Description:
This webinar provides a basic understanding of the autism spectrum and examines the unique care management needs of adults with disability who are on the autism spectrum. The discussion highlights the experience of being autistic and the disparities and barriers these participants experience in obtaining care. LA Care Health Plan highlights successful strategies they developed to improve customer experience, including training and supporting their staff working with this population and their families and care providers.
The core values of the DCC model are focused on the individual needs of the participant, respect for the participant’s choices and the elimination of medical and institutional bias. A core value of this model is the Participant-Centered Approach, which includes the use of person-centered language. Person-centered language is often seen as a way for individuals with disability to reclaim their identity and their role in their own care process. The use of language is critical to ensuring a person-centered approach. It is important that people are seen first as people and not as their illness.
Participants with autism and advocates for participants with autism often prefer using identity-first language to describe the condition, and you will hear a presenter use the terms “autistic,” “autistic person,” or “autistic individual” in this webinar.
This departure from the standard person-centered language used in the DCC model is addressed in the webinar. For more information, please visit the following resources:
Featured Speakers:
- Chris Duff, Disability Practice and Policy Consultant
- Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH, Professor, Portland State University; Adjunct Associate Professor, Oregon Health & Science University; Co-Director, Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education (AASPIRE)
- Mahsa Hesari, M.A., BCBA, Autism Program Manager, Behavioral Health Department, LA Care Health Plan
Intended Audience:
This series is intended for providers and health care professionals, front-line staff with health plans and provider practices, and other stakeholders interested in improving their ability to meet the needs of adults with functional limitations.