Service
The concerns and needs of individuals and families are at the center of everything we do.
The New England INDEX
One of the most important goals of the Shriver Center is to empower people with disabilities and their families to make choices about their needs and how they wish to live their lives. The New England INDEX, along with its Massachusetts Network of Information Providers for People with Disabilities (MNIP), provide information on:
- disability-related topics including health and mental health resources
- disability information
- information about specialized training and education programs
- resources on equipment and assistive technology
- disability-specific questions and concerns
Clinical Evaluation, Treatment and Consultation Services
The Shriver Center, through its affiliation with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is developing outreach services for children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Outreach partnerships and clinical consultation services are being offered to community-based health centers in the greater Worcester area, which has direct benefit to children with disabilities and their families.
ADHD clinic
The ADHD clinic at UMass is designed to see children between ages 5 years and 12 years where there is a question they may have ADHD. Dr. Kathleen Braden, the developmental pediatrician in charge of the clinic, evaluates children in a 3-visit timeframe on Thursday mornings. At the first visit, which lasts an hour, the child’s history is reviewed. At the second visit, the child is interviewed and given developmental and neurologic tests. The final visit is to discuss the findings and review recommendations for both home and school. If medication is considered, the child and family is referred back to their primary care provider for the medication and the provider is given recommendations on the preferred medication and its use. Follow up is on an as-needed basis. Evaluations at the ADHD clinic can be arranged by calling (508) 856-3028.
Autism clinic
The autism clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic designed to evaluate children between the ages of 1 and 6 years where there is a question of autism. The clinic is composed of a developmental pediatrician, Dr. Robin Adair, a speech and language pathologist, a psychologist, an early childhood specialist and a family health worker. Families usually see the pediatrician first and are then referred to the other members of the team. Evaluations typically take place over two to three visits. Outreach to the school system can be arranged if needed. The family health worker supports the family in being able to find the services they are looking for in the community. Follow-up is on an as-needed basis. Evaluations at the Autism Clinic can be arranged by calling (508) 856-3951 or (508) 856-3149.
In 1997, the Shriver Center’s LEND Program created an alliance with the Center for Children with Special Needs (CCSN) at Tufts-New England Medical Center, to be its partner in delivering interdisciplinary clinical care for children with special needs and their families. The CCSN serves as a place for children and families to receive in-depth, comprehensive and individualized care, and at the same time, is a major clinical training site for graduate and post-graduate trainees in a variety of medical and allied health disciplines.