1. What appears to be an out-of-control child with a parent that isn’t doing
anything is actually an amazing child on the Autism Spectrum Disorder who
is having a bad day and a parent that would give anything for a better day!
: THE FIRST STEPS
2. 2
SANTIAGO AND FRIENDS..........................................................................................................3
LATINO LEADERSHIP..................................................................................................................3
URGENT CARE VS ER..................................................................................................................4
RIGHT NOW MD..........................................................................................................................4
NIGHT LITE PEDIATRICS: WHO ARE WE?.................................................................................5
WHAT IS AUTISM.........................................................................................................................6
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE.................................................................................................6
EARLY INTERVENTION............................................................................................................ 7-8
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS..................................................................................................9
ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOLLOW-UP.......................................................................................9
HOW TO APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY................................................................................10
HOW TO APPLY FOR MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SERVICES...................................................11
IEP ADVOCATES.................................................................................................................. 11-12
TRAVEL TIPS................................................................................................................................12
EMERGENCY CONTACT FORM...............................................................................................13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
: THE FIRST STEPS
For more information on the services available
for your child, please call 2-1-1 and ask for
HELP ME GROW
3. 3: THE FIRST STEPS
SANTIAGO & FRIENDS
An Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis can be overwhelming for a
family. In 2008, Latino Leadership’s President/CEO, Marytza Sanz learned
first-hand what effect Autism could have on a family unit; her second
grandchild was diagnosed with Autism. Although this diagnosis is never
easy, her family rallied and began to learn what services and programs
are available for families with autism. As with other families with an ASD
diagnosis, the stark reality hit home. Although cases of Autism are growing exponentially – Autism is
the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. and the services available are lagging.
Many families are met with long waiting lists and programs over capacity.
After more than 4 years of navigating the world of service providers, Marytza Sanz presented to Latino
Leadership’s Board of Directors the opportunity to create a bridge to close a gap in service for all
families with a special emphasis on Spanish speakers. As a result the Santiago & Friends | Family
Center for Autism was created.
Santiago & Friends | Family Center for Autism addresses the welfare of Central Florida children
and education advancement priorities for Latino Leadership. Through Santiago & Friends Latino
Leadership works to address a gap in service for families touched by autism in a linguistically and
culturally sensitive manner. Focusing primarily on ABA Therapies, Santiago & Friends Center for Autism
empowers parents to be the voice for their child and be a major component of their therapy program.
LATINO LEADERSHIP
Latino Leadership, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established as a community-based presence
in the Greater Orlando Area to develop and administer permanent programs that promote the
integration of the Hispanic community into mainstream America.
With the help of private funders, community donations, and corporate America, Latino Leadership is
able to provide one-on-one assistance to more than 3,090 individuals a year.
We invite you to learn more about Latino Leadership and how you can help get involved to make your
community a better place to work, live, and raise a family.
“Reaching Out to Our Community Through Knowledge”
4. 4
URGENT CARE VS. ER
Emergency rooms provide excellent care, but you can wait long periods of time if you have a non-life-
threatening problem and pay high costs in the hospital where the average bill is $1,423. Understandably,
ERs serve patients based on the severity of the problem and charge for access to their wide-ranging
facilities.
The wait at urgent cares on the other hand can be minimal and the cost for services often runs one-
fourth of what you would pay at a hospital or one-half for a visit to your doctor.
Many families overlook or are not aware of the services an urgent care can provide. Not only is there
a decrease in wait time, but also you will receive the same quality of care as an ER for a much lower
price. At Night Lite Pediatrics Urgent Care, your family will receive personalized care for your child’s
medical needs.
Board Certified Pediatricians evaluate and treat your child for acute illnesses with the assistance of
licensed Registered Nurses, X-ray techs and certified Medical Assistants. In the event that we cannot
treat your child, we offer the convenience of direct admit to nearby hospitals.
Right Now MD
Your Pediatrician Away from Home
What sets us apart from your average urgent care is the services we offer. At our
clinics we can handle higher acuity diagnosis and treat children who are more
sick than other urgent cares who are equipped to handle only adult medical
situations.
On April 2016, Night Lite Pediatrics launched Right Now MD, a pediatric
concierge medical service aimed to treat acute illnesses in children from newborn to 21 years of age
visiting the Orlando area on vacationing the comfort of their own hotel rooms.
