OAR frequently receives questions from military reservists and their spouses regarding their eligibility for services through the Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) for their dependents with autism. ECHO coverage is available for dependents of active duty military members who are enrolled in Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).
Accessed through the military healthcare program, TRICARE provides support for military families that have a child on the autism spectrum through the military healthcare program, including provision of autism services provider of autism through ECHO. Unfortunately those services are only available to reservists on active duty.
For the children of reservists to receive ECHO benefits, their parent must be on active duty for more than 30 days. If a parent is on active duty, he or she can enroll in EFMP and then enroll with ECHO through TRICARE. Once the parent is off active duty, the child may no longer access services through ECHO.
Accessed through the military healthcare program, TRICARE provides support for military families that have a child on the autism spectrum through the military healthcare program, including provision of autism services provider of autism through ECHO. Unfortunately those services are only available to reservists on active duty.
Because the majority of reservists do not serve on active duty for lengthy periods of time, their access to ECHO is intermittent at best. For this reason, it is very important that military reservists’ dependents with autism spectrum disorders be enrolled in early intervention programs and special education services through the public schools. This will provide some continuity of services if the child can no longer receive supplemental services through ECHO. Read more about how to qualify for ECHO services.
Dear Parent:
We are seeking volunteers to participate in a research study about what it’s like to grow up with a sibling who has autism. Do you meet the following requirements?
1. Are you the parent of at least two children?
2. Does one of your children have an autism spectrum disorder?
3. Does one of your children not have an autism spectrum disorder?
4. Is your child without autism between the ages of 8 and 18 years?
If so, please consider volunteering by clicking on the link below. The survey will take approximately 45 minutes to complete and may be taken at a computer of your choice that has internet access. The first part of the survey will be taken by you. The second part will be taken by your child that does not have an autism spectrum disorder.
If you would like to volunteer to take this survey, please click on https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=144893
and read the consent information at the beginning of the survey. We will not collect your name or that of your child. However, there is a potential risk of loss of confidentiality in all email, downloading, and internet transactions.
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy DeOrnellas, Ph.D., Principal Investigator at kdeornellasphd@gmail.com or 940-898-2315 at Texas Woman’s University.
Thank you,
Kathy DeOrnellas, Ph.D.