Guidelines for Educating Students with

Autism Spectrum Disorders

October 2010
Virginia Department of Education,Office of Special Education and Student Services

Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Table of Contents

Commonly Used Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

User Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Introduction and Purpose of the Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Recommended Use of the Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Limitations: What the Guidelines are Not Intended to do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Foundational Competencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Introduction to Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
What is Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Categories of Autism Spectrum Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Primary Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Secondary Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Strengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Educational Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Individual with Disabilities Education Act (2004) 34 CFR Part 300.8(c)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Virginia Special Education Regulations Primary Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Medical Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Comorbid Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Prevalence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

The Special Education Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Identification and Referral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Determination of Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Individualized Education Program (IEP) Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Benchmarks/Short-term Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Progress Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Accommodations and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Accommodations for Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Medical Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Providing an Effective Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Goals of Education and Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
A Basis in Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Definition of Evidence-Based Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Research Design and Publication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using a Multimodal Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Assessment Frameworks and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Standardized Assessment Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Curriculum-based Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Data-driven Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Individual Services and Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Inclusion Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Modifications and Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Related Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Educational Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
General Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Functional Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mixtures of Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Focus Areas for Educational Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Social Development and Peer Interaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Activities of Daily Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Play and Leisure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Attention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Executive Functioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Academic Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Motor Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sensory Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sexuality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Self-determination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Restricted and Repetitive Patterns of Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Interfering Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Important Considerations in Educational Programming . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Early Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Generalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Assistive Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Augmentative and Alternative Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
The Educational Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Organization and Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Physical Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Transitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Timekeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Classroom Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Systematic Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Intensive Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Instructional Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Ensuring Students Ability to Access Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Functional Behavioral Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Steps to Conducting a Functional Behavioral Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Developing and Implementing a Behavioral Intervention Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Program Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Monitoring Student Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Professional Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Family Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Professional Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Training Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Creating Professional Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Virginia Skill Competencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Guardianship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix A: Data Collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Appendix B: Some Considerations When Developing Effective IEPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Appendix C: Instructional Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Appendix D: Diagnostic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Appendix E: Virginia Skill Competencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Appendix F: Examples of Data Driven Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Table and Figures

Table 1: A Comparison of Characteristics between Autism, Aspergers Disorder
and PDD-NOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Figure 1. The Instructional Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Figure 2. Implementing Instructional Interventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Commonly Used Acronyms

ABA

. . . . . . . . . Applied Behavioral Analysis

ADDM . . . . . . . . . Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network

ASD

. . . . . . . . . Autism Spectrum Disorder

BIP

. . . . . . . . . Behavior Intervention Plan

CDC

. . . . . . . . . Centers for Disease Control

DD

. . . . . . . . . Developmental Disabilities

DSM-IV-TR . . . . . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Fourth Edition, Revised)

FAPE . . . . . . . . . Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA

. . . . . . . . . Functional Behavioral Assessment

FCT

. . . . . . . . . Functional Communication Training

IDEA . . . . . . . . . Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004)

IEP

. . . . . . . . . Individualized Education Program

IFSP

. . . . . . . . . Individualized Family Service Plan

JA

. . . . . . . . . Joint Attention

LEA

. . . . . . . . . Local Education Agency

MDT . . . . . . . . . Multidisciplinary Team

NET

. . . . . . . . . Natural Environment Teaching

NLP

. . . . . . . . . National Language Paradigm

NOS

. . . . . . . . . Not Otherwise Specified

PBIS . . . . . . . . . Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

PDD

. . . . . . . . . Pervasive Developmental Disorder

PECS . . . . . . . . . Picture Exchange Communication System

PLEP . . . . . . . . . Present Levels of Educational Performance
PRT

. . . . . . . . . Pivotal Response Training

SAT

. . . . . . . . . Student Assistance Team

SEA

. . . . . . . . . State Educational Agency

TEACCH . . . . . . . . Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication

. . . . . . . . . Handicapped CHildren

VDOE . . . . . . . . . Virginia Department of Education

V4V

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

User Guide
Introduction and Purpose
of the Guidelines
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
provide unique challenges and opportunities for
educators1. With appropriate interventions students
with ASD can progress along developmental levels.
The increasing prevalence reported in public schools
has created a call for educational assessments and
practices that are uniquely suited for students
with ASD, and a call for educators and service
providers who are skilled at their selection and
implementation. These guidelines are intended to
serve as a resource primarily for educators, but may
also be helpful to parents, medical professionals and
other providers when they are making informed
choices about the education of students with ASD.
While these Guidelines address students from
infancy through early adulthood in the school
setting, it is recognized that this is a lifelong process.

Recommended Use of
the Guidelines
Educators, family members and practitioners are
encouraged to use this document as a resource
when creating educational programming for
students with ASD, recognizing that all services
must be tailored to the individual. The adoption of
a particular recommendation must be made while
considering the unique needs of the individual and
the present circumstances.
V This document should be read in its
entirety. No section(s) should be read in
isolation from the rest of the document.
V Following a review of the document, a
provider or parent may wish to refer to
particular sections.
V Consult the references and review the
literature that is the basis for the section.

V Supplement the information available in

the Guidelines with additional and newly
published information, as appropriate.

Limitations: What the Guidelines

are Not Intended to do
These Guidelines offer an overview of the current
best practices for educating individuals with
ASD. The Guidelines are not a standard of
practice for the education of individuals
with ASD in Virginia. Rather, they are intended
to serve as a resource for families, educators, service
providers and others who seek to design educational
programming for such
students.

The inherently individual

nature of ASD, the broad
range and combination
of abilities of individuals,
and the legal mandates for
individualized instruction
necessitate thoughtful,
informed consideration in
educational programming
design.

The inherently individual

nature of ASD, the broad
range and combination
of abilities of individuals,
and the legal mandates for
individualized instruction
necessitate thoughtful,
informed consideration in
educational programming
design. Continuity across
autistic disorders allows
these Guidelines to address
both the specific disability
category of autism, as well as the more broadly
defined group of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The contents of the Guidelines represent the

recommended practices available at the time of
its creation. Additional information about ASD
and the strategies and supports needed to provide
an effective education continue to evolve. It is
recommended that the readers of these Guidelines
also seek out more recently published information
to supplement the information contained within
this document.

Sources
An extensive body of literature is now available
outlining comprehensive information regarding
1

Iovannone, et al. (2003)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
educational practices, supports, and processes
that are successful for students with ASD. Statutes,
case laws, regulations, and policies provide a
framework for expectations in educational goals
and development of individualized educational
programming. Peer-reviewed educational, medical,
and psychological literature inform recommended
practices and educational supports.
The abundance of information on approaches
for students with ASD can be confusing and even
conflicting at times. Recently, the literature related to
ASD has provided comprehensive reviews of extant
research to determine whether a strategy or program
is effective for individuals with ASD. These reviews
have brought clarity to the discussion as they have
identified the level of scientific evidence available for
various supports and strategies and have provided
specific information about the skills and age groups
to which these strategies have been applied. Such
research efforts have been utilized to create these
Guidelines and direct educational components and
considerations. Comprehensive sources include, but
are not limited to:
V Simpson, R. L. (2005). Evidence-based
practices and students with autism
spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and
Other Developmental Disabilities, 20(3),
140-149.
V National Research Council (2001). Educating
children with autism. Committee on
Educational Interventions for Children
with Autism. Division of Behavioral and
Social Sciences and Autism. Washington, DC:
National Academy Press.
V Iovannone, R., Dunlap, G., Huber, H., Kincaid,
D. (2003). Effective Educational Practices for
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Focus on Autism and Other Developmental
Disabilities. 18(3): 150-165.
V National Professional Development Center
on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC-ASD)2

V6V

V National Autism Center (2009). EvidenceBased Practice and Autism in the Schools:
A Guide to Providing Appropriate
Interventions to Students with Autism
Spectrum Disorders. Available at: http://
www.nationalautismcenter.org/pdf/NAC%20
Ed%20Manual_FINAL.pdf
V Council for Exceptional Children (2009).
What every special educator must know:
The international standards for the
preparation and certification of special
education teachers. Content Standards for
Special Education Teachers of Individuals
with Exceptional Learning Needs with
Developmental Disabilities and/or Autism
(6th Ed.).

Foundational
Competencies
Introduction to Autism and Autism
Spectrum Disorders
What is Autism and Autism Spectrum
Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of
complex neurological developmental disabilities
with core features that include significant social and
communication challenges and restricted, repetitive
and stereotyped patterns of behavior 3,4,5. In addition,
individuals may experience unusual responses to
sensory stimulation, such as certain sounds or the
way objects look. ASD is believed to be a chronic,
lifelong disorder with no definitive etiology or cure 6.
Sometimes called Pervasive Developmental Disorders
(PDD), ASD can often be reliably detected by the age of
3 years and in some cases as early as 18 months.
2

The National Professional Development Center on Autism

Spectrum Disorders is a multi-university center to promote the
use of evidence-based practice for children and adolescents with
autism spectrum disorders. Its Web page can be accessed at
http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/
3
CDC (2009)
4
APA DSM-IV (1994)
5
Johnson (2007)
6
NRC (2001)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Categories of Autism
Spectrum Disorder
ASD is a descriptive umbrella term
that encompasses five different
diagnostic categories. Despite
some similarities in areas of
impairment, each category does
have unique characteristics and
diagnostic criteria. The diagnostic
categories within ASD are:
V Autistic Disorder
V Aspergers Disorder
V Pervasive
Developmental
Disorder - Not
Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS)
V Retts Disorder
V Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder

ASD is a spectrum disorder

meaning that although
similar symptoms are
shared, each person with
ASD is affected in a different
way. Symptoms can occur
in any combination and
can range from very mild to
quite severe. The cognitive
abilities of students with
an ASD range from above
average intelligence to
severe intellectual disability.

Of the five disorders above, autism, Aspergers

Disorder, and PDD-NOS are the most common;
therefore, this document focuses primarily on
these three categories. Although Retts Disorder and
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) present
differently than the other ASDs, the characteristics
and educational concerns are similar to those of
students with ASD and may benefit from the same
practices.

