equipped with sensorimotor equipment, movement and play become a teaching avenue to motivate, engage emotions, involve and to excite; thereby, feeding the brain with motor movements and sensory experiences. Motor activities also enhance descriptive and comparative vocabulary. Through collaboration with a team of therapists and professionals at the ATCRA, individuals with autism are coached to organize ideas, talk, solve problems, try new ways, challenge themselves, repeat movements that work, develop self control and follow instructions. The treatment team members review each patient’s program and progress, and continually collaborate in an effort to design a treatment approach that is best for each child.
Speech Therapy (ABA Formatted)
Speech therapy, conducted by certified speech language pathologists, consists of diagnosing and treating all aspects of communication and feeding. Children’s strengths and weaknesses in the following areas are identified in order to develop individualized programs:
Speech – the production of sounds in words
Expressive and Receptive Language – the ability to understand and use language
Pragmatics – the ability to use socially appropriate language
Oral Motor – the ability to use voluntary motor movements to produce speech and to ensure the texture progression with a variety of foods
Early identification, early intervention and home exercise programs with individualized plans are the key elements for an effective treatment. Incorporating therapy objectives into the natural routines facilitates carryover and generalization to multiple environments.
ATCRA’s speech therapy program is evidence based, weighted heavily with components of Applied Verbal Behavior and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), i.e. , using child’s motivation, errorless learning, fading prompts systematically, differential reinforcement. Sign language and/or picture symbols are used when needed to facilitate speech and language development.
Speech sessions are 30-60 minutes depending on the individual’s age, strengths, and needs. Following a comprehensive assessment, either one-on-one session or co-treatment with an Occupational Therapist are offered to ensure the most effective therapy.
Diagnostics (all ages)
The basis of the diagnostic evaluation is a behavior observation protocol evaluating communicative skills, i.e. verbal and nonverbal, social reciprocity, play, self-stimulatory behaviors, and restricted interests within a structured play format.
Assessments (all ages past 18 months)
An interview is conducted with parents/caregivers to delineate the child’s developmental history, to provide information for a functional behavior assessment and to ascertain deficits in the components of verbal behavior. The evaluation can include a brief functional behavior analysis if required for high frequency challenging behaviors.
Quarterly Developmental Screenings for Autism (18 months - 5 years)
The ATCRA cares about your child’s speech and behavior development. By offering complimentary community screenings, we are able to determine if your child is within his or her developmental milestones. Licensed professionals will screen children ages 18 months – 5 years of age to assess development in speech, language, play and behavior.
Every quarter, you and your child have the opportunity to receive:
A complimentary screening of his or her language and behavior skills
An informational package, including local resources in the community
If necessary, a follow-up phone call to discuss your child’s results
If you would like to schedule an appointment for your child, or you simply would like more information about this important opportunity, please call (210) 599-7733.
Telemedicine
The Autism Treatment Center will utilize telemedicine (video-conferencing network system) to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The service has been developed to offer diagnostics to individuals who are in underserved areas and to provide a comprehensive evaluation via technology. The evaluation will utilize the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a state of the art assessment protocol that evaluates areas of communication, reciprocal social interaction, play and stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests.
Live broadcasts of a child’s assessment will provide autism experts the opportunity to observe and evaluate that child in the areas of communication, behavior, education and medically from their respective locations. The assessment and treatment recommendations will be developed through a “grand round” process. Soft neurological signs, such as ticks, Tourette's syndrome (TS), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and even seizures may be identified. A structured interview with caregivers will be implemented and if necessary a functional behavior analysis will be conducted.
ATCRA serves the San Antonio area.
Hours of operation are Monday – Thursday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, with the last therapy session offered at 3:30 pm. We are open on Fridays from 8:00 am – noon for makeup sessions and evaluations.
10615 Perrin-Beitel
Suite 801
San Antonio, TX 78217
ATCRA accepts patients who have Medicaid as their primary insurance. We are providers for:
Traditional Medicaid
Community First
Superior Health Plan
TRICARE
Private Pay
If you are interested in receiving services at the ATCRA please contact:
Lauren Alvarado
ATCRA Administrator
(210) 599-7733
lalvarado@atcoftexas.org
