Autism Spectrum Disorders Rule Change July 1, 2007

1. Autism Spectrum DisordersRule Change July 1, 2007 Holly Sutherland Polk County Schools Low Prevalence Facilitator

2. New Rule Changes • Title Change: From Autistic to Autism Spectrum Disorder • Includes a range of pervasive developmental disorders including Autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger’s Syndrome • Adversely affects student’s functioning (this does not mean academics, it can include social, independent or organizational functioning) • Doctor information will be considered.* * Student must meet the criteria under the Fl DOE even with medical diagnosis.

3. Criteria for Eligibility – Developmental Profile 1. Uneven developmental profile as evidenced by current or previously exhibited inconsistencies in development of • Language • Social interaction • Adaptive behavior • Cognitive skill These can be across or within these domains.

4. ASD Pre-Referral • Activities Prior to Referral • Interventions – can they work? Must have a minimum of 2 interventions documented and why they did not help • Parent Conferences • Anecdotal and observation records in more than one setting • Review of social, psychological, medical and achievement data • Review of attendance • Screening for Speech, language, hearing and vision

5. ASD - Evaluations • Documented and dated observations targeting: social interaction, communication, patterns of behavior, interests or activities and must be observed across settings. • Comprehensive Social/Developmental History • Comprehensive Psychological Eval • Comprehensive Speech/Language Eval • Medical information shall be considered* *Student must meet the criteria under the Fl DOE even with medical diagnosis.

6. Eligibility for Services Under ASD • To receive ESE services a student must first go through the Pre-Referral process called the Intervention Assessment Team (IAT). • Student that do not respond to intervention then are evaluated. • After the evaluations are done the student must meet the criteria for eligibility set up by the Florida Department of Education (DOE). • Students must meet the criteria for the four domains: Developmental, Social, Communication, and Behavior

7. Criteria for ASD Eligibility – Social 2. Impairment in social interaction as evidenced by the delay, difference, absence or abnormality in the ability to relate to people or the environment. Example: • Limited joint attention • Does not show or bring things • Gross impairment in making friends

8. Criteria for ASD Eligibility – Language/Communication 3. Impairment in verbal and/or non-verbal language or social communication skills as evidenced by one or more of the following: • Lack of imaginative play • Absence or delay of language • Limited understanding of non-verbal communication • Odd production of speech including intonation, volume, rhythm or rate • Repetitive or idiosyncratic language or inability to maintain or initiate a conversation • No using finger to point or to request

9. Criteria for ASD Eligibility - Behavior 4. Restricted, repetitive and/or stereotyped behavior patterns, interests or activity as evidenced by one or more of the following: • Insistence on following rules or rituals • Demonstrating distress or resistance to change in activity • Repetitive hand or body mannerisms • Lack of true imaginative play • Over or under reaction to sensory stimuli • Rigid or rule bound thinking • Preoccupation with one or more stereotyped or restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal in either intensity or focus.

10. Polk County Schools ASD Support Team • Holly Sutherland – Low Prevalence Facilitator/ Program Coordinator • Pat Krouson – ASD Speech/Language Pathologist • Kendra Turner – ASD Teacher Support ESE Department Building 270 Bartow Municipal Airport 863-534-0934