Skip to main content
Log in

Screening and Identifying Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Public School System: The Development of a Model Process

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Heightened public awareness of autism and increased prevalence estimates of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has generated a sense of urgency within the public school system to identify children with these disorders for targeted intervention. Two multidisciplinary groups of professionals, one each from two separate school districts, were identified and trained to provide diagnostic and consultative services. This paper outlines a model process for school personnel to develop a basic level of training and competence in recognizing and serving students who have an ASD by (1) providing an overview of the legal and clinical issues involved in screening for children with ASD within the school system, (2) defining a school-based professional training process and (3) outlining a school-based ASD screening process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities and the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities; Final Regulations, 34 C.F.R., pts. 300 and 303 (1999). P. 12414.

  • Baird, G., Chairman, T., Cox, A., Baron-Cohen, S., Swettenham, J., Wheelwright, S., & Drew, A. (2001). Screening and surveillance for autism and pervasive developmental disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 84, 468-475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron-Cohen, S., Allen, J., & Gillberg, C. (1992). Can autism be detected at 18months? The needle, the haystack and the CHAT. British Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 839-843.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron-Cohen, S., Cox, A., Baird, G., Swettenham, J., Nightingale, N., Morgan, K., Drew, A., & Charman, T. (1996). Psychological markers in the detection of autism in infancy in a large population. British Journal of Psychiatry, 168, 158-163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand, J., Mars, A., Boyle, C., Bove, F., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., & Decoufle, P. (2001). Prevalence of autism in a United States population: The brick township, New Jersey, investigation. Pediatrics, 108(5), 1155-1161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berument, S. K., Rutter, M., Lord, C., Pickles, A., & Bailey, A. (1999). Autism screening questionnaire: Diagnostic validity. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 175, 444-451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colorado Department of Education. (2000). Colorado resource guide for autism spectrum disorders. Denver, CO: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colorado Department of Education. (2002). Educational identification of autism: Draft position statement. Denver, CO: author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehlers, S., Gillberg, C., & Wing, L. (1999). A screening questionnaire for asperger syndrome and other high-functioning autism spectrum disorders in school age children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29(2), 129-141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Filipek, P. A., Accardo, P. J., Ashwal, S., Baranek, G. T., Cook, Jr., E. H., Dawson, G., et al. (1999). The screening and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29, 439-484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E. (2001). Is there an epidemic of autism? American Academy of Pediatrics, 107(2), 411-412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillberg, C., & Coleman, M. (2000). The biology of the autistic syndromes London: MacKeith Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Pickles, A., McLennan, M., Rutter, M., Bregman, J., Folstein, S., Fombonne, E., Leboyer, M., & Minshew, N. (1997). Diagnosing autism: Analysis of data from the Autism Diagnostic Interview. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 501-517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Jr., Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., Pickles, A., & Rutter, M. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 205-223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (2001). Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659-685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Storoschuk, S., Rutter, M., & Pickles, A. (1993). Using the ADI-R to diagnose autism ion preschool children. Infant Mental Health Journal, 14, 234-252.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConaughy, S. H., & Achenbach, T. M. (1990). Contributions of developmental psychopathology to school services. In T. B. Gutkin & C. R. Reynolds (Eds.). Handbook of School Psychology (pp. 244-268). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association of School Psychologists. (1992). Intervention assistance teams: A model for building level instructional problem solving. Sliver Spring, MD: Author. (Reprinted from the Ohio Department of Education).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattler, J. M. (2001). Assessment of children: Cognitive applications San Diego, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schopler, E., Reichler, R., DeVillis, R., & Daly, K. (1980). Toward objective classification of childhood autism: Childhood autism rating scale (CARS). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10, 91-103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schopler, E., Reichler, R. J., & Renner, B. R. (1988). The childhood autism rating scale. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serving autistic students: Strategies to meet growing needs. (2000, September).The Special Educator, Bonus Report, 1, 4.

  • Shattuck, P. T. (2002a). National trends in the prevalence of autism among children in the public schools. Paper presented at the 35th Annual Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, San Diego, CA.

  • Shattuck, P. T. (2002b). Variation among states in school autism prevalence. Paper presented at the 126th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Mental Retardation, Orlando, FL.

  • Shea, K. M., Rahmani, C. H., & Morris, P. J. (1996). Diagnosing children with attention deficit disorders through a health department-Public school partnership. American Journal of Public Health, 86(8), 1168-1169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, B. (1996). Pervasive developmental disorder screening test (PDDST). Unpublished Manuscript. San Francisco, CA: Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Laboratory & Clinic University of California 94143–0984.

  • Smith, C. R., & Brees, N. (1983). Autism: Model projects. Iowa monograph. Iowa State Department of Public Instruction, Division of Special Education. Des Moines, Iowa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teal, M. B., & Wiebe, M. J. (1986). A validity analysis of selected instruments used to assess autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 16(4), 485-494.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willard, H. F., & Hendrich, B. D. (1999). Breaking the silence in Rett syndrome. Nature Genetics, 23, 127-128.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (1992). International classification of diseases —Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yell, M. L., & Drasgow, E. (2000). Litigating a free and appropriate public education: The Lovaas hearings and cases. Journal of Special Education, 33(4), 205-215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zirkel, P. A. (2000, September). Special education litigation from 1997 to the present: The “top twenty” cases/concepts. Paper presented at the National Satellite Conference for the National Association of State Directors of State Directors of Special Education.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramona M. Noland.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Noland, R.M., Gabriels, R.L. Screening and Identifying Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Public School System: The Development of a Model Process. J Autism Dev Disord 34, 265–277 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JADD.0000029549.84385.44

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JADD.0000029549.84385.44

Navigation