Evidence-Based, Life-Changing Treatment for Autism
Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism offers gold-standard diagnostic, treatment and education services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
Developed in consultation with the Cleveland Clinic Autism Consulting Group, Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism is one of only a few treatment centers of its caliber. The center consistently demonstrates excellent outcomes regarding progress in communication, learning and social development and meaningful behavior. The highly trained staff uses Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidenced-based practice proven to be effective in the treatment of autism.
Evaluation Process
The Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism Diagnostic Team provides evaluations and helps families with concerns about autism. The team, trained in collaboration with the University of Kansas Child Center for Health and Development, provides families with an evaluation for autism spectrum disorders, as well as guidance on available resources and community support.
Our autism diagnostic team
- Pediatrician – board-certified with advanced training in the diagnosis of developmental disorders
- Psychologist – licensed clinical professional with experience in diagnostic evaluations
- Behavioral analyst – board-certified with specialized training in autism spectrum disorders
- Parent educator – pediatric nurse experienced in advocating for children with special needs
- Speech language pathologists – board-certified with expertise in communication disorders
How it works
- The Autism Diagnostic Team evaluates the child using standardized tests, behavioral observation and information from parents, teachers and others who know the child personally.
- The team reviews the results of the evaluation to determine whether the child meets the criteria for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.
- The family and team meet together to review the findings and discuss the diagnosis. The team provides the family with recommendations to address the child's specific areas of need, regardless of whether the child receives an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.
- Our parent educator provides the family with resources, recommendations and support.
- The evaluation, a team summary and a family meeting are held during a single session and generally require 3 - 4 hours. The team provides a brief written summary on the day of the evaluation.
- In approximately 2 weeks, the family and referring physician receive a complete report.
Want to schedule an evaluation or make a referral?
Please call 417.347.7850 or fax 417.347.7859.
Autism Services at Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism
Why Our Program Works
- Highly-educated and skilled staff including behavior analysts; special education teachers; occupational, physical, and speech and language therapists; and implementers, or aides, with autism training and experience
- Ongoing training provided to staff to keep current with new research available in the field
- Specific, developmentally appropriate individualized goals for each client
- Daily data collection and analysis to support goals
- Curriculum with activities to build self-help, daily living and prevocational skills
- Targeted learning opportunities to develop social skills in everyday community settings, such as grocery stores and playgrounds
- Year-round treatment, preventing regression associated with extended time without treatment
- Parent participation encouraged in orientation sessions and regular conferences to maintain involvement and help continue teaching techniques in the home
- Expertise in managing challenging behaviors