Characteristics
Primary Characteristics
There are three major areas of development impacted
by ASD:
Social Interaction: The individual displays
difficulties in relating to people and
demonstrating social reciprocity. There is
impairment in peer relations and social
interactions. The individual may have
limited interest in such relations or may
seek interaction in unusual ways. The use
and understanding of nonverbal forms of
communication may be limited. Emotional
expression and regulation are greatly

restricted. The capacity to play in

an age appropriate or functional
manner may be absent or delayed.
There may be an inability to
engage in imaginative activities.

Communication: Many aspects

of the communication process are
impaired. Understanding others
verbal and nonverbal language
and communicative attempts
(receptive language) may be a
challenge. Use of communication
(expressive language) is limited
in function and/or frequency.
Verbal language may be altogether
absent. If present, the style
and communicative patterns
will likely be atypical and can
include echolalia, unusual vocal
intonations and/or difficulties with
volume. The use of communication may
be repetitive, restricted, or used only to get
desires met. Vocabulary and word use may
be limited or used inappropriately.

Restricted, Repetitive, and Stereotypical

Patterns of Behavior: The individual
often exhibits stereotyped and repetitive
movements with his or her body or objects.
There may be great distress over changes
and insistence on following routines.
The individual may have an extreme
preoccupation with or attachment to an
object or topic of interest. Play or leisure
activities are likely repetitive and restricted.
Secondary Characteristics
In addition to the primary characteristics, a number
of secondary characteristics have been identified and
are common in individuals with ASD. They include:
Imitation: The individual may have difficulty
imitating gross, fine and/or oral motor
movements. Additionally, imitation of
verbal patterns may be impaired or absent.
If imitation skills are present, the person
may demonstrate difficulty using skills

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

pectrum Dis
S
m
s
i
ord
t
u
A
er
Autistic
Disorder

Aspergers
Disorder

Childhood
Disintegrative
Disorder

Retts
Disorder

PDDNOS*

Developmental Disorder *Pervasive

Not Othewise Specified

appropriately in context or
generalizing to new or novel situations.

Strengths
There are a number of strengths associated with ASD:

Theory of Mind: The individual has

impairment in understanding the way
other people think or feel. 7 The person may
understand simple causes of feelings and
emotions, but have difficulty understanding
more complex causes. This often results
in not comprehending reasons for others
behavior or actions.

Memory: The individual may remember

information, both relevant and irrelevant,
for long periods of time. Small details may
be easily recalled. Chunks of information
are often stored together and may be used
functionally to perform tasks and complete
activities.
Visual Processing: The individual may be able
to demonstrate intense focus on visual
details. Visual information is often readily
understood and applied meaningfully.
Presentation of information visually may
help compensate for attention and auditory
processing difficulties.

Executive Functioning: Planning and

executing actions may be impacted. There
may be impairment in controlling behavior
as well as self-regulation and response
inhibition. Impulsivity is often common.
Motor: The individual may have difficulty
performing gross and/or fine motor
activities. There may be impairment in
balance and coordination.
Sensory: Hyper- or hypo-sensitivity to sensory
stimulation may be present. Sensory
abnormalities have been documented in the
areas of visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory,
tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular
systems.8

Intense Focus: There may be a strong ability to

concentrate on information, an activity or
topics for extended periods of time. This may
be especially true if it is an activity or topic
of specific interest.
Table 1, right, describes the symptoms and
characteristics associated with autism, Aspergers
Disorder, and PDD-NOS.
7
8

V8V

Baron-Cohen & Swettenham, 1997

Anzalone & Williamson, 2000

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Table 1: A Comparison of Characteristics between Autism, Aspergers

Disorder and PDD-NOS (Source: Schall & McDonough, 2009)
Characteristic

Presentation in
Autism

Presentation in
Aspergers Disorder

Cognitive and
Intellectual Ability

More individuals display

intellectual disabilities. Cognitive
abilities range from gifted to
severely impaired.

More individuals display average

to above average abilities.
Cognitive abilities range from
gifted to mildly impaired.

Individuals with PDD-NOS

display abilities across the
entire range of intellectual
ability.

Social Interaction

Social skill deficits in all areas of

interaction. Social skill errors
and misunderstandings can
present as problem behavior.

Social skill deficits in all areas of

interaction. Social skill errors
and misunderstandings can
present as problem behavior or
social language difficulties.

Individuals display social skill

deficits, but may not meet full
criteria in this category for
either autism or Aspergers
Disorder.

Communication

More individuals display late

acquisition of language and
lifelong language delays and
disorders including increased
use of idiosyncratic and echolalic
language. Most individuals have
significant challenges displaying
and understanding nonverbal
communication.

Most individuals acquire

language on time, but display
significant challenges with
the social use of language
(also called pragmatics).
Many display difficulties with
reciprocity in communication
and understanding and using
nonverbal communication.

Individuals display
communication deficits, but
may not meet full criteria in
this category for either autism
or Aspergers Disorder.

Many individuals converse about

intense interests to the exclusion
of reciprocal interaction with
others. Some individuals display
motor stereotypes, but to a lesser
degree than those with autism.
Many individuals resist changes
in routine and engage in
non-functional rituals.

Individuals may display

restricted and stereotyped
patterns of behavior, but may
not meet full criteria in this
category for either autism or
Aspergers Disorder.

Many individuals display

challenging behavior including
aggression, self- injurious
behavior, darting or wandering
away, and overactivity. Many
individuals may also experience
anxiety disorders and
depression. Many individuals
also display varying patterns
of hyperresponsiveness and
hyporesponsiveness to sensory
stimulation.

Some individuals display

challenging behavior
including aggression, selfinjurious behavior, darting
or wandering away, and overactivity. Some individuals
with higher intellectual
abilities may also experience
anxiety disorders and
depression. Many individuals
also display varying patterns
of hyperresponsiveness
and hyporesponsiveness to
sensory stimulation.

Patterns of Behavior More individuals display

unusual motor movements and
stereotypes such as flapping
hands, rocking, jumping,
etc. Many individuals resist
changes in routine and engage in
nonfunctional rituals.

Secondary
Characteristics

Many individuals display

challenging behavior including
aggression, self-injurious
behavior, darting or wandering
away, and overactivity. Some
individuals with higher
intellectual abilities may also
experience anxiety disorders and
depression. Many individuals
also display varying patterns
of hyperresponsiveness and
hyporesponsiveness to sensory
stimulation.

Presentation in
PDD-NOS

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Educational Definition
9

The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA;

2004) and the Regulations Governing Special Education
Programs for Students with Disabilities in Virginia (2010)
provide a definition of autism. Educators use the
educational definition when determining whether
a student is eligible for special education and should
receive such services under the disability category of
autism. Due to the pervasive needs of this population,
the majority of students with a medical diagnosis
will be found eligible for special education services in
public schools.10

Because of their shared learning

characteristics and unique social
difficulties, students determined to have
an educational need and meet criteria for
autism, regardless of level of severity or
function, should receive special education
and related services within the category of
autism (National Research Council, 2001).
1. There is an adverse effect on the childs
educational performance due to
documented characteristics of autism, as
outlined in this section; and
2. The child has any of the Pervasive
Developmental Disorders, also referenced as
autism spectrum disorder, such as Autistic
Disorder, Aspergers Disorder, Retts Disorder,
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise
Specified including Atypical Autism as
indicated in diagnostic references.
a. Students with Aspergers Disorder
demonstrate the following
characteristics:
(1) Impairments in social interaction,
such as marked impairment in
the use of multiple nonverbal
behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze,
facial expression, body postures,
and gestures to regulate social
interaction; failure to develop
peer relationships appropriate
to developmental level; a lack
of spontaneous seeking to
share enjoyment, interests,
or achievements with other

Individual with Disabilities Education Act

(2004) 34 CFR Part 300.8(c)(1)
(i) Autism means a developmental disability
significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal
communication and social interaction,
generally evident before age three that
adversely affects a students educational
performance. 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.
(ii) Autism does not apply if a students
educational performance is adversely
affected primarily because the student has
an emotional disturbance, as defined in
paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
(iii) A student who manifests the characteristics
of autism after age three could be identified
as having autism if the criteriaof this
section are satisfied.
Virginia Special Education Regulations
Primary Characteristics
Virginia uses the same definition of autism provided
in IDEA (2004). Based on this definition, Virginia
delineated specific criteria for eligibility within
the category of autism that provides guidance for
educators and parents.11 According to the 2010
Virginia Special Education Regulations, an eligibility
team in Virginia may determine a student has autism
if:

V 10 V

All references to IDEA are to the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA,

unless stated otherwise.
10
OSEP indicates that the number of children served is
approximately 72% of those estimated by the CDC to have ASD;
however, some unquantifiable number of children in the CDC
estimation are below age six and/or served in private schools or
early elementary schools, and therefore are not represented in
OSEPs data.
11
OSEP (2006)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
people (i.e., by a lack of showing,
bringing, or pointing out objects
of interest); or lack of social or
emotional reciprocity are noted;
and
(2) Restricted repetitive and
stereotyped patterns of behavior,
interests, and activities such as
encompassing preoccupation
with one or more stereotyped
and restricted patterns of
interest that is abnormal either
in intensity or focus, apparently
inflexible adherence to specific,
nonfunctional routines or rituals,
stereotyped and repetitive
motor mannerisms, persistent
preoccupation with parts of
objects.
b. Students with autistic disorder, in
addition to the characteristics listed
in subdivisions 2 a (1) and 2 a (2) of
this subsection, also demonstrate
impairments in communication,
such as delay in, or total lack of, the
development of spoken language
(not accompanied by an attempt
to compensate through alternative
modes of communication such as
gesture or mime). In individuals with
adequate speech, marked impairment
in the ability to initiate or sustain a
conversation with others, stereotyped
and repetitive use of language or
idiosyncratic language, or lack of
varied, spontaneous make-believe play
or social imitative play appropriate to
developmental level is noted.
c. Students with Pervasive
Developmental Disorder - Not
Otherwise Specified or Atypical Autism
may display any of the characteristics
listed in subdivisions 2 a (1), 2 a (2) and 2
b of this subsection without displaying
all of the characteristics associated
with either Aspergers Disorder or
Autistic Disorder.

