Kimberly Walker has lived in Steamboat for 28 years, but it wasn’t until recently she finally took a deep dive into a cause that’s close to her heart—autism. Walker knows firsthand what it’s like to grow up with a family member who is disabled. Her brother Brian is autistic and has a genetic condition called Prader-Willi Syndrome. He lives in a group home in Oregon for disabled adults. “We have such a huge waitlist for services for disabled adults in Routt and Moffat Counties, I knew it would be impossible for him to come here,” she says. “I decided to do what I could to help people like Brian here In Steamboat.”
Walker became the Development Director for Yampa Valley Autism Program last April, a non-profit that provides resources and services for individuals and families living with autism or other disorders to cultivate their abilities and maximize quality of life. “It’s important that people understand we serve people with disabilities other than autism,” Walker says, noting the organization is about to embark on a rebranding strategy to make sure that message is clear. “We work with people who have all kinds of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Fifty-two percent of our kids have a disability other than autism.”
Walker quickly learned of the systematic problems causing funding gaps for providers and access issues for families. “In Colorado, our Medicaid reimbursement rates for autism therapy are abysmal. Last year, only 28 percent of the cost of our billed therapy services were covered. Reports are showing that in the last two years, 10 autism therapy providers have left the state, some with multiple locations, leaving an estimated 1,000 kids without services,” Walker says.
The seeds for YVAP were planted in 2002 with a group of six moms who had children with autism and were looking for specialized services in Steamboat. In 2004, it became the Yampa Valley Autism Program under the umbrella of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation and then became its own 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2007.
YVAP offers a wide range of programming and support for kids and families with developmental disabilities, but the bedrock of the program is that it is Northwest Colorado’s only Medicaid approved provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, an evidence-based specialized therapy used for children with autism. Soon YVAP will also be the only local Medicaid approved provider of autism diagnostic services, thanks to new funding from a Yampa Valley Community Foundation Impact Grant and a Community Health Benefit Fund grant from the Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation. “Kids can’t get Medicaid or private insurance approval for ABA therapy without a proper diagnosis, and three out of every four kids we serve are receiving Medicaid,” Walker says.
“Right now, kids are traveling to the Front Range, to places like Children’s Hospital in Aurora, but their waitlist is 12-18 months for an appointment,” Walker says. Studies show the earlier kids get help, the better their outcomes are. Waiting a year to two years can be a serious detriment.
YVAP employs two out of the three Board Certified Behavior Analysts in the area, who are required to be able to provide ABA therapy. In addition to one-on-one ABA, the BCBA therapists develop YVAP’s social skills classes, the STRIDES transitional program, work readiness, (including preparedness training for employers), family support groups and special activity support.
“Our Special Activities Support provides a trained paraprofessional that allows our kids to participate in peer group activities, like the Steamboat Winter Sports Club and others, at no extra cost to families,” Walker says. “We love this program because it fosters inclusion of those with developmental disabilities within our community.”
YVAP is an inclusive organization that is open to all kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities, even those who don’t have insurance or can’t qualify for ABA. “We believe no child should be left without therapy services when in need due to lack of ability to pay,” Walker says.
Currently, there are 57 kids who are served by YVAP, with 5 full time staff and a part time staff that fluctuates, depending on the season. There’s also a waitlist, though it was recently reduced with the addition of new staff.
“We know there are a lot more kids out there that could benefit from our services,” Walker says. “We have children who are non-verbal who are living in Spanish-speaking homes, and we need to be able to address their communication needs.” Kids who don’t speak English as a first language are often misdiagnosed. “The assumption is the delay is because of language differences. It takes up to seven years longer for a child who is not a native English speaker to be identified as autistic,” Walker says. The organization has recently expanded its staff to include a bilingual technician to be able to address these needs.
Growth is good, but Walker says YVAP is bursting at the seams in its current space. YVAP depends on its contracts with BOCES, the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and community support through donations and grants like the one the organization recently received from the Steamboat Sotheby’s International Community Fund. “We’re not putting all our eggs in one basket, especially one that has a giant hole in it,” Walker says of insurance and Medicaid. “It’s important we continue to offer a variety of programs because it helps diversify our funding sources.” Despite its many challenges, the organization is here to stay—YVAP celebrates its 20th birthday in 2024. //yampavalleyautism.org