Preschool Program At Marcus Autism Center

It took us over a year on the waitlist to get into the Marcus Autism Center, and the care we received fell far short of the reputation that led us there. Based on our experience, I would strongly encourage families to avoid this center. The front office and nursing staff were unhelpful and often rude. Communication was extremely slow, sometimes taking up to 10 business days for a response, which is unacceptable when you’re trying to manage your child’s medical needs. As parents new to autism care, we were hoping for guidance and support. Instead, we received little meaningful direction, and medication decisions were largely driven by my own research rather than proactive recommendations from the provider. Overall, the level of support and partnership we expected simply was not there.

Our experience with Marcus Autism Center was extremely disappointing. Parents should avoid this center at all cost. There was no follow-up, no clear communication, and no explanation about appointments. We were never told what would happen during the visit, which made the process confusing and stressful. The appointments felt like a complete waste of time and money. It did not feel like they cared about the benefit or well-being of the child—only about billing and money. As parents seeking help and guidance, we expected professionalism, transparency, and support, and unfortunately, we received none of that here.

I am writing because my special‑needs stepson has been without his essential medication for weeks, and despite his father's repeated attempts to reach his doctor, we continue to be told that no one is available to assist. This delay has caused real harm—Rashad has been sent home from school, excluded from activities, and is struggling to maintain any sense of normalcy. He is an autistic child who depends on this medication every day. What makes this even more concerning is that I have been denied access to any higher-level contact information or guidance on how to file a formal complaint. The phone representative, Nakeisha, was not helpful and showed no empathy for the fact that a child is going without necessary medication. I truly hope this situation is not retaliation for his mother's previously missed appointments, but it feels deeply unethical for a child to be denied essential treatment simply because one individual is unavailable to approve it.

I am utterly disgusted and disappointed at CHOA. We were told their 8 week intensive feeding program at Marcus is billed to insurance about $98,000. Yes, you read that right. The cost is over 2k PER DAY. Are they really in the business to help kids or just collect an insane profit from families and/or insurance? The for-profit medical system in the USA is just so sad. Anybody that needs a service for their child SHOULD be able to afford it instead of having to look elsewhere. I post this to make sure you really understand your benefits and worst case scenario for billing, in case insurance denies something after treatment and you get a big bill. I am so glad I keep asking to make sure before!

We are all in God's waiting room for whatever He has in store for us. We waited for four years to get my grandson into Marcus and we are seeing a big improvement already. They are great and are a blessing to our family! For all those that are waiting, please be patient and wait on the Lord.