LLU Health Partners with Community to Create Autism Assessment Center

LOMA LINDA >> Loma Linda University Health joined 10 partner community agencies in the celebration of the Friday, Jan. 6 grand opening of the Autism Assessment Center of Excellence in San Bernardino. Richard Chinnock, MD, medical director of Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and AAC board member, said the center is designed for parents with autistic children. “It marks the culmination of five years of dedication and hard work,” Chinnock noted. “I am happy to report that this is one of the finest autism assessment centers in the nation, offering comprehensive diagnostic evaluation with multiple providers under one roof.” Angelica Munguia, the mom of an autistic child, spoke at the opening of the event and shared how she struggled to learn what was wrong with her son. After five frustrating years, she heard about the AAC and brought him in. Two brief sessions later, she received an accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations from professionals who understood what she had been experiencing as the parent of a child with a neurodevelopmental disability. The AAC is a collaborative effort of a total of 11 organizations. Kiti Freier Randall, PhD, medical director of the AAC, and behavioral health physician at LLUCH, applauds the coalition that came together to make the community a better place for children with ASD. “The agencies represented in the collaborative have, regardless of potential differences, remained committed to keeping the children at the center of the effort,” Randall reported. “The AAC is committed to continuing to work with the Inland Empire community to help maximize the quality of life for children.”