Find Support and Resources for your Family.

Families often come to The Autism Resource Center with questions about development, learning, or behavior and uncertainty about where to begin. Many are referred by schools, physicians, or other professionals, while others reach out after noticing concerns at home.

ARC’s role is to help families clarify concerns, understand options, and identify next steps. We take time to listen, answer questions, and develop a thoughtful plan based on the individual needs of the child or family member. Our approach is collaborative, structured, and focused on helping families move forward with clarity and confidence.

Our Process

Assess

During the assessment phase, ARC gathers information in a way that is aligned with each family’s questions, goals, and needs. The type of assessment is determined collaboratively and may include one of the following approaches.

Option 1: Diagnostic Evaluation

For families seeking diagnostic clarification, ARC provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations conducted virtually or in person when appropriate. Evaluations are often initiated following referral from a medical provider, school, or other professional.

Diagnostic evaluations integrate information from multiple sources, which may include caregiver interviews, standardized rating scales, record review, behavioral observation, and direct assessment when indicated. Findings are summarized in a comprehensive report designed to support families and collaborating providers.

Diagnostic reports may be used by medical providers in conjunction with their own clinical judgment and additional information to inform diagnostic decision-making and next steps.

Option 2: Family Support & Consultation Assessment

For families seeking guidance, clarification, or support without pursuing a full diagnostic evaluation, ARC offers Family Support and Consultation Assessments. This assessment focuses on understanding family priorities, daily challenges, strengths, and support needs across home, school, and community settings.

Information gathered during this process is used to provide practical recommendations, caregiver guidance, and individualized next steps. This may include suggestions related to learning supports, behavior, communication, routines, and available resources.

Family Support and Consultation Assessments are designed to inform decision-making and support families without committing to ongoing therapy or formal diagnosis.

Plan

Following assessment, ARC collaborates with individuals and families to develop an individualized plan for next steps based on identified strengths, needs, and priorities. Planning is collaborative and may include communication with parents, caregivers, medical providers, schools, and other professionals as appropriate.

Planning may include:

  • Recommendations for additional evaluations or services, when indicated

  • Guidance for understanding and navigating educational systems and supports

  • Consideration of short- and long-term planning needs

  • Identification of relevant community, clinical, or educational resources

  • Clarification of whether additional assessment or therapy services may be helpful

ARC works with families to identify meaningful next steps after assessment. Planning focuses on helping families understand options, navigate systems, and determine what supports may be most helpful now and in the future.

Support

Navigating diagnostic, educational, and service systems can feel complex and overwhelming. ARC provides thoughtful, ongoing support to help families understand recommendations, explore options, and move forward with confidence.

During the support phase, ARC listens carefully to family concerns and provides individualized guidance, referrals, and resources aligned with each family’s priorities and needs. Families are supported in understanding options, making informed decisions, and navigating next steps without feeling they must manage the process alone.

ARC’s role is to help families remain in the role of parent and advocate, while providing clarity, structure, and guidance throughout the process.

What Families Gain

  • Clear understanding of assessment findings and recommendations

  • Guidance for navigating educational, clinical, and community systems

  • Support identifying appropriate services and resources

  • Increased confidence in decision-making and advocacy

  • Coordinated next steps aligned with family priorities

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  • When questions about neurodivergence arise, a diagnostic evaluation can help clarify concerns and guide next steps. ARC provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations focused primarily on characteristics of autism spectrum disorder, while also considering broader developmental, behavioral, and learning profiles as clinically appropriate.

    Evaluations integrate information from multiple sources and are designed to support clear understanding and informed decision-making. ARC collaborates with medical providers and other professionals as part of a coordinated, multidisciplinary diagnostic process.

  • ARC offers parent and family collaboration and support to help families understand neurodivergence and make confident decisions in everyday life. Services are individualized and appropriate for families supporting children with a range of developmental and learning differences.

  • ARC provides coordinated guidance to support individuals and families across systems. We collaborate with medical providers, schools, clinics, and community organizations to help ensure continuity of care and thoughtful next steps tailored to each family’s needs.

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