Medical Definition
The medical community diagnoses a person with
an ASD based on criteria set forth by the American
Psychological Association in the most recent edition
of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR).
The medical definition provides a unique definition
for each of the three diagnostic categories including
Autistic Disorder, Aspergers Disorder, and PDD-NOS.
For the purpose of this document, the definitions
provided by IDEA (2004) and the Virginia Special
Education Regulations (2010) will be utilized since
these are the criteria that must be met to receive
special education services under the category
of autism. More information about the medical
definition and how it is used for diagnosis can be
found in the subsequent section Diagnosis of Autism.
Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
There are no medical tests for diagnosing ASD.
However, there are a number of appropriate
instruments and techniques that may be used. An
accurate diagnosis must
be based on observation
of the individuals social,
Assessment in the public
communication and
school system is conducted
sensory functioning as well
for the purposes of
as patterns of behavior. A
establishing eligibility for
comprehensive evaluation
includes developmental
special education services
history, observations, direct
and gathering information
interaction, and parent
to assist in planning an
interview. Professionals
compare development
individualized program for
against diagnostic/
the student.
eligibility criteria, whether
medical/psychological or
educational. Assessment
may be completed by a number of professionals,
including psychologists, neurologists, pediatricians,
or psychiatrists who are knowledgeable about and
experienced in assessing ASD.
Differences and similarities between a medical
diagnosis and educational eligibility are critical to
understand. The term diagnosis is most often used
in assessments conducted in the private sector,
often at medical facilities. Medical and psychological

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
professionals diagnose ASD using criteria set forth by
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV-TR (DSM-IVTR, 2000).
The criterion for eligibility for special education
under the category of autism is independent from a
medical diagnosis.12 Assessment in the public school
system is conducted for the purposes of establishing
eligibility for special education services and gathering
information to assist in planning an individualized
program for the student. For special education
eligibility, a school-based evaluation committee uses
diagnostic criteria outlined in IDEA (2004) and the
Virginia Special Education Regulations (2010).
Based on the distinctions between a diagnosis
and identification of eligibility, it is possible that a
student who has been medically diagnosed with ASD
may not be eligible for special education services.
Conversely, some students who are eligible for
special education services may not have a medical
diagnosis. A disability must have an adverse effect
on an individuals education to be considered eligible
for special education services. There is no regulatory
requirement within the Regulation Governing Special
Education for a medical diagnosis of ASD yet, if a
parent shares such an evaluation with the school
team the information must be considered by the local
educational agency (8VAC20-81-170).
The importance of individually designed education
for those with ASD has been well established. Parents
and educators should seek assessment as soon as
signs become evident. Eligibility evaluation can
lead to procurement of appropriate services and
supports while a medical diagnosis resulting from
a comprehensive assessment may help parents and
educators make more comprehensive treatment
decisions. Special education eligibility teams should
work collaboratively with medical and psychological
professionals when possible to ensure a thorough and
accurate assessment.

Comorbid Disorders
Many individuals with a diagnosis of ASD are also
effected by comorbid disorders, or associated
conditions. To provide an appropriate and effective

V 12 V

education, understanding the whole individual,

including any other disorders or conditions is
essential. Presence of comorbid disorders require the
educational team to consider whether the student
has educational needs requiring services under an
additional disability category.
Comorbid disorders may be medical or psychiatric
and may or may not receive an official medical
diagnosis. Some present from an early age while
others develop over time. Onset during puberty is
common. Frequently reported comorbid disorders
include:
V Seizures and epilepsy
V Anxiety
V Depression
V Attention difficulties
V Bipolar Disorder
V Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Prevalence
ASDs are not rare. In fact, in 2009 the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) determined that approximately
1 out of every 111 (0.9%) 8-year-old children are
clinically diagnosed with an ASD.13 The CDC also
determined that males are more likely than females
to be diagnosed with ASD.
The number of individuals clinically diagnosed
with ASD has increased dramatically over the last
15 years in Virginia and the nation. While a true
increase in prevalence cannot be ruled out,14 this
increase may be due, at least in part, to such factors
as expanded classification criteria, policy and practice
changes, increased awareness, and case confirmation
strategies.15 The American Academy of Pediatrics
closely links the prevalence of ASD to a history
of changing criteria and diagnostic categories.16
Notably, the prevalence rates for Autism alone have
remained stable.
12

McFarlane & Kanaya (2009) What does it mean to be autistic?

Inter-state variation in special education criteria for autism
services. JC&FS
13
CDC (2009)
14
CDC, Surveillance Summaries. (2009) MMWR Morbid Mortal
Wkly Rep. 58(SS 10): 1-20
15
Levy, et al. (2009).
16
Johnson (2007)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Similarly, there has been a steady and noticeable
increase in the number of students eligible for
special education services under the autism
category. Autism was first included in the Code of
Federal Regulations as a special education eligibility
category in 1990, and states were required to offer
autism services by the 1992-93 school year.17 Prior
to this time, students may have been served under
different disability categories, a phenomenon known
as diagnostic substitution. 18 As of 2007, 258,305
students ages 6 through 21 and 39,434 students
ages 3 through 5 across the nation were identified
and received special education and related services
under the autism classification.19 This represents
approximately 4% of all students who received special
education and related services.

The Special
Education Process
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(2004) is a federal law that ensures all children with
educationally-impacting disabilities, from birth
through age 21, receive a free appropriate public
education that emphasizes special education and
related services designed to meet their unique needs
and prepare them for employment and independent
living.

Identification and Referral

A referral is the first step in the special education
process. A student who is thought to have a disability
that adversely impacts his or her education, such as
an ASD, must be evaluated in all areas of suspected
disability. Anyone who suspects a student has
educational needs requiring specialized services
and supports, including the parent or legal guardian,
can make a referral for an evaluation. This typically
involves providing a written or verbal request to
the local special education administrator in the
individuals home school.

team meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to

discuss the needs of the individual and make a
determination regarding evaluation. If determined
that an evaluation is warranted, the components are
delineated and a timeline for completion set.

Evaluation
If an evaluation is needed, the parent or legal
guardian must provide written consent before any
testing can be done. A parent is not obligated to
consent to testing, though the school division may
seek the right to evaluate a student without parent
permission through due process (information
regarding due process as well as other dispute
resolution options may be found at http://www.doe.
virginia.gov/special_ed/resolving_disputes/index.shtml).
All assessments, meetings and other events necessary
to complete the eligibility process must be done
within 65 business days. Evaluations must be
appropriate given the characteristics of the student
(i.e., age, gender, native language, and cognition) and
the suspected area of disability.

Assessment of students for whom ASD is suspected

should be multidisciplinary and comprehensive. A
formal psychological assessment by a psychologist
experienced in evaluating individuals with ASD should
be at the core of the evaluation. A component of
this assessment should be the use of multiple wellrecognized and substantiated diagnostic tools. This
is imperative because of the subtle symptomology
present in some students with the disability. There
is no single definitive assessment for suspected ASD;
each relies on the clinical judgment and skill of the
professional by whom it is administered. The use of
multiple tools will ensure accurate findings.

17

Once an evaluation request is made, a team consisting

of the parent or guardian and professionals from
various disciplines convene for a school based

National Information Center for Children and Youth with

Disabilities.(1996); McFarlane & Kanaya (2009).
18
McFarlane & Kanaya (2009); Office of Special Education
Programs. (2006a).
19
USDOE (2006)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
The assessments chosen must be tailored to
assess specific areas of suspected disability and
educational need. Assessment of students for whom
ASD is suspected should be multidisciplinary and
comprehensive. A formal psychological assessment
by a psychologist experienced in evaluating
individuals with ASD should be at the core of
the evaluation. A component of this assessment
should be the use of multiple well-recognized and
substantiated diagnostic tools. This is imperative
because of the subtle symptomology present in
some students with the disability. There is no single
definitive assessment for suspected ASD; each relies
on the clinical judgment and skill of the professional
by whom it is administered. The use of multiple tools
will ensure accurate findings. Appendix D contains
a list of recommended measures to identify the
presence of ASD.
Selection of assessments must consider any
impairment the student might have and assess
all areas of suspected disability. Several domains
must be evaluated to get a thorough and accurate
understanding of the student. Assessment of
intellectual functioning may be conducted to help
frame the interpretation of many observations
about the student. A comprehensive assessment
typically includes a speech-language evaluation
to examine speech, social, and pragmatic skills. An
occupational therapy evaluation assesses motor
and sensory concerns. Assessment of academic
achievement identifies areas of strength and
need related to educational content. Further,
evaluation of adaptive behavior identifies level
of functional independence in the natural
environment. In addition to these core areas, other
domains may need to be assessed. They include
processing, attending, and skills related to executive
functioning.
Assessments utilized by the eligibility team should
be selected with care. Some assessments are
specifically designed for students with autism or
ASD. The evaluating professional must determine
each assessments degree of appropriateness.
Usually, assessments for the purpose of eligibility
include a mix of criteria-based and normative
assessments.20 At times, a nonstandardized

V 14 V

assessment must be administered. This is

permissible and should be considered during
eligibility deliberations. However, the team must
ensure that all assessments considered reflect the
students actual abilities or achievements rather
than reflecting deficits.
Medical evaluations and diagnostic reports
conducted outside of the educational arena should
be considered as components of the evaluation.
There are a number of medical or psychological
conditions associated with ASD. It is important
to identify and address such concerns as they can
limit or impact development and educational
achievement. Information obtained from medical
evaluations may provide new information
about the student and result in better and more
comprehensive intervention decisions.

Determination of Eligibility
A team, including the parents, reviews all applicable
existing information to determine whether a
student is eligible for special education and related
services under the IDEA (2004). To be eligible for
special education and related services, the student
must meet the criteria for at least one of thirteen
disability categories, of which one is autism.
Following a determination of eligibility for special
education and related services, the Individualized
Education Program documents need only identify
child with a disability, rather than the disability
category.
For a student who is eligible for special education
and related services, an Individualized Education
Program must be developed within 30 calendar
days from eligibility of determination. In the event
a student is not eligible under IDEA (2004), the local
education agency may wish to consider whether
the student is eligible for protection under Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as revised
(information on Section 504 is available at http://
www.doe.virginia.gov/federal_programs/civil_rights/
index.shtml).

