The Wisconsin Early Autism Project, or WEAP for short, is a great resource for residents of Wisconsin and surrounding areas that have children with an autism spectrum disorder.  Under the Wisconsin Early Autism Project, children under the age of 8 who have been diagnosed with ASD are potentially eligible for up to 3 years of funding for autism treatments and therapies.  Children 8 and older are still eligible for funding, but at reduced award amounts.

The success of WEAP has spawned satellite programs in Minnesota, British Columbia (CANADA) and Malaysia.  The program is modeled after the work of Dr. Ivar Lovaas, a well respected ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) who offerred treatment programs in the Los Angeles, California area before passing away last year.

Parents and their children qualify for the program through a waiver system and processing is handled by individual counties.  Case workers work directly with families during the application period.  The waiver system also offers funding for in-home autism treatment.

Wisconsin is often cited as a good state to live for autism services and the WEAP is often referenced as one of the reasons why.  To learn more about The Wisconsin Early Autism Project, visit http://www.wiautism.com/contact.php