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Savannah, Ga Area Autism Resources
Savannah, Ga Area Autism Resources
Additional local Savannah area resources for your family.
Our sole passion here at ABLE Kids is to provide your child or loved one the skills he/she needs to live a full and meaningful life. We have collected additional local Savannah area resources for your family, including local autism testing centers, mentoring & development opportunities, sensory friendly programs and activities, and options for assistance in paying for ABA Therapy services near you.
Autism Testing Centers
We provide comprehensive diagnostic assessments and therapy for children, adolescents, and adults in Chatham County and the surrounding areas.
Joye Psychology & Wellness
306 Commercial Drive
Savannah, GA 31406
office@joyepsyc.com
912-436-3736, Extension 0
888-711-JOYE
Fax: 912-335-5716
Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics (SBP) offers comprehensive psychological assessment, psychoeducational evaluations, and developmental assessment. All assessments are tailored specifically to meet the needs of each individual child, adolescent or young adult.
Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics
310 Eisenhower Drive
Building 5
Savannah, Georgia
sophie@savannahbehavior.com
Phone: (912) 436-6789
Fax: (912) 436-6835
The Georgia Autism Center (GAC) is highly committed and eager to assist individuals and families of children or loved ones with an autism spectrum and other related neurodevelopmental disorders to receive proper diagnoses, aid in the development of their individualized treatment plans, enhance independence, and foster the utmost quality of their lives.
Dr. Fox, the former proud owner of Georgia Pediatric Psychology, routinely performs evaluations on children as young as 12 months through early adulthood to detect signs of neurocognitive or developmental delays. Dr. Fox also assesses adults with disabilities in need of obtaining home and community-based services. Assessments are performed to determine the need for community-based services and financial support that would help increase an individual’s independence and quality of life while also helping to reduce some of the financial burdens which they or their families endure while providing for their needs.
There will be several forms to be completed pertaining to the client’s development including prenatal, medical, educational, social, family, and psychiatric history. You and your child, depending on his or her age, will be asked a number of questions as it pertains to your concerns and your child’s developmental and psychosocial history. Depending on the age, your child will be observed at the initial visit for 1-2 hours in a play or interactive setting and several tests will be administered to assist in obtaining more comprehensive information and developing the most appropriate testing battery. Following this appointment, the client may be scheduled to return for a formal testing battery.
Georgia Autism Center
4046 Wetherburn Way, Ste. 1
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
(770) 696-4384
Marcus’ evaluations help to determine whether or not children meet the criteria for autism, using the highest standard of care in diagnostic assessment. In addition to determining a diagnosis, the evaluation process helps to identify a child’s specific strengths and weaknesses and guides appropriate recommendations for treatment and intervention. At Marcus Autism Center, caregivers benefit from having multidisciplinary care and support services under one roof.
Toddler Evaluations
Children 2 and younger are seen by a multidisciplinary team for a one-day evaluation. This evaluation includes:
- A parent interview by a medical provider
- Developmental assessment
- Assessment of the child’s social interaction and play
- Adaptive assessment
- Feedback session with parents to discuss diagnosis, your child’s strengths and weaknesses and recommendations
This appointment lasts about 3 hours and a full written report summarizing our findings will be provided to you after the evaluation.
Preschool and School-Age Evaluations
Diagnostic evaluations for children ages 3 and older consist of two appointments:
Diagnostic Interview
The diagnostic interview appointment is a one-hour interview with parents. During this parent interview, the clinician will gather detailed information about your child’s development and current symptoms. You may also be asked to complete parent rating scales, and be given forms to be completed by your child’s teacher or other caregivers. It is important that your child be present for this appointment.
Testing Appointment
Many children are scheduled for a testing appointment after the diagnostic interview. This testing appointment usually occurs several weeks after the diagnostic interview and includes an assessment of the following:
- Cognitive abilities or developmental level
- Social interaction
- Communication
- Emotional functioning
- Behavior
- Adaptive skills
This testing appointment lasts for about 5 hours and includes:
- Direct testing with your child throughout most of the morning
- A lunch break for families
- An afternoon feedback session with parents to discuss diagnosis, your child’s strengths and weaknesses and treatment recommendations
A full written report summarizing these findings will be provided to you after the evaluation.
