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Transition to Early Schooling for Children with ASD

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Interprofessional Care Coordination for Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

The transition to school can be difficult for any child, but children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter additional problems and obstacles during this time. ASD is a lifelong disorder. Yet, the earlier a child with ASD receives intervention, the more promising the long-term outcomes. One way for children to be identified with ASD before entering school is through yearly appointments with their primary care doctor. Under federal legislation of IDEA, children from birth to age three with, or at risk of having, developmental delays have a legal right to early intervention. However, not everyone has equal access to services. Geographical location, race, and socioeconomic status are a few factors that contribute to uneven access to interventions for families. Culturally sensitive providers should be aware of early signs of ASD and be knowledgeable about referring families to appropriate education and treatment. Ultimately, to close the service gap, parents who have children with ASD should be aware of their rights and how to navigate the system to receive treatment.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the support from the SEARCH Family Autism Resource Center, Graduate School of Education at UC Riverside, and from the Vernon Eady Endowment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    Michelle Heyman, Yasamin Bolourian & Jan Blacher

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  1. Michelle Heyman
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Correspondence to Michelle Heyman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

    Maryellen Brunson McClain

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, Austin, TX, USA

    Jeffrey D. Shahidullah

  3. Department of Educational Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA

    Katherine R. Mezher

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Heyman, M., Bolourian, Y., Blacher, J. (2020). Transition to Early Schooling for Children with ASD. In: McClain, M., Shahidullah, J., Mezher, K. (eds) Interprofessional Care Coordination for Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46295-6_8

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