AUTISM (AU)

Definition

Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three (3), that adversely affects a child's educational performance.  A child who manifests the characteristics of Autism after age three (3) could be diagnosed as having autism if the criteria are satisfied.  Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines and unusual responses to sensory experiences.  The term does not apply if a child's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disability.