When doctors diagnosed Darcie Crawfords 2-year-old daughter with autism, she and her husband were left scrambling to find treatment options. They didn't know where to turn to help Lauren at first.

"It was really devastating. We couldn't even leave the hospital, Darcie Crawford said.

After five years of visits to specialists and out-of-pocket expenses, Crawford was grateful to have found the help she'd been searching for at the Hospital for Special Cares new Autism Center.

Dr. John Molteni, who runs the center, said they try to help parents identify concerns that they have for their child, clarify diagnostics and provide treatment options.

One of the centers goals is to provide help for an underserved population of children with autism, including those whose families have limited resources to access the kind of specialized care they need. Its also a place where parents can get a game plan on how to care for an autistic child.

Hospital for Special Care Unveils New Autism Center

Hospital for Special Care officials said the new autism center will help diagnose patients with autism and lead families toward the best treatment options.

"It would have been so much more helpful had I gotten the diagnosis from someone that could actually point me to treatment and tell me what to do. And I think that's what this offers, Crawford said.

Specialists from the autism center want to reach out to children who need inpatient care.

The Hospital for Special Cares has a plan to open an inpatient facility in the near future and is working to secure funding for the project.

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Autism Center Offers New Options for Families