20

Scott (2000)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Individualized Education Program

(IEP) Development
A students IEP is the cornerstone of his or her
special education. Ultimately, the IEP must be
reasonably calculated to enable the student to
receive educational benefits in the least restrictive
environment. Considerations for developing an
effective IEP are available in Appendix B.
Present Level of Academic Achievement and
Functional Performance
Sometimes called the Present Level or Present Level
of Performance, this is a narrative-style description
of how the student is performing academically and
functionally in school, as well as ways in which the
students disability affects his or her participation
in the general curriculum. It is based on all the
information gathered on the student to date and
should be written in understandable language. The
present level should provide enough detail that
even someone who does not know the student
could imagine him or her during the school day. The
components of a present level might include:
V The students disability and how it affects
involvement and progress in the general
education curriculum;
V Assessment information and instructional
needs;
V Student preferences and parent input
regarding postsecondary and adult/
continuing education (when applicable);
V Independent living and community
participation;
V Adult services (when applicable); and
V Students unique instructional needs.21
Ultimately, the present level of performance lays
the foundation for the rest of the IEP document.
Everything that follows should address or link to
some part of the present level description. For the
student with ASD, it is crucial that the present level
include a comprehensive and accurate description of
the students current performance in areas related
to all areas of need. Due to similarities present
across ASDs, in addition to skills related to academic
performance the present level should typically

include a description of abilities related to the

following:
V Communication
V Language
V Social
V Peer interaction
V Play / Recreation
V Interfering behaviors
V Adaptive behavior
V Work habits including attention span,
distractibility and organization.
Goals
Based on the
There should be a direct link between
students present
educational goals and the acquisition
level of academic
of knowledge and skills that support
achievement
and functional
independence, social responsibility and
performance, the
community integration.
IEP team, including
the parents,
creates goals for the student. To
The ability to write
identify relevant goals, the team
determines the emerging skills
measurable goals
and areas of need for the student.
is one of the most
The goals serve as a road map for
important aspects
the upcoming year.

of IEP development.
Goals should not be a simple
Because these goals
restatement of the Standards
represent the skills a
of Learning (SOL) or the Aligned
student will work on
Standards of Learning (ASOL),
regardless of level. Furthermore,
during the upcoming
a students IEP must address
year, data must be
all areas of need, regardless
collected to determine
of whether or not they are
acquisition and to
commonly associated with
the identified disability. There
make programmatic
should be a direct link between
decisions.
educational goals and the
acquisition of knowledge and
skills that support independence,
social responsibility and community integration.22
All goals should be appropriate, meaning:
21
22

VDOE (2005)
National Research Council (2001)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
V achievable in one year;
V designed to meet the students needs that
result from the students disability to
enable him or her to be involved in and
make progress in the general education
curriculum; and
V designed to meet each of the students other
educational needs that result from his or
her disability.

development. Because these goals represent the skills

a student will work on during the upcoming year,
data must be collected to determine acquisition and
to make programmatic decisions. A measurable IEP
goal has seven components, each of which answers
a w or h question: who, what, how, where, when,
with, and which. The following IEP goal illustrates
these seven components:
By the end of the first quarter, Jasmine will independently
use augmentative communication to request
food and drink across all settings at least 10 times per day
as measured by a teacher-made checklist
and teacher observation.

Additionally, goals should be phrased positively and

must be measurable. The ability to write measurable
goals is one of the most important aspects of IEP

Cue Word Description

Example

Who

Use the students name

Jasmine will

What

What specific skill or behavior will be achieved?

use augmentative communication

How

At what level or in what manner will the skill be achieved? to request food and drink

Where

Where will the skill be achieved? Consider the setting in

which the skill must be mastered. Is the skill being taught
in a self-contained, one-on-one environment or should the
skill be mastered across settings?
across all settings

When

By when will the skill be achieved?

With
With what level of success?

independently at least 10 times

per day

Which
Which measure will be used to gauge progress

as measured by a teacher-made
checklist and teacher observation.

Benchmarks/Short-term Objectives
The IEP team must document in each childs IEP the
teams consideration of whether or not to include
benchmarks or short-term objectives in the IEP.
Benchmarks/short-term objectives are required for
students who take alternate assessments aligned
to alternate achievement standards. For all other
Goal:

B/STO

B/STO
B/STO

V 16 V

By the end of the first quarter

students, benchmarks or short-term objectives are

optional.
Benchmarks/short-term objectives are smaller
components or sequential steps of meeting the
IEP goals. As with goals, benchmarks/short-term
objectives should support independence, social

By October 15, Alonzo will demonstrate conversational skills by independently responding,

initiating and taking two conversational turns with peers during center time.
By October 15, Alonzo will respond to a question or comment made by a peer by making a
relevant statement or question on 9 out of 10 trials.
By October 15, Alonzo will initiate a conversation with a peer a minimum of 3 times per day.
By October 15, Alonzo will take two conversational turns providing a relevant statement or
question on 9 out of 10 trials.
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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
responsibility and community integration.23
The following Benchmarks/Short-term Objectives
(B/STO) illustrate this concept:
Goal:
B/STO
B/STO

B/STO

By October 15, Johnny will recite his full address with 100% accuracy on 9 out of 10 trials.
By September 15, Johnny will recite his street address with 100% accuracy on 9 out of 10 trials.
By October 1, Johnny will recite his street address, city and state with 100% accuracy on 9 out of
10 trials.
By October 15, Johnny will recite his street address, city, state, and zip code with 100% accuracy
on 9 out of 10 trials.

Benchmarks/short-term objectives may also provide

for progress measures that should be mastered en
route to the annual goal. The following illustrates this
concept:
Progress Reports
For each goal, the IEP team must determine how it
will know when the student has mastered the goal.
A students progress on each annual goal must be
measured and regularly reported to the students
parents. The IEP team chooses the most appropriate
ways to measure the progress. Some examples of
measures are data collection, tests, checklists, and
observation. It is best to use a measure that allows
for frequent data collection to be sure that a students
recorded performance is a true representation of
ability. An example of data collection is provided
in Appendix A. The IEP team must also determine
how often the progress reports will be provided. At
the very least, progress reports on IEP goals must be
provided as often as report cards are provided.
Accommodations and Modifications
The IEP must include the special education and
related services as well as supplementary aids and
services that will be provided to the student. These
are commonly known as accommodations and
modifications because they often take the form of
accommodations (preferential seating, one-on-one
support, additional time) or curricular modifications
(variance from the prescribed Standards of Learning).
Accommodations are changes in how a student
interacts with the learning environment. They are
23

National Research Council (2001)

changes that allow for access to learning and to

demonstrating knowledge. Examples might include
changes to physical space, allowable time, equipment,
and alternative formats and presentations of
materials.
Modifications are changes in what a student is
expected to learn, and can include changes to content,
performance expectations, and instructional levels.
Accommodations for Assessment
According to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
students, including those with disabilities, are legally
required to participate in statewide and divisionwide
assessments. This helps to ensure that schools, school
divisions, and states are held accountable for the
achievement of these students. Students with an IEP
must be provided the appropriate accommodations
necessary to participate in these tests. Making
determinations about accommodations required
of a student with ASD is a significant component of
developing an IEP. Team members, including parents,
must engage in a thoughtful process that determines
the necessary accommodations to facilitate the
students access to grade level instruction and full
participation in state/division assessments.
Placement
An important part of the IEP is the placement of
a student with disabilities. Special education itself
is not a place; it is a set of services and supports.
Where a student with disabilities receives his or her
education is the individuals placement. Placement
is based upon the needs of the student, as defined
in the present level of performance and IEP goals,
and should be among the last decisions made by

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
the IEP team. School divisions must offer at least
these placements, which are listed from the least
restrictive to the most restrictive:
V regular classes;
V special classes;
V special schools;
V home instruction; and
V instruction in hospitals and institutions.

Medical
Intervention
Autism spectrum disorders are recognized as
neurobiologically-based disorders. Individuals with
ASD often require ongoing monitoring and care
by a medical professional to address a number of
conditions such as seizures, anxiety, depression,
obsessive compulsive disorder, gastrointestinal
disorders, or sleep difficulties. Medications may be a
component of treatment, each with its own impact
and potential side effects. The care should take
place under
a qualified
It is essential for educators
medical
professional
to stay abreast of medically
who has
related conditions and
experience
treatment plans. Further,
with children
to provide appropriate
with ASD. It is
essential for
support for the student,
educators to
educators must collaborate
stay abreast
with families and medical
of medically
related
professionals by providing
conditions
information or data
and
regarding observations
treatment
made in the school setting.
plans.
Further,
to provide
appropriate support for the student, educators must
collaborate with families and medical professionals
by providing information or data regarding
observations made in the school setting.

At the root of these goals are the same

expectations outlined for all students.
Education provides opportunities for
acquisition of knowledge and skills
that lead to personal independence
and social responsibility.

Providing an
Effective Education
Goals of Education and
Intervention
There are many different goals for the education
of students with ASD. At the root of these goals are
the same expectations outlined for all students.
Education provides opportunities for acquisition
of knowledge and skills that lead to personal
independence and social responsibility.24 The
IDEA was established to ensure all children with
disabilities have this opportunity. According to IDEA
(2004), the primary purpose of the free appropriate
public education is to prepare students with
disabilities for employment and independent living.
For a student with ASD, considerations regarding
independence and responsible participation in a
social world may include different goals from those
targeted for more typical students or students with
other developmental disabilities. There are many
skills that are part of an academic curriculum that
lead to independence and social responsibility.
However, educational goals for students with ASD
often need to address language, social, behavioral,
and adaptive goals that are not part of standard
curricula (NRC, 2001).

