About Us

STAGES = Supporting Transitioning Adults Growing in Essential life Skills

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The STAGES program at the Chattanooga Autism Center aims to increase independence among adults (18 years old +) with Type I/high functioning autism through individualized training sessions to promote achievement of the participant’s independent living goals. The STAGES program believes that increasing independence ultimately increases overall quality of life as participants reach their full potential.

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STAGES serves applicants, regardless of diagnosis, who experience difficulty in some or all of these areas: 

• Maintaining daily environment

• Communication

• Social interaction

• Earning a living

• Personal hygiene

• Transportation

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STAGES serves those adults who desire to: 

• Acquire daily living skills.

• Live a more social life and connect with other adults who experience similar difficulties.

• Gain skills that make maintaining employment easier and more likely.

• Live a more independent life, either within their current situation or in their own housing.

• Give back to the autism community through serving others with ASD.

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Part of the STAGES team at the 2019 Chattanooga Autism Awareness Walk.

Staff, participants, and family members all came out to practice our social skills and support autism awareness and acceptance.

Who we are

Kiyoko - Behavior Technician

I have a Bachelor’s in Psychology and minor in Biology from the University of TN at Chattanooga. I am continuing my education at UTC by earning a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. I have worked with people with disabilities for 3 years by volunteering with Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreations, Siskin Children's Institute, and The Creative Discovery Museum. My love for the autism community has grown since I moved to Chattanooga in 2017. After furthering my education, my dream is to eventually open my own autism center in a different city to become an advocate and spread awareness for the autism community.

Stages of STAGES

Stage One:

• Every participant begins at Stage 1.

• Daily (Monday - Friday) phone call/text check-in with STAGES behavior technician

• 2 hours 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior technician per week

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior therapist per week

• Includes initial intake meeting, PCP creation, and data collection.

• Average of 7 hours per week direct and indirect (billing, data collection and analysis, community outreach, etc.) support

Stage Two: 

• Daily (Monday - Friday) phone/text check-ins with STAGES behavior technician

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior technician per week

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior therapist per week

• Average of 6 hours per week direct and indirect (billing, data collection and analysis, community outreach, etc.) support

Stage Three:

• Every other day text/phone check-ins with STAGES behavior technician

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior technician per week

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior therapist every other week

• Average of 5 hours per week direct and indirect (billing, data collection and analysis, community outreach, etc.) support

Stage Four:

• Every other day text/phone check-ins with STAGES behavior technician

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior technician every other week

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior therapist every other week

• Average of 3 hours per week direct and indirect (billing, data collection and analysis, community outreach, etc.) support

Stage Five:

• One text/phone check-in with STAGES behavior technician per week

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior technician per month

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior therapist per month

• Average of 2.5 hours per week direct and indirect (billing, data collection and analysis, community outreach, etc.) support

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Consulting: $40/hour + initial $25 fee (waived for previous STAGES participants)

• Assistance with finite tasks such as test prep/study, college integration supports, driving assistance, etc.

• Individualized goals and outcomes, as determined by a behavior therapist

• A minimum of 5 hours billed per service; up to 3 months of services

• 1 hour 1:1 meeting time with STAGES behavior therapist or behavior technician

• Data collection and analysis, community outreach, visual support creation, etc.

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STAGES stories

Paying for STAGES

STAGES is paid for utilizing private pay methods, where the individual/family pays for services out of pocket, or through the ECF Choices waiver. 

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At this time, STAGES works with BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee as our managed care organization when a participant is utilizing the ECF Choices waiver.  We provide services through Community Integration Support Services and Independent Living Skills training.  If you're already an ECF Choices member, contact your care coordinator about adding these services to your Individual Support Plan and chose STAGES as your provider. Or contact us and we will contact your care coordinator for you!  

Go online to learn more about the ECF Waiver program and to apply: https://www.tn.gov/didd/employment-and-community-first-choices.html

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Because the STAGES model is individualized and participants progress through the stages at their own pace, there is no "regular" cost to completing the STAGES program.  Each stage has a different cost associated with it that reflects the amount of time and involvement from STAGES staff. 

Below is a breakdown of the monthly cost per stage:

• STAGE 1: $700/month - STAGES staff average 7 hours per week direct and indirect contact with participants and their families.

• STAGE 2: $600/month - STAGES staff average 6 hours per week direct and indirect contact with participants and their families.

• STAGE 3: $500/month - STAGES staff average 5 hours per week direct and indirect contact with participants and their families.

• STAGE 4: $300/month - STAGES staff average 3 hours per week direct and indirect contact with participants and their families.

• STAGE 5: $250/month - STAGES staff average 2.5 hours per week direct and indirect contact with participants and their families.

• Consulting: $40/hour + $25 initial consulting fee.  Minimum of 5 hours, maximum of 3 months of service.

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Participants average 3-4 months per stage, depending on their motivation and follow through. 

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Contact Us

Are you interested in learning more about STAGES?

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Do you think that STAGES would be a good fit for yourself or your adult child on the spectrum?

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If so, fill out our contact form and someone will be in touch with you about the next steps on your STAGES journey.