Skip to main content

Arizona Department of Education Facebook Page

Arizona Department of Education LinkedIn Page

Arizona Department of Education Instagram

Arizona Department of Education Twitter

mobile menu
Arizona Department of Education Homepage
  • Home
  • Students & Families
    • Adult Education
    • Early Childhood & Preschool
    • Empowerment Scholarship Account
    • Parents & Families
    • Military Career Information
    • U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program
    • School Report Cards
    • Transcripts & Test Scores
    • Achievement Tutoring
  • Educators
    • Academic Standards
    • Assessment
    • Career & Technical Education
    • Certification & Career
    • Post-Secondary & ECAP
    • Public Educator Search
    • Support & Improvement Resources
    • Training & Professional Development
  • Administrators
    • Accountability
    • Effective Teachers & Leaders (Trainings)
    • School & Student Data
    • School Finance
    • School Support & Improvement
    • State & Federal Grants
    • Training & Conferences
  • Programs & Supports
    • Afterschool & 21st Century Learning Centers
    • Academic Achievement
    • Educational Technology
    • Effective Teachers & Leaders (Trainings)
    • English Learners | OELAS & Migrant Education Program
    • Gifted & Advanced Learning
    • Health & Nutrition Services
    • Homeless, Foster Care, & Refugee Programs
    • Office of Indian Education
    • School Safety & Social Wellness
    • Special Education
  • About ADE
    • About the Department
    • Accounting & Procurement
    • Critical Race Theory Explained
    • Data Governance
    • Information Technology
    • Events
    • News Releases
    • State Board of Education
    • State Board for Charter Schools
    • Submit a Complaint
    • Contact Us
  • ADEConnect
    • ADEConnect
    • Common Logon
  • Search
  • Home
  • Special Education
  • Autism

Autism

autism_awareness_ribbon.png

Autism Awareness Ribbon

An individual with autism may need specialized instruction, assistive technology, therapies, and positive behavioral supports that reflect their unique strengths in order to develop the skills to actively participate in the world. It is ADE/ESS's goal to share the knowledge, practices, and supports that will help define effective services and programs in schools, districts, and homes. The Arizona Department of Education is not responsible for the websites linked to below, and these links do not imply ADE’s endorsement.

 

Autism is a developmental disability that affects more than 9,000 school children in our state. The characteristics of autism include challenges in communication, socialization, and behavior. Any one of these areas may be affected to a greater or lesser degree, and for that reason, it is called an autism spectrum disorder.  To receive special education in schools, a child who is impacted by social, communication, and behavioral challenges as defined in the 34 C.F.R. § 300.8(c)(1) and 15-761 is evaluated by a team of professionals who know the child. This team, which includes the parents, then determines if the child requires specialized instruction to benefit from the school experience. The child may be eligible to receive special education services under the educational disability category of autism if the disability is found to impact his or her performance and access to the general education curriculum. A medical diagnosis is another avenue for identifying the presence of autism, which is defined in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Individuals who demonstrate communication, social and behavioral difficulties that are seen by a practitioner such as a pediatrician, neurologist, psychiatrist, or clinical psychologist and are found to have the conditions specified in the definition receive a diagnosis of autism. A diagnosis does not automatically establish eligibility for special education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) describes the procedural regulations for determining eligibility. To receive special education in the school setting, an educational team that includes the parents will review all of the documentation about the child, which can include the medical diagnosis, to determine the impact of the disability on the child's performance in the educational setting. The team will document how the disability is affecting the child's ability to participate in the educational setting at grade level and whether additional testing is necessary. The review of the documents and all of the data about the child takes place before placement in special education. If you have questions about this process please contact the special education director in your school or the ADE/Exceptional Student Services.

Efforts are underway to decrease the initial age of diagnosis of autism so that children who are identified may begin to receive services. Within Arizona, family support centers such as Raising Special Kids, and other research and resource organizations share early detection strategies that point toward improved outcomes:

  • First Signs - website to assist early educator teams, parents and other professionals to learn about autism
  • Learn the Signs. Act Early - track your child's development and act early if you have a concern
  • Detecting, studying, and treating autism early: the one-year well-baby check-up approach. -PubMed, NCBI
  • Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center on early detection of Asperger’s Syndrome- ThinkAsperger’s which is now part of ASD.

Phoenix Children’s Hospital is providing training and support for regional autism assessment teams across the state of Arizona. Each team consists of one pediatrician (PCP), an Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) provider, and a school representative. The development of these regional teams will help to significantly increase access to intervention, therapies, and school services for hundreds of children across the state. If you are interested in participating or would like additional information, please contact Early Access to Care-Arizona.