24

V 18 V

Kavale and Forness (1999)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

A Basis in Research

effects of the condition of interest, with

a preference for random-assignment
experiments, or other designs to the
extent that those designs contain withincondition or across-condition controls;

Educational interventions and instructional

methodologies must be validated by scientificallybased research.25 The terms scientifically-based
research and evidence-based practices are often
used interchangeably to describe appropriately
validated practices.
Although the last 20 years have seen an
expansion in available educational practices for
students with ASD, not all are validated and not
all validated practices are appropriate for all
students. Educators of students with ASD must be
knowledgeable of the range of educational practices
(including interventions, methodologies, and
accommodations), and must be able to appropriately
choose and implement such practices based on
individual student need.
Definition of Evidence-Based Practice
According to IDEA (2004) and federal and state
regulations, scientifically-based research means
research that involves the application of rigorous,
systematic, and objective procedures to obtain
reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education
activities and programs and includes research that:
V Employs systematic, empirical methods
that draw on observation or experiment;

V Ensures that experimental studies

are presented in sufficient detail and
clarity to allow for replication or, at a
minimum, offer the opportunity to build
systematically on their findings; and
V Has been accepted by a peer-reviewed
journal or approved by a panel of
independent experts through a comparably
rigorous, objective, and scientific review.27
In accordance with federal regulations28 and
thorough analysis of peer-reviewed literature and
publications, the National Professional Development
Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC-ASD)29
developed a formal definition for evidence-based
practices. This definition is based on rigorous
criteria and is widely accepted as a comprehensive
definition to identify effective practices.
The NPDC defines evidence-based practices for
individuals with ASD as those practices for which
efficacy is established through peer-reviewed
research in scientific journals using one of the
following: 30

V Involves rigorous data analyses that are

adequate to test the stated hypotheses and
justify the general conclusions drawn;
V Relies on measurements or observational
methods that provide reliable and valid
data across evaluators and observers,
across multiple measurements and
observations, and across studies by the
same or different investigators;
V Is evaluated using experimental or
quasi-experimental designs26 in which
individuals, entities, programs, or activities
are assigned to different conditions and
with appropriate controls to evaluate the

V Randomized or quasi-experimental
design studies: Two high quality
experimental or quasi-experimental group
design studies
j High quality randomized or quasiexperimental design studies do not
25

NCLB; IDEA
These are described below in Research Design Explained
27
(20 USC 9501(18); 34 CFR 300.35); 8 VAC 20-81-10
28
(20 USC 9501(18); 34 CFR 300.35); 8 VAC 20-81-10
29
The National Professional Development Center on Autism
Spectrum Disorders is a multi-university center to promote the
use of evidence-based practice for children and adolescents with
autism spectrum disorders. Its Web page can be accessed at
http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/
30
The National Professional Development Center on Autism
Spectrum Disorders (2010)
26

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
have critical design flaws that create
confounds to the studies, and design
features allow readers/consumers to
rule out competing hypotheses for
study findings.
V Single-subject design studies: Three
different investigators or research groups
must have conducted five high quality single
subject design studies
j High quality in single subject design
studies is reflected by a) the absence
of critical design flaws that create
confounds and b) the demonstration
of experimental control at least three
times in each study.
V Combination of evidence: One high
quality randomized or quasi-experimental
group design study and three high quality
single subject design studies conducted
by at least three different investigators or
research groups (across the group and single
subject design studies).

V 20 V

(1) Experimental or Quasi-experimental

Group Designs are used to examine the
effectiveness of a particular intervention
(or combination of interventions) on a
group of students. In these type designs,
the intervention is delivered to a group
of students with similar characteristics
and traits and pretest and posttest
measurement occurs to determine
the effectiveness (or outcome) of the
intervention. These results are then
compared with another group of students
with similar characteristics and traits who
did not receive the intervention or may have
received another intervention. Participants
are randomly assigned across the two
groups in an experimental group design
study; whereas, in quasi-experimental Group
Designs randomization does not occur.

Research Design and Publication

To be considered evidence-based, research must go
through an objective and scientific review. It is often
published in a peer-reviewed journal or publication.
Peer-reviewed literature (also known as refereed
literature) is scholarly work that generally represents
high-quality original research in the field. Prior to
publication, the literature is subject to a screening
process by the journal based on predetermined
standards of quality. Next, the article is reviewed by
peer-reviewers who have expertise in the area of
research. If accepted for publication, the manuscript
is considered to be high quality evidence. Several
of the current peer-reviewed journals in the field
of ASD include: Focus on Children with ASD and
Developmental Disorders, Journal on Autism and
Developmental Disabilities, Research in Autism, and
Journal of Early Intervention.

(2) Single Subject Designs are experimental

designs, but rather than using a between
group comparison to examine the
effectiveness of an intervention, a
within participant analysis occurs (i.e.,
the individual participant serves as
his/her own group). Using a deductive
reasoning approach, single subject design
methodology begins with an experimental
analysis of an intervention on a single or
small group of participants and through
systematic replication increases the
applicability of the intervention to a
larger group of participants. Evaluating
the effectiveness of the intervention
occurs through repeated measurement
of observable behaviors in the presence
and absence of the intervention. An
additional component of single subject
design methodology is the evaluation of
the acceptability or social validity of an
intervention.

Knowledge of research methodology is important for

examining the quality of research studies. The most
commonly referred types of educational research
methodologies include:

(3) Correlational Designs are quantitative

research designs, but differ from
experimental research methodology in
that causal relationships between the

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
dependent and independent variables
cannot be inferred. In correlational design
methodology, randomized assignment of
two groups does not occur. Rather, analyses
are conducted that determine the degree of
the relationship in which the changes in the
dependent measure(s) are influenced by the
intervention. Analyses used include multiple
regression, hierarchical linear modeling and
structural equation modeling. Although
correlational designs are a critical part of
research, unfortunately, they cannot be
utilized to determine a causal relationship
between changes in the behavior as a result
of the intervention. They can; however, be
used to identify (or explain) mediating or
moderating variables that may influence
individuals responsiveness to various
interventions.
(4) Qualitative Designs include various
research methodologies (e.g., case study,
ethnography, action research) that can be
systematically employed to help researchers
understand the qualities of a particular
intervention (or research area of interest).
Qualitative research is considered a
type of scientific research in that data is
generated through various methods (e.g.,
interviews, focus groups, etc.) to obtain
empirical findings. However, the overall
purpose of qualitative designs is different
than other research methodologies. In
general, qualitative research designs are not
typically used to document the effectiveness
of an intervention; but rather, to examine
variables, such as the social validity or other
factors that influence the effectiveness of
that intervention.

Using a Multimodal Approach

Just as individuals on the autism spectrum are
affected differently and to varying degrees, the most
effective interventions for individuals with ASD vary
based on an individuals characteristics, strengths,
areas of need, and learning styles31. Autism Spectrum
Disorder is not a one size fits all disability and

accordingly, it would be narrow-minded to suggest

that an effective education should take a one size
fits all approach. There is not one single universally
effective methodology for all students with ASD. The
highest quality educational programs incorporate
a variety of empirically validated
practices that are specifically selected
There is not one single
to address the multitude of needs for
universally effective
any given student. Intervention must
methodology for all
be properly matched to the particular
students with ASD.
student, the skill being taught, and the
environment in which it is being used.

Assessment Frameworks and

Procedures
A comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment is
an integral part of the educational planning and
instructional programming process for students with
ASD. The use of appropriate assessment tools assists
educational personnel in determining individualized
goals and outcomes for developing an appropriate IEP.
Due to the idiosyncratic communicative and social
characteristics of individuals with ASD, accurate
assessment of an individuals strengths and needs can
be a challenge. Individuals with ASD may not always
be able to understand instructions associated with
assessments and may also have difficulty responding
to test items. They may exhibit off-task behaviors,
distractibility and variable motivation. Therefore,
the use of a variety of assessment tools that can most
accurately (and authentically) identify an individual
students strengths and needs across a variety of
skills and instructional settings is recommended.
Depending on the individual, specific skill set, and
settings, a variety of assessment tools are typically
employed including (1) standardized identification
and assessment tools, (2) informal and curriculumbased assessment, and (3) data driven assessment.
Standardized Assessment Tools
Standardized identification and assessment tools can
be useful in helping with eligibility determination
as well as the educational planning process.
Although each student with ASD has unique skills
and strengths, a comparison of how the individuals
31

Simpson (2005)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
skills are displayed in relation to same age peers can
provide educators with useful information.
Assessments may be conducted to measure a
students skills in a variety of areas. There are four
areas that comprise a core assessment. A language
assessment that captures both expressive and
receptive functioning yields information not only
about knowledge of language concepts but also
its functional use and application. Assessment
of pragmatic communication and social skills
provides important data about the social abilities
of the student. Adaptive behavior helps determine
areas of need required for independence. Finally, an
academic assessment is helpful for the purpose of
framing educational content. In addition to the core
assessment, other areas may require evaluation.
They include attention and skills related to executive
functioning.
Although standardized assessments can be useful
for determining skill levels of individuals with
ASD, it is also important that school personnel are
cognizant that standardized tests (particularly IQ
or other assessments of intellectual functioning)
often provide inaccurate results for these students.
As a result, IQ and other standardized intellectual
measures may underrepresent an individuals skills,
including intelligence.32 It is important to consider
such variables when interpreting scores.

V Area of disability
V Purpose of the assessment
V Population on which it was normed (age,
race, ethnicity, gender)
V Testing format (Is it appropriate for the
student?)
V Provision of a full range of standard scores
V Appropriate for both the chronological and
mental age of the student
V Subsequent revisions to the assessment
V Recently administered assessments
Curriculum-based Assessment
Although formal assessments can be useful in the
initial diagnosis and eligibility process, the use of
informal developmental scales and curriculumbased assessments (CBAs) can often provide a more
authentic and accurate assessment of a students
ability across a variety of environments and settings.
Curriculum-based assessments provide an assessment
of an individuals learning style, preferences, strengths,
and needs. Additionally, these tools can be used to
document progress toward mastery of learning
objectives. In particular, CBAs provide an assessment
of an individuals progress and needs in relation to a
particular curriculum. The following are examples of
several informal evaluations and CBAs that educators
may find helpful when assessing and planning
education programs for students with ASD.

Few standardized assessment tools have been

developed specifically for use with students with ASD.
They include:
V Psychoeducational Profile - Third Edition
(PEP-3; Schopler, Lansing, Reichler, & Marcus,
2005)

V Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Basic Skills

(Brigance, 1983).
V The Assessment of Basic Language and
Learning Skills - Revised (ABLLS-R;
Partington, J., 2006)
V The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment
and Placement Program (VBMAPP)
(Sundberg, M.L., 2008).