This service is a great alternative for families with special needs children, as it keeps the child in a
familiar environment and allows the pediatrician to come to the hotel room to evaluate and treat the
child for acute illnesses. We are committed to delivering the highest level of medical care to your child
as quickly and convenient as possible.
5. 5: THE FIRST STEPS
NIGHT LITE PEDIATRICS: WHO WE ARE
Night Lite Pediatrics provides pediatric urgent care service. We utilize an
integrated care team as part of an overall system designed to deliver high quality
standardized care. Our Night Lite Pediatrics team includes local and centralized
resources to enhance program performance. This includes local specialists,
hospitals, pediatricians and family practice partners throughout Central Florida.
Our nurses, physicians and support staff all work together on-site to deliver more efficient and cost-
effective care. Our care teams improve the quality and lower the cost of care in all our urgent care
facilities, the hospitals and in the community we serve. Our system of care is structured so our physicians
and hospitalists are empowered to focus purely on clinical excellence for your family.
Our services include onsite testing, radiology services, treatment of fractures and lacerations, and
treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. We are open until midnight every day. Come and see us at
one of our locations!
APOPKA
620 Hunt Club Blvd
Apopka, FL 32703
407-478-5955
LAKE MARY
3801 W Lake Mary Blvd
Lake Mary, FL 34746
407-585-0568
OVIEDO
1500 Alafaya Trl
Oviedo, FL 32765
407-385-1790
EAST ORLANDO
11325 Lake Underhill Rd
Orlando, FL 32825
407-398-6702
OAKRIDGE
5900 S John Young Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32809
407-434-8171
WINTER GARDEN
13750 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32787
407-905-4717
KISSIMMEE
1267 W Osceola Pkwy
Kissimmee, FL 34742
407-569-0220
ST CLOUD
2322 E Irlo Bronson
Kissimmee, FL 32787
407-279-5950
SAND LAKE
7556 Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
407-506-0002
WEST MELBOURNE
145 Palm Bay Rd
Melbourne, FL 32904
321-608-3595
6. 6
WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a
group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are
characterized in varying degrees by difficulties in social interaction, verbal,
and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. With the May
2013 publication of the DSM-5 Diagnostic Manual, all autism disorders
were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously they were
recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood
disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise
specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome.
ASD can be associated with intellectual disability; difficulties in motor coordination and attention and
physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in
visual skills, music, math and art.
Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However the most obvious signs
of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. Autism Speaks
continues to fund research on effective methods for earlier diagnosis as early intervention with proven
behavioral therapies that can improve outcomes. Increasing autism awareness is a key aspect of this
work and one in which our families and volunteers play an invaluable role.
For more information visit their website at: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES
As early as 4 months’ infants should be able to respond to loud noises, watch things move, smile at
people, make little sound, copy sounds they hear, and respond to affection. At 6 months old, infants
should be able to recognize familiar faces, make vowel sounds (“ah” “eh” “oh”), roll over in any
direction on their own, respond to their name, and show curiosity. At 12 months (1-year-old) they should
be able to crawl, search for things that are hidden, say small words like “mama” or “dada”, play simple
games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake, use simple gestures (nod head yes/no, wave), and follow simple
instructions.
The developmental milestones have been laid out by the CDC. Please look at their page at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/ for more details.
7. 7: THE FIRST STEPS
EARLY INTERVENTION
What is it?
Early intervention is a program that targets infants/toddlers with developmental issues or delays.
Broadly speaking, developmental delays are when children are not meeting developmental
milestones on time. The targeted age group starts from birth and goes up to 36 months (3 years
old). It is mostly home-based care that brings services into a child’s life as opposed to fitting a child
into a service. Early intervention services are usually covered by insurance. In Florida there is an
early intervention program called Early Steps. For general information about early intervention visit
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/ei-overview/.
How to Apply?
In order for a child to receive early intervention care they must first undergo an initial screening to see
if they qualify. Parents must provide consent for their child to be evaluated. During the evaluation the
team or individual will observe the child, ask him/her to do things, talk with them, and use other tools
to gather information. There are two ways to go about this process:
1. A parent may contact Florida’s Early Step program directly or 2. They may go ask their
pediatrician or a developmental pediatrician to evaluate their child.
