Autism Certified Care Options at Lee Health

BIG NEWS at Lee Health's Golisano Children's Hospital

As the parent of a child on the autism spectrum, Alyssa Bostwick understands some of the stresses that can bring. “I know the feeling that comes up when you have to take that child out of the home, when you have to take them to the hospital or you have to take them to the grocery store, because they are unique, and they behave uniquely, and they have unique needs, and the world around us doesn't necessarily understand that. And so that creates a lot of anxiety for the parent, and a lot of fear, and it's uncomfortable.”

She wants parents in our community to feel at ease, because Golisano Children’s Hospital has been designated as the first Certified Autism Center in Florida. More than 80% of Golisano’s team members underwent training and certification to enhance their understanding of autism, communication techniques and patient safety. “As a healthcare professional in your training, you don't receive much education or training on the care of patients with sensory disorders or autism spectrum. And so this education provides very focused education on how to meet the needs of that patient and that family,” said Bostwick.

Golisano also introduced a first of its kind sensory-friendly ambulance. “The lights and sirens outside of that cab, you can't really hear them when you're inside. And so when the child goes into the cab of that ambulance, the lights are dim. The lighting is not overstimulating. And then you can't hear what's going on outside. It's incredible.”

Bostwick said one in six kids have unique specialized needs due to their sensory disorder. “We have to be able to meet the unique needs of this patient population because it is growing and our community is growing.” Golisano Children’s Hospital is only the second full facility in the world to receive this designation.

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Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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Lee Health Autism Spectrum Disorder Resources

Lee Health's Golisano Children's Hospital is proud to be certified as an Autism-friendly hospital. Through the continued support and dedication of our staff we offer appropriate accommodations and support for patients and families managing Autism Spectrum Disorder while seeking medical care.

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Why Choose Lee Health's Golisano Children's Hospital

Lee Health's Golisano Children's Hospital is dedicated to providing supportive and compassionate care to each of our patients. Our care providers offer programs and resources aimed at addressing autism spectrum disorder such as:

Comprehensive ASD Treatment
Specialized ASD Research Programs
Resources for Parents with Younger ASD Patients
Detailed Medication Management
Evidence-Based Treatments
Support Groups & Events

Golisano Children's Hospital

The Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida is on a mission to deliver vital and lifesaving care for children and their families throughout the region. Our highly trained team members are motivated by the belief that every child is special and deserves the best care possible.

Compassionate Care for Your Child's Unique Needs

Golisano is on the cutting edge of innovation and access to ensure quality care for every patient in our hospital or facilities.

Golisano Children's Hospital is the 1^st hospital in Florida to be fully certified, with over 80% of the staff comprehensively and highly trained to provide excellence in care quality.
Six dedicated sensory rooms friendly across inpatient and outpatient services designed to provide comfort and support for patients with sensory disorders like autism, ADHD, and more.
1^st dedicated sensory friendly and autistic certified pediatric ambulance in the country providing safety and vital transport for special members of the community.
Dedicated program called SEA STAR that serves as a comprehensive resource for the community including Autism Navigators, First 100 Day Toolkits, early screenings, community task forces, and more.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This figure has shown a consistent increase over the past few decades, likely attributed to heightened awareness of ASD and advancements in diagnostic methods.

ASD can manifest in children through:

Challenges in engaging in reciprocal social communication and interactions.
Demonstrating limited and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

Severe ASD may be detected in children as early as 12 to 18 months of age, while milder forms of ASD may not exhibit significant symptoms until the early teenage years, typically during middle school.

If you suspect your child is displaying ASD symptoms contact our team to get your child the care they deserve.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is commonly diagnosed in children. Learn more here about signs and symptoms of ASD and how to help your child.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Support & Resources

Lee Health is committed to ensuring access to quality care for every patient along with appropriate accommodations and support for their unique needs. Click a link below to learn more about our autism navigator program and other resources related to ASD.

Autism Navigator

First 100 Day Kit

Autism Speaks

Autism Society

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

CDC: Learn the Signs. Act Early.

Behavioral Disorders in Children

Every child deserves compassionate, individualized care, regardless of their unique behavioral needs. Understanding your child's unique behavioral needs to get the right support is the first step in supporting your child through their whole life.

Behavioral Disorders

All children go through emotional ups and downs. Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors. Learn more here and determine whether your child needs to be seen by a Lee Health pediatric behavioral health specialist.