V Adolescent and Adult Psychoeducational

Profile (AAPEP; Mesibov, Schopler, Schaffer,
& Landrus, 1988)
Because there are so few assessments specifically
designed for students with ASD, other standardized
measures must be used to assess students skill
levels across a variety of domains. Therefore, when
conducting formal assessment to assist in the
educational planning process, educators must select
evaluations based on a number of factors including:

V 22 V

V Assessment of Social and Communication

Skills for Children with Autism (Quill et al.,
2000)
V Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) (Parks,
M.A., 1997)
32

Lord & Volkmar (2002)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Data-driven Assessment
individuals with disabilities. Within that range, a wide
Standardized and CBAs provide valuable information; variety of plans can be created to meet the distinct
however, the use of functional assessments that
needs of each student. Using the continuum concept
include ongoing data collection is one of the most
makes it more likely that each student will be placed
useful aspects of assessment. This type of assessment
appropriately in an environment that is specifically
is instrumental in assessing true ability
suited for him or her.
and performance in the educational
Due to the learning
arena. In other words, a data-driven
Least Restrictive Environment
characteristics of
assessment answers the question
(LRE)
students
with
ASD,
How does this individual function
The IDEA (2004) requires that students
school divisions
in his/her natural environment?
with disabilities be educated in the
The most common method for dataleast restrictive environment (LRE)
must provide a
driven assessments is the use of direct
appropriate to meet their needs. When
full continuum of
observational procedures; however,
faced with the challenge of selecting an
placement options.
interviews or rating scales completed
appropriate placement for a student,
by individuals who observe students
parents and professionals need to
This requires a
across settings can also be useful in
understand the intent of this law.
flexible model that
gathering pertinent information.
The IDEA (2004) recommends that
is able to address
Data-driven assessments are typically
consideration of the LRE will begin with
the individual
conducted to examine the use of
placement in the regular education
functional skills, such as functional
classroom. However, IDEA (2004)
communication, social, self-help,
recognizes that it is not appropriate to
vocational, and activities of daily living. Additionally,
place all students in this setting. What is required is
a data-driven assessment is often used to examine
individualized consideration of all settings in terms
the functions of challenging behaviors that may
of curriculum content, teaching methods employed,
interfere with an individuals participation in various
socialization opportunities, and all other key aspects
school and community settings (commonly referred
of the educational program. Determination should
to as a Functional Behavioral Assessment [FBA]).
be based on what will best meet the learning needs
Through the use of direct observational procedures
and develop the strengths of the student with ASD.
(and interviews or rating scales) of an individuals
Placement can never be based on the diagnosis or
strengths and needs across various settings and
disability category.
the demands of these settings, educators are able to
gather information for designing an individualized
Placing a student with ASD in a regular classroom
curriculum to help facilitate functional skills across
will likely require individualized supports specifically
natural environments. For examples of data-driven
chosen to address the distinctive learning needs.33
Supports in the form of accommodations and
assessments, see Appendix F.
modifications must be identified and implemented.
Individual Services and Supports
More information on accommodations and
modifications is provided in a subsequent section.
Placement
Due to the learning characteristics of students with
Inclusion Opportunities
ASD, school divisions must provide a full continuum
Most students with ASD require direct instruction
of placement options. This requires a flexible
in communication and social interaction. They also
model that is able to address the individual needs
benefit from the opportunity to learn from and with
of these students. Placement options range from
peers who do not have ASD. Teaching students how to
total inclusive settings where students with ASD
form relationships, understand the feelings of others,
receive their education alongside nondisabled peers
33
Harrower & Dunlap (2001)
to private placement in residential programs for
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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
and develop appropriate social skills is likely just as
important as academic learning when considering
the future potential of the individual. Because social
development is the greatest area of need, schools
carry an important responsibility to work this into
the curriculum whether the student with ASD is
in the regular educational setting or the special
education classroom.34 Failing to provide students
with ASD with social and learning opportunities is
likely to substantially impede development.
An important consideration regarding placement
is the amount of inclusion with peers. Inclusion is
the practice of placing individuals with disabilities
into settings and situations with their peers without
disabilities. Providing inclusive experiences allows the
individual with ASD to observe, learn, and practice
social and communication skills in the very place they
will use them. The
degree of inclusion
Teaching students how to form
should be driven by
relationships, understand the
the students needs
feelings of others, and develop
as determined by
the IEP team, not
appropriate social skills is likely
by the divisions
just as important as academic
convenience. Teams
learning when considering the
must assure a
balance between
future potential of the individual.
direct, specialized
Because social development is
instruction and
the greatest area of need, schools
inclusion. For many
carry an important responsibility
students with
Aspergers Disorder,
to work this into the curriculum
for example, their
whether the student with ASD is in
educational program
the regular educational setting or
is unbalanced
with too much
the special education classroom.
time in inclusion
and not enough
direct instruction in social communication and
interaction. Likewise, students with ASD who
also have a significant intellectual disability
frequently experience the opposite; too much
direct instruction time in self contained special
education environments and not enough inclusive
opportunities.

Inclusive experiences, therefore, require planning and

coordination among team members. It is necessary
to ensure the student is appropriately supported. This
is especially important given the intense challenge
students with ASD face in social functioning. To
increase the success of inclusion experiences and
maximize learning, educational teams have to:
V Balance inclusive experiences with a
students need for direct, specialized
instruction;
V Select the inclusive environment that will
result in the students meeting their goals;
V Assure that supports and instructional
strategies are provided which will result in
student learning; and
V Develop easy, informative, and effective
communication between team members.
Modifications and Accommodations
Accommodations and modifications are tools and
procedures that provide equal access to instruction
and assessment for students with disabilities. They
provide necessary supports for learning, becoming
independent, and demonstrating social responsibility.
According to the National Transitional Longitudinal
Study (2007), regardless of the educational placement
(special education classes, vocational classes, general
education classes) most students with ASD will
require curricular modifications, accommodations,
and learning supports throughout their educational
career.
Accommodations and modifications are determined
by the IEP team. For students with ASD, there are
many important factors to consider based on their
unique learning characteristics. The list below
provides a number of critical considerations. This
is not an exhaustive list. Further, supports will vary
significantly based on the student. Each area of
potential accommodation or modification should be
considered individually and be based on educational
need.
V Completion of arrival, departure, and
transitions;
V Organization of possessions and materials;
V Completion of classroom routines;
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V Impact of classroom / school design and
structure;
V Ability to follow schedules;
V Ability to follow rules;
V Impact of sensory stimulation;
V Organization of assignments;
V Completion of assignment;
V Completion of testing;
V Written performance;
V Participation in cooperative work;
V Completion of homework;
V Level of stress and agitation;
V Ability to communicate;
V Comprehension of language;
V Independence with self-help skills; and
V Interaction with peers.
Related Services
The pervasive nature of ASD often results in the need
for a wide array of services to address the myriad
of needs and impact on educational performance.
Students with ASD are four times more likely to
receive educational and school-based services than
students with other disabilities.35 Currently, students
with ASD are most likely to receive speech-language
therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior
management programs.

According to the 2010 Virginia Regulations Governing
Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities,
related services means transportation and such
developmental, corrective, and other supportive
services that are required to assist a student with a
disability to benefit from special education. Related
services include:
V speech-language pathology and audiology
services;
V interpreting services;
V psychological services;
V physical and occupational therapy;
V recreation, including therapeutic
recreation;
V early identification and assessment of
disabilities in students;
V counseling services, including
rehabilitation counseling;
V orientation and mobility services;

V medical services for diagnostic or

evaluation purposes;
V school health services and school nurse
services;
V social work services in schools; and
V parent counseling and training.
The list of related services is not exhaustive and
may include other developmental, corrective, or
supportive services if they are required to assist a
student with a disability to benefit from special
education.

Educational Curriculum
Curriculum is an organized program of instruction
designed by a team of professionals that responds
to the changing needs of individuals and supports
growth toward independence and lifelong learning.
Considerations of curricula involve much more than
what to teach. Comprehensive curricula include
the following: (a) scope and sequence of content
taught, (b) the ways in which goals are prioritized,
(c) the design of the educational environment,
(d) educational materials, and (e) the range of
instructional strategies incorporated. To put
succinctly, curricula considerations include both
what is taught and how it is taught.
Determining curricula is an ongoing process to
ensure individualization and appropriateness.
Evaluation of all curricular components should
occur on a regular basis.
Progress should be monitored
Determining curricula
frequently and adjustments
is an ongoing process to
made accordingly. Figure 1 on
ensure individualization
the next page shows how data
informs educational practice
and appropriateness.
and instructional strategies
through the instructional
process.
To determine an appropriate curriculum there
should be a thorough evaluation of the following:
V Social behavior
V Language and communication
35

Mandell, Walrath, Manteuffel, Sgro & Pinto-Martin (2005)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Figure 1: The Instructional Process

determine appropriate instructional methodologies

and whether accommodations are required.