Marcus Autism Center
1920 Briarcliff Road
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 785-9400
Mentoring & Development
Mission
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Who We Serve
The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other undiagnosed disabilities.
Programs
Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical, and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society.
- One-To-One Friendships
- Builds friendships between people with and without IDD, offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion.
- Integrated Employment
- Secures jobs for people with IDD, allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and support themselves.
- Leadership Development
- Educates and empowers people with and without IDD, to be leaders, public speakers, and advocates.
- Inclusive Living
- Providing a vibrant, integrated living opportunity for people with and without IDD.
Sensory Friendly Programs
AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don’t forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.
AMC Classic Savannah 11
1150 Shawnee St
Savannah, GA 31420
Chuck E. Cheese’s is proud to support families who have children with autism and special needs. We now offer a sensory-friendly experience on the first Sunday of every month opening 2 hours early. Our trained and caring staff is there to make sure each guest has a fun-filled visit. The Sensory Sensitive Sundays experience includes:
- Less crowding and noise
- Dimmed lighting
- Show and music turned off or down
- Limited appearances by Chuck E.
- Food and games are offered
Chuck E. Cheese
6700 Abercorn
Savannah, GA 31405
Effingham County Navigator Team (ECNT)
Effingham County Navigator Team is a nonprofit organization for children and adults with any disabilities. ECNT includes support and recreational activities people with disabilities and all family members.
They are a parent led support group for parents and their special needs children and their siblings. They meet every second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at The Learning Treehouse located at 250 Goshen Rd in Rincon, GA.
Their goal is to provide children with disabilities of Effingham County and surrounding areas a better quality of life through community awareness, support, resources, training, and recreation.
Stay connected with ECNT on Facebook here & on Twitter here.
Learn more about Effingham County Navigator Team here.
Ignite the Senses Children’s Gym
Ignite the Senses Gym is a gym for ALL kids…
At Ignite the Senses, we ignite each child’s curiosity to explore new activities and new social relationships. Ignite the Senses gym is a fun, clean and safe place for kids to play, learn and party.
As Bluffton’s only children’s sensory gym, we intend to spread community awareness and acceptance for those living with Autism in and around the Lowcountry. We will provide a safe and fun indoor environment where autistic and typical children can grow physically, emotionally, and socially together whether in the open gym setting or in any of the small group classes offered.
Ignite the Senses also has a new half day preschool program where children do active learning.
The gym’s motto: It’s OK to be DIFFERENT!
Check out the difference Ignite the Senses can make in your family’s life.
Learn more about Ignite the Senses Children’s Gym in Bluffton here.
Ignite the Senses Children’s Gym
163 Bluffton Road, Suite C1
Bluffton, SC 29910
Regal’s My Way Matinee gives everyone the opportunity to experience a movie with the lights turned up and the volume turned down. This becomes a safe space where our guests are free to express themselves by singing, crying, dancing, walking around, talking or shouting while enjoying Hollywood’s latest films! All screenings for our sensory friendly movies will begin at 10:30am on the second and fourth Saturday of the month for a special discounted ticket price!
Regal Cinemas Savannah 10
1132 Shawnee St
Savannah, GA 31419
Support Groups
Autism Support Corner
A nonprofit, 501 (c)(3), organization that provides a line of local resources to families affected by the autism spectrum disorder. The group’s mission is to work together with the community and schools to provide a better knowledge and understanding of autism.
Contact: Jeanette Orr
ascrh@yahoo.com
912-445-0233
*Child care is available upon RSVP
Meets monthly usually at 6:30 PM on the last Monday of each month at the Kicklighter Resource Center, located at 7215 Seawright Drive, Savannah. For meeting date and time, email: lowcountryautism@gmail.com. Facilitators of the group are Ann Shipley, behavior consultant and Linda Fruin, Occupational Therapist and owner of Live Oak Children’s Therapy. The group’s goal is to provide resources and support for those whose lives are affected by autism and work together in the quest toward autonomy for those with autism spectrum disorders.
Paying For Services
This program provides coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) services for individuals under the age of 21. ASD coverage is provided for assessment and treatment services according to severity and is based on medical necessity.
*We also work with Georgia Medicaid CMO’s: Caresource, Amerigroup, and more…
Provides Medicaid benefits to eligible children through the TEFRA/ Katie Beckett Medicaid program under $134 of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) of 1982.
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