Center for Autism and Related Conditions
WE ARE LOCATED AT:
Houston Medical Center Plaza
6655 Travis Street, Suite 800, Houston TX 77030
(713) 500-3600
Welcome to the Center for Autism and Related Conditions
The UT Physicians Pediatric Center for Autism and Related Conditions is part of the Dan L Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Program at the Children’s Learning Institute (CLI). Housed within the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, CLI is the preeminent resource for tested, proven, effective results through scientific research and evidence-based interventions.
We recognize that the challenges faced by children with developmental concerns are not always linked to a simple medical diagnosis. These are complex neurodevelopmental issues in which multiple developmental concerns likely overlap and require a comprehensive look at every child. This understanding guides our approach to utilizing patient-centered, evidence-based methods in our diagnostic evaluations and our treatment recommendations. We are a multi-disciplinary team that includes developmental and behavioral pediatrics, child psychology, and speech and language pathology.
For Providers:
Appropriate referrals to CARC include:
- Child under the age of 9
- Suspected developmental delays Speech/language delays
- Social communication problem
- Suspected Autism
To refer a patient to our clinic please follow the steps below:
- Send our office a completed request for services form via fax at 713-383-1482.
- Send all requested records noted on form with the completed request for services.
- Send a current Well Child Check note that includes a developmental history
Once all of the necessary paperwork has been received it will be reviewed to make certain that the referral is appropriate for our clinic and then the patient’s parent or guardian will be called to schedule an appointment.
For Parents/Guardians:
In order to obtain an appointment your pediatrician must complete a request for services form and submit to our office with any necessary records. This information will be used to assess your child’s needs and determine if our clinic is the appropriate care setting.
Once all requested documentation is received and reviewed one of our staff will contact you to schedule an appointment. Unfortunately we cannot schedule appointments until all of the pertinent records have been received and reviewed. Things that you can do to ensure that we have all of the needed information:
- Fax any school evaluations (ECI, PPCD or any evaluations performed through the school district) or therapy notes (OT, PT or speech therapy) or evaluations that you have to 713-383-1482.
- If your child has had a formal hearing test, please make sure that we have a copy of that.
- Follow up with your pediatrician to ensure that they have sent the required documents.
OUR STAFF
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
CLINICIANS
Alayna E. Townsend, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Laura Deming, R.N., P.P.C.N.P.
How We Evaluate
We understand that parents and caretakers are the experts on their children. This understanding provides the foundation for how our multi-disciplinary team works collaboratively with families in the diagnostic evaluation and ongoing followup of every child. The evaluation includes consultation with parents and caretakers to understand their child’s strengths as well as areas needing support. Depending on the concerns, we work to gain a comprehensive understanding of your child’s needs using:
- parent reports
- direct observation
- teacher feedback
- standardized assessments, when appropriate
We provide recommendations if needed for further medical work-up or other evidence-based therapeutic interventions. We strive to make the diagnostic evaluation process as comfortable as possible for children and parents, as we know it can be stressful to have concerns about your child.