Plan
Revise
Teaching
Strategy
Teach

Instructional
Process
Evaluate
Success of
Strategy

V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V

Collect
Data

Adaptive behavior
Motor skills
Atypical behaviors
Academic performance
Work habits including attention span,
distractibility, and organization
Level of independence
Motivation and interests
Access to typical peers
Need for individual versus group instruction
Need for multi-context (school, within
school, community) instruction
Continuity of programming across contexts

General Curriculum
In Virginia, the minimum curricular expectations
for academic achievement is found in the Virginia
Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework or
the ASOL Curriculum Framework, as determined
to be appropriate for a student with a disability by
the IEP team. The Virginia Standards of Learning
Curriculum Framework is the general curriculum,
to which students with disabilities must have access
to the greatest extent possible. While adhering to
the requirement that students with disabilities
have access to the general education curriculum,
the IEP team will determine additional curricular
components. To implement the IEPs curricular
components, educational professionals will

V 26 V

Functional Curriculum
For some students, educational needs will be
so immediate that functional skills may be the
dominant curricular focus, with the goal that the
Aligned Standards of Learning and Standards of
Learning will have more applicability. A functional
curriculum is one focused on practical academic and
life skills and is usually taught in community-based
settings or natural environments with concrete
materials that are
a regular part of
A functional curriculum is
everyday life. The
purpose of this
one focused on practical life
type of instruction
skills and usually taught in
is to maximize
community-based settings or
the students
natural environments with
generalization of
his/her skills to
concrete materials that are a
real life. Learning
regular part of everyday life.
with a functional
curriculum is
critical to helping some students with ASD reach
their potential as active participants in home, school,
and community environments.
Mixtures of Curriculum
Often there is a balance that needs to be met when
developing IEPs for students with ASD. There is
not one curriculum mode that suits each person.
The students age, current level of functioning, and
parental input must be considered when developing
a comprehensive program that will address the
needs of a student. It may be necessary to use a
mixed-method curriculum to recognize a students
individual knowledge, readiness, language, learning
style, and interests. A mixed curriculum is most likely
to be built around existing general curriculum and
to involve teachers alterations, modifications and
enhancements. The intent of a mixed curriculum is
to maximize each students growth and individual
success by meeting each student where he or she is
and assisting in the learning process.
Too often students with Aspergers Disorder who
have the academic skill to graduate with a standard

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
or higher designation diploma do not receive
specialized instruction in important social and
functional living skills that would increase their
outcomes. Thus, too many students with higher
academic abilities are not able to achieve successful
employment or independent living because of the
lack of specialized instruction in these important
areas. A student with ASD who is able to manage
complex academic work should not have to sacrifice
their academic goals to receive instruction in
functional and social skill needs. They should
not have to choose between receiving specialized
instruction in functional work and daily living
skills or academic rigor. Instead, IEP teams should
be flexible and take advantage of the extra time
provided to students with disabilities to meet their
functional and academic instructional needs.

in more uneven growth of skills. Likewise, failing

to encourage functional use of splinter skills can be
a missed opportunity. Splinter skills can represent
opportunities for future employment if they are
nurtured to functional use. Sometimes, splinter
skills can be used as a strategy to assist the students
learning in other areas.
Due to the complexity of ASD, it is crucial for
educators to take into account the tremendous array
of needs. The following section outlines focus areas
for educational intervention for students with ASD.

Social Development and Peer Interaction

Characteristics of Social Development
and Peer Interaction:
Qualitative impairment in social interaction
is regarded as the hallmark characteristic of
Focus Areas for
ASD. Students with ASD demonstrate qualitative
Educational Intervention
differences in social interaction and often have
difficulty establishing relationships. Social
ASD encompasses an extremely broad continuum
ability ranges from being socially aloof, to being
of features in individual students.36 This results in
socially remote, to being overly social but acting
unique learning characteristics that differ widely
inappropriately or odd. The difficulties demonstrated
from typical learners as well as learners with other
with social functioning should not be seen as a lack
types of disabilities (Simpson, 2005).
of interest or unwillingness to
The multidimensional nature of this
interact with others; ineffective
Too often students with
disorder provides a complex set of
interactions may result from
Aspergers Disorder
issues for educators. Adding to the
an inability to distill social
complexity is the presence of a wide
information from the situation
who have the academic
array of abilities and difficulties.
and a deficiency or absence of
skills to graduate with
Students with ASD may have a
appropriate skills to respond.
a standard or higher
spectrum of skills. This means
Individuals with ASD may not
designation diploma do
that his or her abilities may be
notice important social cues and
significantly delayed in some areas
may miss necessary environmental
not receive specialized
of development and advanced in
or personal information needed
instruction in important
others. It is important to note that
to be successful. Further, they
social
and
functional
educators sometimes confuse these
may demonstrate impairment
splinter skills as representing a
in the use of behaviors and
living skills that would
students overall ability. When such
communication needed to regulate
increase their outcomes.
assumptions are made, significant
a social situation.
errors may result in reported levels
of performance and related goals and educational
Social skill development is an essential curricular
methods. For example, if a student with ASD has a
area for students with ASD, as well as a crucial
splinter skill in mathematical operations, a student
component of any intervention plan for changing
may not understand mathematical quantitative
problem behaviors. Being capable in social
and positional concepts. Focusing on the area of
36
Johnson (2007)
strength and overlooking the area of need will result
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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
situations allows the individual to successfully
participate in meaningful life activities. Lack of social
understanding impacts all aspects of community
involvement including work, school, interpersonal
relationships and recreational
activities. In order to help students,
Being capable in
it is necessary to carefully assess
social situations
their social competencies to
allows the individual
determine which social skills
to successfully
must be directly taught. Students
with ASD do not learn social
participate in
skills incidentally by observation
meaningful life
and participation. It is generally
activities.
necessary to target specific skills for
explicit instruction and to provide
support for using the skills in social situations.

of language.)37 Some students with ASD may appear

as though communication is unimportant.
This is likely not an intentional action but rather an
inability to understand the need to communicate,
how to communicate, or even what to communicate.
Engagement in echolalia, the repetition of another
persons speech without communicative intent,
is especially common in autistic disorder. Also
common is perseveration on a word or phrase, or
using the same word or phrase to convey different
messages. Those with Aspergers Disorder may be
quite verbal, but may limit their communication
to only a few all-consuming topics, may use
overly formal language, or display atypical speech
patterns.38

Being able to communicate with others is perhaps

the most important consideration for
students with ASD and may be one of
Helping students
the greatest challenges for educators
with ASD develop
and families. Most people are unaware
communication skills
of the complexity of the development of
so they can request,
typical language and communication
skills, because for most children, this
interact socially,
occurs seemingly automatically. Many
share and seek
students with ASD have not developed
information, express
the skills needed for spontaneous
communication, and must therefore
emotions, and protest
be taught. Helping students with ASD
or escape aversive
develop communication skills so they
situations must be a
can request, interact socially, share and
priority.
seek information, express emotions, and
protest or escape aversive situations must
Communication
be a priority. Supporting all forms of
Characteristics of Communication:
communication, including verbal, signing, pictorial
All people with ASD experience language and
and augmentative devices promote learning. For
communication difficulties, although there
those with limited or no verbal communication,
are considerable differences in abilities among
teaching a combination of forms (e.g., verbal and
individuals. Impairment is present in both
pictorial, pictorial and sign) is often beneficial.
understanding and use of communication.
Communication skills can range from nonverbal,
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Motivation to communicate
gestural, use of single words, use of phrases, all the
V Function of communication
way to fluid speech and language. For some with
V Means of communication
Aspergers Disorder, language skills can even be
advanced. Those with extensive language generally
have deficits in the area of pragmatics (the social use
37
National Research Council (2001)

Instructional Focus Areas:

V Joint attention
V Nonverbal interaction
V Imitation
V Peer interaction
V Turn taking
V Sharing
V Social reciprocity
V Emotional reciprocity
V Self-regulation
V Group interaction/
participation
V Self-awareness
V Perspective taking
V Social rules
V Social hierarchy

38

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
V Ability to understand and use nonverbal
communication, such as gestures and
other subtleties of communication, such as
personal space
V Conversational skills
V Voice quality
V Pragmatic skills
Activities of Daily Living
Characteristics of Self-help and Independence Skills:
Activities of daily living refer to personal care
activities necessary for everyday living. Although the
range of skills can be defined more or less broadly,
virtually all categorizations include a focus on selfcare skills related to basic biological functions and
include such activities as eating and toileting. Other
activities pertain to personal, home and community
living skills, with applicable areas for young children
including dressing, grooming, cleaning up and
safety-related behaviors. Impairment in activities
of daily living may be present in any student with
ASD regardless of ability. For example, the sevenyear-old student with autism may not dress himself
independently, while the seven year old with
Aspergers Disorder may have difficulty with buttons
and snaps on clothing.
One of the fundamental goals of education is that
a student acquires the skills needed to function as
independently as possible in the world. There are
many behaviors that typically developing students
learn without specialized teaching, but require
specific instruction for those with ASD. For students

Teaching adaptive skills, with specific

plans for generalization across settings,
is an important educational objective
for every student with ASD.
with Aspergers Disorder this may entail instruction
related to activities involving fine motor skills such as
tying a bow, or organizational tasks such as packing a
book bag. Teaching adaptive skills, with specific plans
for generalization across settings, is an important
educational objective for every student with ASD.

Instructional Focus Areas:

V Toileting
V Personal hygiene
V Dressing
V Eating
V Schedules
V Routines
V Material preparation
V Organization
V Task completion
V Cleaning up
V School independence
V Home independence
V Safety
V Health care
V Community independence
V Transportation related skills
Play and Leisure
Characteristics of Play, Recreation, and Leisure:
Purposeful play, recreation and leisure the
ways in which we spend our personal time and
develop interests that result in relationships and
employment choices may not naturally occur
for students with ASD. These students, therefore,
may not play in a manner that is beneficial for
development. Skill deficits and interfering behavior
often inhibit productive play. Instead of playing
with toys in imaginative or symbolic ways, they may
perseverate on objects, use them for self-stimulation,
or engage in repetitive acts. Play in students with
ASD is often solitary. An assumption should not be
made that the student does not want to play with
peers, but instead, may not have the skills needed to
interact successfully.
Educational programs for students with ASD often
need to include a play or leisure component to help
develop skills and teach the student how to use spare
time productively. Students may need support in
finding appropriate tasks and learning activities,
then expanding time on task. Developing activities
that can be enjoyed at home and school are both
important.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Concrete play
V Parallel play

