Clinical Services for Clients and Families at EIU Autism Center
Autism Evaluations
The Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences and Autism Center at Eastern Illinois University has partnered with The Autism Program (TAP) at CTF Illinois to provide autism screenings and initial diagnostic autism evaluations for individuals in central Illinois up to age 22. Grant funds were secured through TAP of Illinois to support faculty release time and contract professionals outside of EIU to provide multi-disciplinary evaluations for individuals who suspect an autism diagnosis. There are a limited number of screenings and evaluations offered per year.
Referrals for an evaluation can come from a medical professional or be self-referral. The multi-disciplinary team evaluations are for initial diagnostic evaluations, not for reevaluations and/or second opinions. The process starts with a screening. Once a referral is made and the family completes required paperwork an individual is placed on a waitlist to be screened. The estimated time from referral to completion of the evaluation is approximately a year to a year and a half.
If an individual has already been diagnosed with autism and is looking for a speech-language evaluation and recommendations, the EIU Autism Center offers a few speech-language only evaluations during the summer term.
Individuals who are interested in an evaluation or want more information should contact Trina Becker, Co-Director of the Autism Center and Clinic Director of the EIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at 217-581-2712 or email at tmbecker@eiu.edu
Autism Evaluation Process
*Within approximately 6 months of screening, client will be scheduled for two evaluation dates: one with psychologist (Effingham, IL) and one with multiple disciplinary team (EIU – Charleston, IL). A deposit is required to secure date of appointments.
Fees for Autism Screenings and Evaluations
Due to support from grant funds from The Autism Program of Illinois, a comprehensive autism evaluation associated with the EIU Autism Center and TAP at CTF Illinois is provided at a reasonable rate to families.
Screenings are provided free of charge.
Autism Spectrum Evaluations:
- $500
- Income- based sliding scale provided for reduced rate
- Private Pay Documentation provided to submit for reimbursement from insurance
- Deposit required to schedule an appointment date
*At the time of referral, families will fill out financial information which will be applied to the income-based sliding scale at the EIU Clinic and Autism Center. Fees will be communicated with family following the screenings.
Speech-Language Therapy
Therapy is offered each semester as a part of graduate and undergraduate student clinical practicum. Student clinicians are supervised by faculty who are credentialed and licensed speech-language pathologists. Services are twice a week for 45 minute sessions and are scheduled per semester. Services are offered for a variety of communication disorders, including autism. Some of the types of treatment that individuals with autism might seek services for include areas such as receptive and expressive language; language processing; social communication; executive functions; augmentative and alternative communication; and feeding therapy. There is typically a waitlist for services. To get added to the waitlist or inquire further about services offered through the EIU Autism Center and EIU Clinic, please contact Trina Becker at tmbecker@eiu.edu, (217) 581-2712.
The Autism Center with support from The Autism Program of Illinois offers extra therapy groups for Autism in the early summer. Please contact Trina Becker at tmbecker@eiu.edu, (217) 581-2712 for more information.
