Our Autism and Behavior Services consist of an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, including a licensed psychologist, board-certified behavior analysts, and registered behavior technicians, who provide diagnostic and behavior intervention services for people with autism and their families.
We partner with families and other professionals to create personalized treatment plans that support each individual’s unique journey. Our clinical team is trained in a variety of evidence-based approaches and interventions, allowing us to provide flexible, responsive care. Although our services are rooted in behavioral science, we view each person as more than their behaviors, taking into account their strengths, interests, relationships, and environment to promote overall well-being and meaningful progress.
Autism Diagnostic Services
Our Autism Diagnostic Clinic provides diagnostic evaluations for children (ages 18 months through 18 years) who are suspected of being autistic or having autism spectrum disorder. We use evidence-based assessment tools (including the ADOS-2), the expertise of a licensed clinical psychologist, and the invaluable knowledge caregivers have of their children to determine whether children qualify for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, what other diagnoses may describe the difficulties the child is experiencing, and what to do next in terms of treatment and available resources.
The Autism Diagnostic Clinic is in-network with most commercial health plans including TRICARE, and most forms of Medicaid. Due to high demand for services, our clinic currently maintains a substantial waitlist. If you would like to have your child added to our waitlist, have your primary care provider or pediatrician fax a referral to (317)466-2000.
ABA Therapy
We provide Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which is an evidence-based approach to behavioral therapy that focuses on building meaningful skills and improving quality of life through individualized support. ABA uses strategies that research shows can make a positive impact for people with autism, personalized to each individual child’s unique strengths and needs. Treatment goals include helping individuals develop communication, social, daily living, academic, and adaptive skills while reducing barriers to learning and independence. Our program is designed around a part-time service model, with most individuals receiving fewer than 20 hours of ABA services per week. We believe meaningful progress can be achieved through individualized, goal-driven intervention that fits within the natural routines of everyday life.
Our Program:
- Serves children ages 2-8 with an autism diagnosis
- Develops goals that support independence and reflect family priorities
- Provides social skills instruction and classroom-style learning experiences to build school readiness
- Promotes the development of communication, social, play, flexibility, adaptive, and functional life skills
- Implements behavior reduction strategies that support learning, safety, and daily participation
- Collaborates with families, schools, speech therapists, and other providers to promote consistent progress across settings.
- Supports a gradual transition to school-based services through coordinated planning and gradual reduction of ABA support as appropriate.
- Utilizes a multidisciplinary approach by collaborating with OT and ST for individual and group therapy.
For more information about our ABA program, or if you are interested in enrolling your child in ABA at Easterseals Crossroads, please contact our ABA Coordinator at 317.466.1000, ext. 2507.
Individual Therapy
Our psychologist also provides psychotherapy services, including “talk therapy” for autistic and neurodivergent people experiencing mental health difficulties. The treating psychologist generally uses a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach, which may include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and other behavioral and evidence-based approaches to treatment. Our psychologist has limited availability for this service, but if you are interested, please call the Autism and Behavior Services Admissions Specialist at 317.466.2010.
Family Therapy and Parent Training for Behavior Management
Our psychologist and team of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts also provide group-based and single-family therapy services on a limited basis to help caregivers of children with autism learn and utilize strategies to best support their child’s development and address difficult behaviors. If you are interested in this service, please call the Autism and Behavior Services Admissions Specialist at 317.466.2010.
