Comments:

Of course, the diagnosis is mute if the teaching staff is not prepared to provide appropriate instruction.

This is very important. A child who does not neatly fit autism, is not necessarily less severe in the disability just different. We must cater the educational process to the child’s needs, not letting any child with a disability fall between the cracks. Not changing the terminology only leaves room for the child to be inaccurately diagnosed by a Vermont team so they may receive full services. And worse case scenario, if a child moves to Vermont with a diagnosis from another state, they may not get the supports that are needed.

My son is one of many that have PDD-nos in Vermont who is not getting the services that he needs because he doesn't have classic autism.

This would be a long time coming. I have been assisting a few families with children on the spectrum and these children really are in need of services. Philosophically, I think the average special educator sees an "austic" child with average/above average Woodcock-Johnson scores and doesn't always see the whole picture.

Not all children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder are unable to access their education as their peers do. They should be made eligible based on their academic and functional performance.

Absolutely, and if functional is defined broadly, many of these kids should be eligible for services. Young adults whom we know now have Aspergers, but were not being diagnosed 15 years ago are wasted human resources. They often can be employable and contribute meaningfully to our economy with the right supports. With early intervention and efforts to understand and work with social deficits early, they may be even more significant contributors in the future.

Is Bipolar one of those disorders? Why are the disorders limited to autism? Shouldn't any child with a mental health disorder be included under the special education umbrella even if only for that child's safety?

This is especially true now that we have more knowledge about ASD then we did in years past. My daughter is one who "fell through the cracks" - mostly because we didn't have the knowledge of the other disorders that fall within the range of ASD.

My son has a diagnosis of Autism via the DSM IV. Certainly, he has many issues. However, I know many children with other Autism Spectrum Disorders (esp. PDD-NOS) that have a greater severity of symptoms. That is precisely why they are called SPECTRUM disorders! These children need to be included under the Autism Spectrum Disorders category. For that matter, all children with ASD's need to have that category listed on their IEP's. This has been an ongoing problem for many parents; their ASD children are listed as having "Developmental Delay" (although that is not supposed to be used with kids over 6, it often IS). This is a huge problem and has led to a lack of clarity about getting an accurate count of Autistic individuals in the State of Vermont. There IS no accurate count!

There is such a "wide" range of abilities under the spectrum, that it would make the term” autism" meaningless.

However, autism spectrum needs to be clearly defined (I think it is broader than you suggest) and if there is overlap with the OHI category, that should be addressed

Yes, but is there a way to differentiate between highly-functioning autism spectrum disorders and more severe cases? If a child is highly-functioning, then s/he shouldn't automatically qualify for spec. ed. svcs.

Asbergers and other special disorders can have a very telling effect. They should be included.

If I understand your question correctly, you are saying that we would revise the autism category to include MORE. If so, YES!!!!!!!

My son is ADHD, ODD, he has fine motor, oral motor, gross motor, and issues on the autism spectrum. He is in a wonderful school CP Stepping Stones in Winooski and he is where he belongs. If my child had nothing but the issues on the autism spectrum and there was no way to help him because of a LABEL, a DIAGNOSIS that was specific, my son would be in an institution instead of living a wonderful life. CP Stepping Stones is an incredible school! There should be more like it!

Absolutely. I feel that there are other disorders that can fall within this spectrum. My son has apraxia of speech and I have always felt that he has some of the characteristics that would fall under the autism spectrum. This would be a huge and wonderful regulation to be revised.

Not to include the term ASD (spectrum) leaves to much room for interpretation. The term "spectrum" allows for a variety of approaches to be used and acknowledges that not all children with this label of "autism" are the same or require the same levels of services.

Absolutely - too many higher-functioning kids are losing out on the needed services for success.

Nonverbal learning disability should be included under this category as well.

Too many children are falling through the cracks because of a variable label.

ABSOLUTELY!

Autism is not a discrete category but a range of impairments.