PURPOSE: This rule establishes programs and services for persons with autism and their families.

1. (1) Terms defined in sections 630.005 and 633.005, RSMo are incorporated by reference for use in this rule. Also, the following terms mean:

   1. (A) Autism—a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three (3) years of life resulting from a neurological disorder that affects brain functioning which interferes with communication, learning, behavior and social development;

   2. (B) Family support—services and helping relationships for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing family caregiving. Family support may be any combination of services that enable individuals with autism to reside within their family homes and remain integrated within their communities. Family support services are—

      1. 1. Based on individual and family

needs;

1. 2. Easily accessible for the family;
2. 3. Family-centered and culturally sensi-

tive;

1. 4. Flexible and varied to meet the

changing needs of the family members;

1. 5. Identified by the family; and
2. 6. Provided in a timely manner contin-

gent upon availability of resources; and

1. (C) Service provider—an entity which provides and receives reimbursement for autism programs and services as specified in section

1. (3) of this rule.

2. (2) The Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (division) shall establish programs and services for persons with autism. The programs and services shall be established in conjunction with families of persons with autism and shall be designed to enhance the families’ abilities to meet needs they identify. The programs and services shall—

   1. (A) Develop skills for persons with autism through training;
   2. (B) Train families to manage behaviors of members with autism;
   3. (C) Provide needed family support; and
   4. (D) Cooperate with other agencies.

3. (3) The division shall establish autism programs and services as follows:

   1. (A) Central Missouri Autism Project to serve clients of the Kirksville, Hannibal, Rolla, and Central Missouri Regional Centers;
   2. (B) East Missouri Autism Project to serve clients of the St. Louis Regional Center;
   3. (C) Northwest Missouri Autism Project to serve clients of the Albany and Kansas City Regional Centers;
   4. (D) Southeast Missouri Autism Project to serve clients of the Poplar Bluff and Sikeston Regional Centers; and
   5. (E) Southwest Missouri Autism Project to serve clients of the Joplin and Springfield Regional Centers.

4. (4) The Central, East, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Missouri Autism Projects may provide, but shall not be limited to, the following services:

   1. (A) Assessment;
   2. (B) Advocacy training;
   3. (C) Behavior management training and supports;
   4. (D) Communication and language therapy;
   5. (E) Consultation on individualized education and habilitation plans;
   6. (F) Crisis intervention;
   7. (G) Information and referral assistance;
   8. (H) Life skills;
   9. (I) Music therapy;
   10. (J) Occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, and consultation;
   11. (K) Parent or caregiver training;
   12. (L) Public education and information dissemination;
   13. (M) Respite care; and
   14. (N) Staff training.

5. (5) The Central, East, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Missouri Autism Projects shall each have parent advisory committees composed of from seven to nine (7–9) persons that have family members with autism, including family members that are young children, school-age children, and adults. The members shall be Missouri residents and their family members with autism shall have met the division’s eligibility requirements specified under 630.005, RSMo.

   1. (A) One-third (1/3) of the members serving on July 1, 1995, shall continue to serve until July 1, 1996. One-third (1/3) shall serve until July 1, 1997, and the remaining onethird (1/3) shall serve until July 1, 1998. Length of those terms shall be determined by drawing lots. 9 CSR 45-3
   2. (B) Upon expiration of members’ terms, new members shall be nominated by the committees for three (3)-year terms or until their successors have been elected. New members of each of the five (5) parent advisory committees shall be appointed by the respective district deputy director from nominations submitted by the parent advisory committee. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive three (3)-year terms. No committee member shall be a service provider, a member of a service provider’s board of directors, or an employee of a service provider. The Central, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Missouri Autism Projects advisory committees shall be encouraged to maintain membership from each region within their project boundaries. The East Missouri advisory committee shall be encouraged to maintain membership from each county within the region and from the City of St. Louis. The committees shall make every effort to elect members to represent the cultural diversity of the project areas and to represent persons with autism of all ages and capabilities.
   3. (C) Each committee shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary. Annual elections shall occur in July. The committees shall meet bimonthly or more often at the call of the chairpersons. A simple majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
   4. (D) Each committee shall establish bylaws specific to the committee’s project area and consistent with parameters established by the Missouri Advisory Committee on Autism set out in section (6).

   5. (E) The committees’ responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

      1. 1. Advocacy;
      2. 2. Contract monitoring;
      3. 3. Review of annual Department of

Mental Health (department) audits of projects;

1. 4. Recommendation of services to be

provided based on input from families;

1. 5. Recommendation of policy, budget

and service priorities;

1. 6. Monthly review of service delivery;
2. 7. Planning;
3. 8. Public education and awareness;
4. 9. Recommendation of service providers

to the division for administration of the projects; and

1. 10. Recommendation of contract cancel-

lation.

1. (F) In the event a parent advisory committee disagrees with a decision of the district deputy director related to operation of the autism project, the issue may be referred to the Missouri Advisory Committee on Autism for its recommendation to the division director.

1. (6) The division shall establish the Missouri Advisory Committee on Autism. It shall be composed of two (2) representatives and one

2. (1) alternate from each of the five (5) parent advisory committees set out in this rule. It shall also include one (1) person with autism and one (1) alternate, a person with autism, who are not members of a parent advisory committee. The committee shall be appointed by the division director.

   1. (A) The division director shall make every effort to appoint members nominated by the parent advisory committees. The membership should represent the cultural diversity of the state and represent persons with autism of all ages and capabilities;
   2. (B) One-third (1/3) of the members serving on January 1, 1995, serve until January 1, 1996. One-third (1/3) shall serve until January 1, 1997, and the remaining one-third shall serve until January 1, 1998. Length of those terms shall be determined by drawing lots.
   3. (C) Upon expiration of the terms, members shall be appointed by the division director for three (3)-year terms or until their successors have been appointed.
   4. (D) At its annual meeting in July, the committee shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a secretary The committee shall meet quarterly or more often at the call of the chairperson. A simple majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

   5. (E) The committee’s responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

      1. 1. Communication with the projects set

out in section (3) to provide up-to-date information to them and the families they serve;

1. 2. Determining project outcomes for

autism services;

1. 3. Determining roles and responsibilities

of the parent advisory committees set out in section (5);

1. 4. Development of positive relationships

with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and local school districts;

1. 5. Establishing statewide policy;
2. 6. Fostering unity with and among the

project set out in section (3) to ensure joint support for legislative, budget and other issues;

1. 7. Planning and sponsorship of

statewide activities;

1. 8. Provision of program recommenda-

tions to the division;

1. 9. Recommendation of service providers

to the division director in the event a parent advisory committee and district deputy director cannot reach consensus; and

1. 10. Recommendation of issue resolu-

tions to the division director.

AUTHORITY: section 630.050, RSMo Supp. 1997.* Original rule filed Feb. 6, 1995, effective Sept. 30, 1995. Amended: Filed July 31, 1998, effective Jan. 30, 1999. *Original authority: 630.050, RSMo 1980, amended 1993, 1995.