Many interventions and practices have been developed for teaching individuals with autism. The practices shown to be effective have been identified by such organizations as these:

  • Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules.
  • Definitions: Evidence-Based Practices
  • National Autism Center
  • National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence & Practice
  • National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)

  • Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) - modules are designed to help learn a step-by-step process of planning for, using, and monitoring an EBP with learners with ASD from birth to 22 years of age. Available modules:
    • Exercise
    • Functional Behavioral Assessments
    • Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention
    • Prompting
    • Reinforcement
    • Social Narratives
    • Task Analysis
    • Time Delay
    • Visual Supports
  • The IRIS Center - Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview for Educators

  • Arizona State Autism Project (AzSAP)-In collaboration with ADE’s Exceptional Student Services Special Projects is offering a capacity-building opportunity to public school educators for training designed to improve instruction and support for students with Autism and other disabilities in Pre-K through High School.  The Arizona Statewide Autism Project (AzSAP) is an innovative project that began in 2012. The project focuses on the educational needs of students with significant learning challenges, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The project has continuously expanded and now includes preschool, elementary and secondary levels. The project focuses on supporting students in both self-contained and inclusive settings and developing training sites and coaches to increase state and local capacity. For more information contact Christy Hegebush. 
  • ADE's Assistive Technology (AT) team provides training on such topics as Autism, Video Modeling, Visual Supports, and iPads in the Classroom. For more information visit the AT webpage.

Youth and children with autism may have limited communication skills and may not be aware of the dangers that are around them. The National Autism Association’s video portrays this issue for parents, educators, and first responders.

The National Autism Association’s Caregiver Toolkit provides information and awareness materials. A checklist for planning and responding to wandering behaviors is included with suggestions for safety tools, first responder profile forms, social stories, and caregiver logs.

Be Safe Silver Alert

The Silver Alert System will now include children and adults with developmental disabilities.

• A Silver Alert is a public notification system to broadcast information about missing persons in order to aid in their being found.

• Effective August 2018, the Silver Alert System in Arizona will include individuals with autism or other developmental disabilities.

• Silver Alerts use a wide array of media outlets, roadway signs, and Reverse 911 to broadcast information about missing persons.

 

Assessment

  • Sensory Assessment Checklist
  • Social Skills Profile

Behavior

  • Functional Behavioral Assessment
  • Token Economy

Instruction

  • Center for Autism University of Florida: Classroom Checklist
  • Essential Classroom Practices for Students with ASD
  • Teaching Every Student: Five Key Elements

Communication

  • Do 2 Learn

Social Skills

  • Building Social Relationships

Visual Supports

  • CARD - University of Florida
  • Visual Supports for Autism: A Step-by-Step Guide
  • Visual Supports and ASD Toolkit

Secondary Transition/PSO

  • ADE/ESS Post School Outcomes
  • UNDERSTANDING AUTISM: AN EMPLOYER’S GUIDE
  • A Guide to Employment for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Job Accommodation Network

Statewide Autism Project

  • STAR Autism Support

Contact Us

Autism & Low Incidence Specialist

Christy Hegebush

(602) 542-3209

 

Page revised 5/13/22

  • ESS Home
    • About ESS
    • FAQ
    • Contact ESS
    • ESS Site Index
    • Understanding Special Education
    • Disability Categories
  • ESS Blog Updates
  • Special Ed Info for Schools
  • Parents & Families
    • Procedural Safeguards
    • Aviso de las Salvaguardias Procesales
    • Raising Special Kids
  • Conferences
    • IDEA Conference
    • Calendar of Events
  • Public Info
    • SEAP
    • SSIP
    • SPP/APR and Public Data
    • PEA Determinations
    • Significant Disproportionality
  • Quick Links
  • Assessment
  • Assistive Technology
  • AZ FIND/Child Find
  • AZ-TAS Documents
  • Data Management
    • AzEDS SPED Reporting
    • Important Dates
    • October 1 Data Collection
    • Special Education Data Dashboard
  • Dispute Resolution
    • Quick Links
    • Dispute Resolution Forms
    • Mediation
    • State Complaint
    • Due Process
    • Facilitated IEP
    • Facilitated IEP Training
    • Resources
    • Laws, Regulations, and Guidance
  • Early Childhood Special Education
  • Secondary Transition
  • Private & Public Programs
    • Private Special Education Schools
    • ED-P Programs
    • Residential Treatment Center Placement
    • Head Starts
    • State Institutions

Contact

  • ESS Reception Desk
  • (602) 542-4013
  • [email protected]
  • Public Comment

From the Special Education Blog

Data Management Alert - AzEDS Report and Integrity Rules Update Tue, Dec 5 2023 Data Management

DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT

AzEDS Report and Integrity Rules Update

Data Management Alert: New Integrity Rule: -40095 Wed, Nov 29 2023 Data Management, Updates

New Integrity Rule: -40095

 

Effective October 31, 2023, a new integrity error has been implemented for SPED data validations in AzEDS.

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Certification
  • Privacy Policy
  • School Report Cards
  • State Board of Education
  • State Board for Charter Schools
  • Web Accessibility

© 2023 Arizona Department of Education

  • Statewide Policies
  • Site Map