FAQ

What is The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development?

The Johnson Center is a non-profit organization that is the realization of the vision of a handful of parents and professionals, based on their intimate understanding of the needs of families living with developmental disorders. Services provided at the Johnson Center have evolved over time, responding to the needs of our children, our community, and to the evolving understanding of therapies, interventions, and needed supports. We offer diagnostic services, healthcare services, behavioral therapy, educational assessments, community outreach and education, and a research program to answer the questions related to developmental disorders.

Why is there a need for an organization like The Johnson Center?

The US is in the midst of an epidemic of childhood developmental disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 6 children has a developmental disorder. The number of children affected by autism is now 1 in 110 – 1 in 70 boys. No institution addresses the myriad needs of these children better than The Johnson Center.

Where is The Johnson Center?

The Johnson Center is located in Austin, Texas; families have traveled from 49 states and 53 countries to seek care from our team of professionals.

Why is The Johnson Center unique?

It brings together knowledgeable, experienced clinicians and researchers in a data-driven, results-focused environment designed to generate best-practice educational, behavioral, nutrition, and medical treatment models for affected children. By looking at the comprehensive picture of all interventions (medical, educational, behavioral, and recreational), we continually assess which treatments work best for each child.

How is The Johnson Center funded?

The Johnson Center is a non-profit organization that is funded through private donations (both individual and corporate), and foundation grants. Clinical services are offered on a fee-for-service basis with grants, discounts, and scholarships available for families who demonstrate financial need.

What is the mission of The Johnson Center for Child Health and Development?

The mission of the Johnson Center for Child Health and Development is to advance the understanding of childhood development through clinical care, research, and education.

What can parents expect when they bring their child to The Johnson Center?

We bring knowledgeable professionals together to create a multi-disciplinary team for the care of children with developmental disorders. Parents are an integral part of that team, and can expect a depth of understanding from our staff because many of us have personal experience with family members on the autism spectrum or related developmental disorders.

What does The Johnson Center offer to children with developmental disorders?

Diagnostic and assessment services are offered through our diagnostic clinic, under the direction of Claire Blankemeier, PhD, BCBA-D. Our healthcare team (P. Lucas Ramirez, FNP, Nomita Poluthuri, MD, Kelly Barnhill, CN, CCN, Kirsten Bell, RD, Deirdre Earls, RD, Alan Gutierrez, MS, RD) provides appropriate dietary, nutrition, and medical care for children with developmental disorders. ABA (applied behavior analysis) services and educational assessments are offered by Rebecca Ryan, J.D., M. Ed., BCBA, including assessments and the development and implementation of individualized behavioral treatment programs. We offer many seminars and events for the community, most without charge. And at The Johnson Center we provide multiple opportunities for participation in research studies. Information gained from this research moves us closer to understanding the causes, developing better treatments, and, ultimately, identifying the cure for autism and related disorders.

What are the types of treatment that are prescribed at The Johnson Center?

Every child is unique; therefore each child’s treatment plan is specific to him or her. The professionals at The Johnson Center evaluate each child’s needs and develop an individualized treatment program. Data is collected at every step of the way to ensure the efficacy of the treatment and to determine any indicated changes. There is no inflexible, “one-size-fits-all” treatment protocol.

How does The Johnson Center decide which children they will treat?

Each child is given a complete evaluation, and referrals are made as needed. Treatment recommendations are based on these assessments. The Johnson Center welcomes any person regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, or religion.

How much does it cost to take my child to The Johnson Center for treatment?

Because treatment is individualized, cost varies based on the child’s needs. The staff at The Johnson Center does everything possible to help families obtain the necessary funding for treatment.

What is the most urgent need at The Johnson Center?

Because we are a privately funded, non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of donors to support our work. There is an ever -increasing demand to provide support for families without the financial resources seeking appropriate care for their child.

We are raising funds for the following:

  • The Thoughtful Fund, an endowment fund designed to help families afford care at The Johnson Center
  • The Johnson Center Research Fund, for investigation into the treatment and cause of developmental disorders.

What are developmental disorders?

This inclusive term refers to disorders such as Autism, PDD (pervasive developmental disorder), Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), global developmental delay, and NLD (non-verbal learning disorder).