Students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders can be eligible for special education services through their local school districts under the criteria of Autism. School districts have recently faced a strain on providing special education related services and supports with nation-wide budget cuts. It is expected that this budget will become even more strained as children diagnosed with Autism has recently grown.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its projection that the number of children diagnosed with Autism has now grown to 1 in 88, doubling from the previous projection of 1 in 156. There are various theories surmising that this rise could be attributed to environmental factors, better diagnostic tools or greater awareness of the disorder.

Either way, school districts are going to start feeling the impact as more and more students become eligible for services due to their diagnosis of Autism (even though a medical diagnosis differs from special education criteria, it is more than likely that a large number with diagnoses will also be eligible for special education services). With such a large population entering special education programs, it would be logical to start constructing public schools specifically designed for students with Autism and other specially designed programs, but with limited funding, it may become impossible for districts to provide even a basic floor of services.

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If you have any questions about your child's special education services, Contact us by email or call us at 714-602-1498 or 866-781-7723 (toll free) for more information.

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