Central Florida Early Steps System
The Florida Early Steps program has offices all over the state that cover almost every county. Central
Florida’s office serve in the Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties. Their contact information is:
Phone: (407) 317-7430 ext. 2121
Fax: (407) 648-4150
Address: 601 West Michigan Street
Orlando, FL 32805
For more information, visit their website at
http://www.floridahealth.gov/AlternateSites/CMS-Kids/families/early_steps/early_steps.html
8. 8
FAQ: EARLY INTERVENTION
If I have concerns,
how can I get my child
screened?
What if I work in Orange
County, but I live in a
different county. Can I
get services for my child
in Orange County?
My child doesn’t speak
English. Can she or he
still be evaluated?
My child is not yet three
years of age. How can I
get him/her evaluated?
Is there a charge for the
screening or evaluation?
At what age can I
bring my child to Early
Intervention Services?
Screenings are by appointment only. To schedule your child for a
developmental screening call Preschool Diagnostic Intervention
Services at 407-317-3503.
You must live in Orange County for your child to receive services in
Orange County.
Yes. We have bilingual Spanish educational diagnosticians and
speech-language pathologists who provide both English and Spanish
evaluations for children. For languages other than Spanish we arrange
for translators to assist in the evaluation process.
The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families provides early
intervention services for children birth to 3 years of age. They are
located at 601 W. Michigan Street, Orlando, FL 32805 and can be
reached at 407-317-7430.
There is no charge for these services.
Early Intervention Services provides screenings and evaluations to
children ages 3 to 5 years of age who reside in Orange County and
who are not yet enrolled in a Public School Program.
9. 9: THE FIRST STEPS
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) uses information based on scientific learning and behavior principles
in order to establish connections between actions and real life consequences.
Some principles include:
• Positive reinforcement for demonstrating useful skills and
socially acceptable behaviors
• Consequences for negative practices or behaviors
• Structured days for child to get adapted to a set routine
• Providing training for parents/caregivers so they may
continue the work that the therapist does
• Encouraging independence
ABA is the most scientifically proven method to successfully deal with autism. There have been countless
research studies that have proven its success.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND FOLLOW-UP
It is vital for parents to be an active participant in their child’s ABA therapy. The caregiver knows their
child best. Parents can provide insightful information that can help ABA therapist create a unique plan
that is effective.
The client’s needs are priority; in order to fulfill the needs of our clients it is important to maintain a
regular and consistent schedule, always attending therapy sessions, and canceling in advanced to
allow our other clients to fill empty spots.
10. 10
HOW TO APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY
Online:
1. Go to socialsecurity.gov and select “Apply online for disability benefits.”
2. Fill out Disability Benefit Application
3. Answer the pertaining questions
4. Mail or take documents to your local social security office.
If you prefer not to do this report on the Internet, you can use any of the following ways to complete a
Disability Report:
• Call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. Explain that you want to file an SSI application on behalf of a
child. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free “TTY” number, 1-800-325-0778. Representatives
are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Go to your local Social Security Office and ask to file an SSI application on behalf of the child.
• If you have a working printer, you may print an application at
https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3820.pdf
What information is needed to apply:
About the Child
• The child’s full name, Social Security Number, and date of birth.
• Your (the applicant’s) name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address if you have one.
• The name, address, and telephone number of someone else who knows about the child’s illnesses, injuries,
or conditions (referred to from here on as “condition” or “conditions”).
• A description of the child’s conditions, including when they began and how they limit the child’s daily
activities.
Education and Work History (if applicable)
• The names, addresses, and telephone numbers for all schools or educational facilities that the child has
attended in the last 12 months.
• The type of behavioral or learning test(s) that the child had, and when the test(s) was done.
• A description of the child’s last job, if he or she has worked.
Medical History
• The names, addresses and telephone numbers for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics that the child has seen
for his or her conditions, the dates of and reasons for the visits.
• Name(s) of any medical test(s) that the child had, when and where the test(s) was done, and who ordered it.
• Name(s) of each prescription medicine(s) that the child takes and the doctor(s) who prescribed it.
