Pelangka explains how a student with autism qualifies for special education services: Keep in mind that it’s relatively common for children with autism to have other co-occurring conditions that may complicate an autism diagnosis, including ADHD, medical and mental health conditions, sleep disorders, and mood and anxiety disorders. “This can happen, for example, when a student’s primary area of difficulty is attention/hyperactivity/distractibility and the team offers an Other Health Impairment (OHI) eligibility, as opposed to an autism eligibility, or when the team doesn’t see the symptoms of autism in the school setting at all.”Ĭonversely, if a school team evaluates a student and finds the student eligible under autism, but the student has yet to be evaluated for a medical diagnosis, families should have their child assessed by a specialist such as a developmental pediatrician or a child psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, or pediatric neurologist. “It is possible for a child to hold a medical diagnosis of autism and not qualify for special education services under autism per the Ed Code,” Dr. It’s important to understand that the criteria a child must meet to be eligible for special education under autism is not the same as the criteria for a medical diagnosis of autism. Remember: Schools can assess whether a student meets the eligibility criteria for an IEP, but they cannot medically diagnose a child. According to the IDEA’s definition, autism is “a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.”

There are 13 qualifying eligibility categories for special education services, one of which is autism.

Daily schedule for utsism 1st grade kid