San Diego, CA- 4-year-old Jon Jimenez loves listening to people speak in different languages on YouTube. He recently picked up on how to count to 20 in Russian. His mother, Sara, is blown away by how some things come easily to Jon. Finding help for him in other areas hasn’t been as easy.
“I wanted him to be evaluated for autism because I saw the signs. I tried to call so many clinics in San Diego but they were booked out 6 months to 1 year,” she said.
Sara did her research and knew how important it was to get an autism diagnosis because it would unlock access to necessary services. She kept searching Google for places to call for an autism evaluation and found a virtual clinic called As You Are. The evaluation was covered by her son’s individual health insurance plan.
“We are going to give it a try, we’re going to do this virtually,” she remembered saying.
The virtual evaluation took place in her living room, on her smartphone, and all she needed were a few toys she already had at home.
“It was a teddy bear, some blocks, and a ball,” she said. “I liked how the doctor did the evaluation, the way he was patient and explained every detail to me. He talked about what to expect and then explained what he was seeing. The virtual experience worked for my son, who doesn’t like to sit in one place.”
Just one month after receiving the autism diagnosis from As You Are, Jon is about to start ABA therapy. Which is now covered by his health insurance after his diagnosis. Now, Sara looks forward to learning more and more everyday on how to support him.
“As You Are helped me be more patient and understanding of my son,” she said.
Learn more about As You Are’s virtual autism evaluations. Check out more family stories here.
