Autism Staff Development

Initial Autism verification should contain the following (Select all that apply):

• Background information (parent interview/developmental history)

• Psychological evaluation (including rating scales)

• Speech/Language and Academic testing

• Consultation with an OT

• Observations

True or False: A doctor can make an educational diagnosis of ASD

• True

• False

Answer explanation

a doctor may give a diagnosis of ASD and state that the child needs services, BUT if the MDT team evaluates and finds no educational impact, need for services, or that a child does not meet the educational criteria the team may make a decision NOT to verify a student.

Which of the following is NOT an example of Atypical Development of Social Competence?

• Difficulty relating to others

• Preferring to be alone/little interest in others

• Echolalic Speech

• Ineffective or inappropriate attempts at social interactions

Answer explanation

Echolalia is considered atypical development of COMMUNICATION, not social competence

Which of the following is NOT an example of atypical range of interests/patterns of behavior?

• Flat or mechanical voice quality

• awareness of schedules and discomfort/panic when the sequence is disrupted

• self-injurious behaviors, i.e., hair pulling, head banging, or hitting/biting self

• stereotypic/repetitive movements of limbs or the entire body i.e., hand flapping, hand wringing, or spinning

Answer explanation

Flat or mechanical speech is also considered atypical development of COMMUNICATION, not atypical interests/behavior

True or False: If a child’s receptive/expressive language are adequate (average) the child should also be assessed in the area of pragmatic language (functional social use of language)

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Many students with ASD have average receptive/expressive language skills, but struggle with pragmatics (ability to initiate, maintain, change, and terminate topics in conversations appropriately; understanding non-literal language)