For many families, the time before understanding why their child struggles can feel like years of unanswered questions. At Total Care Learning Academy, we support families through every stage of the autism screening process. Early identification opens the door to early intervention, including applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy and specialized education, giving your child the best possible start.
We’re here to support you every step of the way. Reach out to our team with any questions and we’ll be happy to assist you.
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Autism screening is a structured process that helps identify whether a child may have traits associated with autism spectrum disorder, so you can stop wondering and start getting real answers.
At Total Care Learning Academy, our screening is not a checkbox exercise. It is a clinically grounded, whole-child evaluation conducted by the same BCBAs and clinical team who work inside our classrooms every day. We look at how your child communicates, connects, learns, and regulates, and we share what we see in plain language.
Whether your child is already enrolled with us or you are coming in for the first time, screening is open to any family in Indiana. No referral required.
Early identification does not just lead to earlier support. It changes outcomes. The sooner a child gets the right help, the more ground they can cover.
Stop second-guessing yourself. A screening gives you real information to act on and permission to trust what you have already been seeing.
Many services, including ABA therapy, specialized schools, and IEP accommodations, require documentation. Screening gets you there.
Earlier identification means earlier intervention. Every month matters when it comes to building skills in the years when the brain is most responsive.
You will not walk away with a pamphlet. Our team will tell you specifically what your child needs and what we can offer to help.
Our screeners are the same BCBAs and clinicians behind Total Care ABA and Total Care Learning Academy. If your child needs more, you are already in the right place.
Tools like the M-CHAT-R (for younger children) and the CAST (for older children) help identify whether your child may benefit from a full evaluation. They are free, straightforward, and a useful first step for any family with a concern.
If screener results suggest your child may be at higher risk, we schedule a formal in-person assessment. Our BCBA-led team uses research-backed diagnostic tools to observe how your child communicates, plays, and interacts in a structured setting.
Our clinician compiles a written summary of your child’s results and shares it with your child’s pediatrician or a pediatric specialist. It is important to understand that the results are not a diagnosis on their own.
If your child receives an autism diagnosis, you will not be left to figure it out alone. We walk you through the support options available, including enrollment at Total Care Learning Academy, and help you understand what each one means for your child.
Not every tool is right for every child. We use two well-established screeners depending on your child’s age, and we will tell you which one makes sense before you ever come in.
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) is a parent-report screening tool designed to assess autism risk in younger children. It consists of 20 questions about your child’s social, communicative, and play behaviors, and takes just a few minutes to complete. A higher score does not confirm a diagnosis. It simply tells us whether a full evaluation would be a useful next step for your child.
The Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST) is a 39-item parent questionnaire developed by the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. It is designed for older children and screens for autism traits and social communication difficulties. A higher score suggests your child may benefit from further diagnostic testing. Like the M-CHAT-R, it is a starting point, not a conclusion.
Families travel from surrounding counties because the right evaluation is worth the drive. We will help you think through logistics before you ever commit to visiting. We accept all major insurance and will walk you through coverage before anything moves forward.
Total Care Learning Academy proudly accepts the Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA). This state grant gives families of children with disabilities the funding to choose educational services that actually fit their child. If your child qualifies, those funds can be applied directly toward enrollment at Total Care Learning Academy.
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Find answers to common questions about our programs, enrollment, and how we support children with autism every day.
Not exactly. A screening helps identify whether an autism evaluation is warranted and flags areas of concern. It gives you clinically grounded information you can act on. If a full diagnostic evaluation is recommended, we will help connect you with the right next step.
No. If you have a concern, even a vague one, that is reason enough. We would rather you come in and find out than spend another year wondering.
We screen children ages 5 through 17. That is the same range we serve at Total Care Learning Academy, so if your child enrolls after screening, there is no starting over. The team already knows them.
Plan for 2 to 3 hours for the appointment itself. This includes the parent interview, direct observation, and any instruments we use. Results are typically shared within two weeks.
We sit down with you to review findings and make concrete recommendations. If Total Care Learning Academy is a good fit for your child, we will explain exactly how to get started. If a different resource is a better match, we will point you there. Our goal is your child's outcome.
There is a version of this where you stop wondering and start knowing. Where hard questions get real answers. That is what we work toward here, every single week.
If you are ready to find out whether Total Care Learning Academy is the right fit, the first step is just a screening. We invite you to reach out, ask every question you have, and let us show you what we can offer your child.
