Community-Based Autism Identification Teams

The ACCESS Project

ACCESS stands for Assuring Comprehensive Care through Enhanced Service Systems for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The primary goal of the ACCESS Project is to support local teams of medical and educational experts to provide early autism identification and support for families in their home communities across Oregon. The Project primarily supports preschool aged children by leveraging relationships between school districts/early childhood specialists and medical providers. It facilitates  streamlined, valid, and timely processes developed by local community teams to determine both educational eligibility for autism services and a medical diagnosis for children up to age five. The ACCESS Project continues to support building local medical-education ASD identification teams aligned with the recommendations of the Oregon Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder (OCASD).

There are currently nine ACCESS Identification Teams across the state of Oregon: The Dalles, Coos, Tillamook, Bend, Clatsop, La Grande, Salem, Grants Pass, and Jackson. OCCYSHN continues to support these ACCESS teams as well as collaborate with communities across the state for continued growth.

For more information, contact the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs, occyshn@ohsu.edu 

ASD indentification resources and materials