TYLER (KYTX) - ASSIST Autism will close a week from today.
The organization's purpose was to help East Texas families find resources to help their children deal with autism, and help them with expenses.
This comes after the children's therapy center Ellis Rehab closed earlier this month in Tyler
"I feel like parents with children with ASD issues are no longer being considered in the medical field, and that's just sad," says Jessica Loghry, who's 4-year-old son, Evan, has regressive autism.
When Ellis Rehab closed, which provided physical, speech and occupational therapy, she wanted to take him to ASSIST Autism to find a new place.
Now she can't.
"Now I have to just sit and wonder how far my son is going to regress before I can get him back in his therapy," says Loghry.
ASSIST Director Cindi DeWet says the non-profit runs on donations, and people just aren't giving.
"It's difficult to get the funding we need to help the kids. It's extremely expensive," says DeWet.
ASSIST Autism has given out more than $170,000 since it opened 2 years ago to East Texas children with autism.
But it comes down to dollars and cents, you spend so much on treatments, and only get so much back in donations.
"We do fundraisers and might get $2-3,000 in, but it costs that just for one child for one month," says DeWet.
Six children receiving help through
ASSIST, and 13 on a waiting list, are being moved to the Parent Services Center, a Tyler non-profit aimed at providing parenting resources.
It just started taking on autism cases.
"We feel honored to be able to do that and I've talked to all of them and we're going to make every effort to make a smooth transition," says Shelley Judd, the Executive Director with Parent Services Center.
A new option for care...
"It's just a matter or convenience at this point and I'm out of that," says Loghry.
Close to home.
ASSIST will close its doors in one week on August first.
Parent Services has been helping East Texas families since 1989.