• Name(s) of any non-prescription medicine(s) that the child takes.
11. 11: THE FIRST STEPS
HOW TO APPLY FOR MEDICAID & SOCIAL SERVICES
Individuals who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income are automatically eligible for Medicaid
Online:
1. Go to http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
1. Fill out application
1. Submit
Other options:
• Onsite at a DCF/ESS Customer Service Center. To locate a service center, “Select a County” from the
“ACCESS Service Center Locations” option at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/map.shtml
• Onsite through a member of the DCF Community Partner Network.
• Community partners are listed at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/access/CPSLookup/search.aspx
• By submitting a paper application, which may be requested by calling 1-866-762-2237, and submitting it
in person, by mail or fax.
• Customer Service Center locations and fax numbers can be found at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/
programs/access/map.shtml
IEP Advocate
Parents are always their child’s best advocates. Sometimes though, even with the best of intentions, parents
need a little back-up when advocating for their child’s educational future and rights. That’s where Santiago
& Friends | Family Center for Autism can help! Think of us as a partner around your kitchen table. Santiago
& Friends’ IEP Advocates have more than 25 years combined experience in the public school system. After
being on the other side of an IEP table, our Advocates are prepared to help level the playing field and ensure
that your child is happy and in an educational environment conducive to their development.
Trust in us to help advocate for your child.
What to Expect:
• Bi-lingual Professional Advocate prepared to meet with school and district professionals on your child’s
behalf
• Written requests on you and your child’s behalf to ensure accountability from school and district staff
• Staff knowledgeable about the IEP process and your rights
• Knowledge on compliance and federal regulations
Why work with an advocate?
Santiago & Friends is passionate about our families and their child’s success in our Center and at school.
When we commit to working with a family, we commit to:
• Ensuring that best plan possible for student success is developed and implemented during the academic
school year
• Be an active participant in a family’s educational journey
• Improving the communication between the family and school to ensure the family’s voice is heard and
understood regardless of language or cultural barriers
12. 12
Travel Tips
• Statue 316.614 – 6a
(6)(a) Neither a person who is certified by a physician as having a medical condition that causes the use
of a safety belt to be inappropriate or dangerous nor an employee of a newspaper home delivery service
while in the course of his or her employment delivering newspapers on home delivery routes is required
to be restrained by a safety belt
• Have a written note by physician in car at all times in case of run-in with officers
• Call your airport and ask if there is an autism access program in place. Many will let families take a practice run
through airport security.
• Call TSA prior and let them know you will be traveling with a child with a disability to speed up security check process
• Three days before your trip, call the Transportation Security Administration’s hot line, TSA Cares (855/787-
2227; open Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm EST), which can act as an intermediary with airport customer care and help
you navigate security checkpoints.
• Pack essentials: documentation, noise-cancelling headphones, toys to stay occupied
• Hotels:
• Avoid any possible extra charges. Ask front desk to disable the ability to order room service, in-room enter-
tainment, and remove specialty mini bar/snacks
• Cruises:
• Disable ability to charge cruise card
• Before leaving check luggage to make sure nothing was accidentally packed to avoid
extra charges
Age Seat Direction Tips
0-3 Car-Seat Rear Kids are 75% less likely to be seriously injured in rear-facing car seats
1-7 Car-Seat Rear/Forward Once kids have outgrown rear-facing the seat may be turned around
4-12 Booster Seat Forward A booster seat should be used until the seat belt fits properly. A child
can safely use a seat belt at 57 inches
What we can’t do:
We cannot guarantee a certain result or become involved in litigation. We offer non-legal advocacy only. Our
IEP Advocates are former teachers with more than 25 years of experience in the public school system, not
lawyers.
Next Steps:
To schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation, call 407-895-0801
13. 13: THE FIRST STEPS
Emergency Contact
Name
Personal Contact Info:
Home Address
City, State, ZIP
Home Telephone # Cell #
Emergency Contact Info:
(1) Name Relationship
Address
City, State, ZIP
Home Telephone # Cell #
(2) Name Relationship
Address
City, State, ZIP
Home Telephone # Cell #
Medical Contact Info:
Doctor Name Phone #
Dentist Name Phone #
Patient or Guardian Signature Date
