Kathleen C. Thomas, MPH, PhD¹, Joseph P. Morrissey, PhD¹, and Carolyn McLaurin, MSW, RN². (1) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste. 302, Willowcrest Bldg., CB #3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3386, (919)966-3387, kathleen_thomas@unc.edu, (2) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Conner Dr. Ste. 302, Willowcrest Bldg. CB # 3386, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3386

This presentation brings a services research perspective to understanding the structure, use and expenditures for the care and treatment of autism. At this point, not much is known about families and the breadth and mix of their service use. This presentation presents initial findings from a survey conducted in the winter of 2003-4 of approximately 300 families in North Carolina with a child, 8 years old or younger, with autism. Findings from this survey will provide basic information about how families currently use the multiple treatments now available for autism, including behavioral, educational, and medical treatments, and as well as use of complementary and alternative treatments. Analyses will describe which treatments are utilized, by whom, and in what combinations. The study will describe sources of payment for care, family stress, coping, satisfaction and concerns with care. In particular, this presentation examines if service use occurs in distinct patterns, and how those may relate to a family's philosophical approach to the care and treatment of autism. Logit regressions describe child and family characteristics associated with different patterns of care, and those associated with family satisfaction with each care pattern. Findings from this study will highlight any disparities in access, and compare available financing of autism services to that of other developmental disabilities. This work can inform clinical trials and future demonstration projects of new treatments.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe those services that families with a child with autism use most often and which services are often used together.
• List child and family characteristics associated with using different patterns of care for autism.
• Identify areas of concern about disparities in access to care for autism.

Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.