Arkansas’s DHS is offering one-time grants of up to $5,000 to children and adults with autism. Many families are eligible for this grant, with a few exceptions. The rules are as follows:
Not Eligible Individuals: Any adult or child on a Home-and-Community-Based Waiver (HCBW). Any individual who is institutionalized or in a Human Development Center (HDC) respite bed; and children in DCFS custody are ineligible for the program.
Outside of these groups there should be a large number of eligible individuals. Family income will not disqualify applicants.
Diagnosis: Autism or related spectrum diagnosis only. The diagnosis MUST be signed by a speech pathologist, psychologist and doctor. If a person has only been diagnosed by a psychologist and speech pathologist, the forms can be taken to the person’s regular doctor or pediatrician for the third confirming signature.
Disability Determination: TEFRA and HCBW require that the individual be disabled. The autism grant money does not.
Time Limit: None for services. The grant is made directly to the family. The family can spend the money now or later. No application deadline.
Services Allowed: So far families have applied for respite, software, supplements, and out-of-network care. Medical verification, or a letter of need from a therapist or doctor, can strengthen the application.
**DHS will also accept applications from families who want to make initial consultations and arrangements with ABA-type therapy providers. $5,000 is enough to at least set up an initial program of ABA, although not enough to hire staff to run the ABA program.
Amount Available: A fixed amount, $720,000. The total is now split 50/50 between adult and children’s services, although the amount may be rebalanced since more families are drawing down the children’s side of the funds. To date only three checks have been sent out, with four more processing in late August. Families should apply quickly before funds run out.
Financial Records: Parents must provide receipts showing how the family support/respite funds were used. Failure to provide receipts will prevent the child from receiving further regular DDS Special Needs program assistance.
Contact Information: Your local Developmental Disabilities Service Coordinator, who should then forward you to the Children’s Services Caseworker for your county. The toll-free phone number for the state coordinator is 800-482-5850, extension 22277. In Little Rock the number is 501-682-2277.
All the forms you need are in the next article on the page.
Monday, August 24, 2009