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
V Time on task
V Dramatic play
V Social play
V Games
V Rule following
V Using strategy
Attention
Characteristics of Attention:
Individuals with ASD fail to receive information
in the same way as their peers due to atypical
patterns of attending. Those with ASD have difficulty
sustaining attention for extended periods of time
and also shifting attention appropriately. Attending
may be impacted by the individuals restricted
range of interests. Impairment is also common
in controlling the direction of the attention.
Attending to irrelevant aspects of a situation may
lead to missing key information or attending to
meaningless components.
Use of structure and supports can help mediate
the impact of attention difficulties. Systematically
providing instruction designed to improve skills
related to attending and time on task may be
necessary. For many students, especially those who
have strong cognitive abilities, it may be helpful to
teach them to identify when they are attending
or on task. This is a valuable skill that can be
used in a myriad of real life contexts to increase
independencies.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Sustained attention
V Saliency (what is important)
V Shifting attention
Executive Functioning
Characteristics of Executive Functioning:
Executive functioning incorporates the mental
processes needed to plan and execute actions.
Present are deficits in the cognitive abilities that
allow the individual to perform such tasks efficiently
and successfully. Individuals with ASD are reported
to have challenges in many components related to
executive functioning including organizing, working
memory, impulse control, inhibition, and mental

flexibility, as well as the initiation and monitoring

of actions. This results in impaired performance in
problem solving and planning for future behavior.
Executive functioning skills are clearly required for
learning. Further, they are needed for goal-directed
behavior.39 Similar to attending, direct instruction
targeting relevant components of executive
functioning may be required. For example, a student
may benefit from receiving direct instruction on
inhibiting a response or learning how to problem
solve. Additionally, to facilitate independence,
structure and supports are often a requisite
component of the educational plan.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Goal setting
V Planning
V Task completion
V Sequencing steps
V Organization skills
V Initiation
V Inhibition
V Pacing
V Self-monitoring
V Emotional regulation
Academic Performance
Characteristics of Academic Performance:
Academic performance, for this discussion,
refers to tasks related to traditional reading and
mathematics skills as well as science and social
studies. The cognitive abilities of students with ASD
vary significantly and are impacted by their social
and communication skills. ASD may affect aspects of
cognition, which in turn impacts important areas
of thinking and learning. Students will likely have
difficulty with abstract concepts and nuances and
have a greater ability to learn material by rote than
by symbolism and analogy.40 These factors are likely
to result in challenges in learning academic content.
Adding further concern is the possibility of uneven
skill development. Abilities may be significantly
delayed in some areas of development and advanced
39
40

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Verte (2006)
National Research Council (2001); Klin and Shepard, 1994)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Often, strengths of the student with ASD

can be used to support their learning in
areas of difficulty.
in others. Some may demonstrate advanced
development or giftedness. Possible areas of
giftedness include memory, focus, calculation, block
design, music and art.41, 42
Targeting academic skills is obviously a federal
and state requirement. Determining what skills
to target and how they are taught are important
considerations for each student. Students may
require adaptations or modifications to academic
work. Making content concrete and understandable
and focusing on higher level language skills may be
beneficial. Often, strengths of the student with ASD
can be used to support their learning in areas of
difficulty.43 Determination of instructional content
is discussed further in other sections of this Guide.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Reading
V Mathematics
V Science
V Social Studies
Motor Skills
Characteristics of Motor Skills:
Gross and fine motor deficits are frequently
present in individuals with ASD. In the area of gross
motor, the person may appear to be clumsy or
uncoordinated. Participation in physical education
or group games may be a challenge. With regard
to fine motor, the person may have poor, slow, or
labored penmanship. They may have difficulty with
activities of daily living such as buttoning, zipping
or snapping. Decreased or increased muscle tone
may be present making performance of everyday
activities difficult. Motor planning may also be
impacted resulting in problems executing steps to a
motor activity such as kicking a ball or tying a shoe.
These deficits may result in decreased awareness
of the environment, diminished learning, and
difficulty with the completion of even routine

activities. Motor development plays an important

role in learning. Young students typically use
motor skills to explore the environment, engage in
physical activities, and develop basic academic skills,
such as handwriting. Instruction regarding motor
skills should target activities needed for increased
independence and social interaction. For example,
opening a straw wrapper will increase independence
at lunch. Learning to throw a ball may increase social
interaction at recess. As with most skills, for the
student with ASD, practice is necessary. Instruction
often requires direct focus with opportunities for
execution each day. It is often necessary to elicit
the services of an occupational therapist to address
motor functioning.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Motor control
V Postural stability
V Muscle tone
V Handwriting
V Coloring
V Cutting
V Playground related skills
V Activities of daily living related skills
Sensory Processing
Characteristics of Sensory Processing:
Sensory motor processing involves the ability to take
in information from the environment, organize
it, make sense of it and execute a response. When
the system is working correctly, this happens
automatically and we move and respond smoothly.
When the sensory system is not functioning
appropriately, there may be interference, distractions,
and difficulty with behavior. There are seven senses
we use. These include visual, auditory, olfactory,
oral, tactile, proprioceptive (registration of where
your body is in space and in relation to objects), and
vestibular (balance and movement). Oversensitivity
and/or undersensitivity to sensory input is common.
Sensory experiences can be distorted and confusing.
It is not unusual for an individual to be hypersensitive
(overly sensitive) in one or more senses (i.e., noise and
41

Johnson (2007); Williams (2005)

National Research Council (2001)
43
National Research Council (2001)
42

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
light) and hyposensitive (under sensitive) in others
(i.e., pain and cold). The preferences and combination
of preferences or aversions towards certain sensory
experiences is highly individualized.
In response to sensory sensitivities, students with
ASD may avoid or attempt to avoid activities that
contain certain stimulation. For example, the
individual who is sensitive to noise may attempt
to avoid a loud cafeteria. Conversely, the individual
who is understimulated may seek activities that will
provide the desired input. An example is a student
who craves proprioceptive input may frequently
crawl under his desk or under a bean bag. The draw
to certain stimuli can be strong enough to create
a fixation. These sensory abnormalities make
everyday life challenging and detract from learning
experiences.
Parents and teachers must work together to identify
the sensory profile of the student and to determine
appropriate strategies to address each. A professional
who is knowledgeable about sensory motor
processing should be consulted for specific strategies
for any individual. Generally, this professional is an
occupational therapist.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Coping skills
V Desensitization
V Self-management
V Self-awareness
V Self-advocacy in communicating sensory
needs
V Ability to proactively or appropriately
seek means to receive desired sensory
experiences
Sexuality
Characteristics of Sexuality:
Sexuality is a natural part of life that each person
has the right to express. The social, communication,
and sensory difficulties present in individuals with
ASD can impede sexual development. Challenges
with sexuality can take many forms. There may
be difficulty with expression as the individual
may not know what is considered appropriate or
inappropriate behavior. Issues related to time and

V 32 V

place are common. Unacceptable social contact or

problems with privacy may also be a concern.
Sexuality can lead to personal dignity, higher quality
of life, and interpersonal relationships. Therefore, it is
critical not to overlook this area. Teaching techniques
regarding sexuality must be functional and concrete
and include the broad range of issues related to this
area.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Understanding ones own body
V Appropriate care
V Rules for sexual expression
V Privacy
V Social contact
Self-determination
Characteristics of Self-Determination:
Attaining the goals of economic independence
and self-sufficiency depends upon first being selfdetermined. Self-determination is essentially the
ability to make meaningful choices in ones own life
free from undue external influences. Individuals
with ASD may have little to no experience with
expressing personal preferences, making decisions
based on those preferences and assuming personal
responsibility. This may be attributed to issues
with cognition, communication, or simply a lack of
opportunity.
Promoting self-determination means addressing
skills, knowledge, and attitudes students will need
to take more control over and responsibility for
their lives (Clarke, et al. 2004). Educators not only
must teach self-determination but also refrain
from unnecessarily imposing limitations on
self-determination. Increasing instruction in selfdetermination requires incorporating opportunities
into all aspects of
the day. This can
Attaining the goals of
be easily done
by increasing
economic independence
occasions for
and self-sufficiency
choice making
depends upon first
and control. While
a student with
being self-determined.
ASD may not be

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
able to execute all components of self-determination,
there are portions of even complex skills such as
decision-making or problem-solving in which
students can participate, thus making them more
self-determined.

must be identified and careful consideration given to

their impact. For those behaviors that interfere with
functioning or reduce safety, intensive instruction to
reduce or mediate the impact of the behavior may be
necessary.

The Virginia Department of Educations Im

Determined project provides direct instruction,
models and opportunities to develop and practice
skills related to self-determination. Additional
information can be found on the project Web site
(https://php.radford.edu/~imdetermined/).

Many of the restricted and repetitive behaviors

associated with ASD may be caused by a number
of different factors, such as a hypersensitivity or
hyposensitivity to sensory stimulation, difficulties
in understanding social situations, limited play
skills, difficulties with changes in routine, and
anxiety. When planning instruction, educators need
to consider the behavior and its function for that
individual student and develop a plan accordingly.
Successful teaching strategies should focus on
making environmental adaptations to decrease
interfering behavior and help the student learn other
more appropriate behaviors that will serve the same
function.

Instructional Focus Areas:

V Making choices
V Accessing resources
V Communicating preferences
V Making decisions
V Setting attainable goals
V Time management
V Identifying problems and solutions
V Advocating for accommodations
V Self-awareness
V Developing greater awareness of individual
needs
Restricted and Repetitive Patterns of Behavior
Characteristics of Restrictive and Repetitive
Behaviors:
Students with ASD often demonstrate unusual
and distinctive patterns of behaviors, including
preoccupation with objects or parts of objects,
intense interest in specific topics, or an intense need
for sameness. Students may engage in stereotyped,
or repetitive motor movements, which commonly
manifest as finger flicking, hand flapping, unusual
eye gazing, habitual toe walking, and or spinning.44
It is common for such behaviors to interfere with
the students education. Stereotypies can interfere
with learning new behaviors and task completion
and perseverations may limit motivation.45 These
behaviors may also impact social performance. For
example, a narrow range of interests may dominate
conversations, and conversations may be one-sided.
At times, safety may be a concern as safety awareness
is absent or limited. When developing an educational
plan, restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors

Instructional Focus Areas:

V Communication skills
V Social skills
V Play skills
V Coping skills
V Self-management
V Safety awareness
Interfering Behavior
Characteristics of Interfering Behavior:
Some individuals with ASD display challenging
behavior that can interfere or be a barrier to
successful inclusion and learning. Interfering
behavior can take many forms and range in severity.
Tantrums are common. Behavior may elaborate into
self-injury, aggression, or property destruction. Most
interfering behaviors serve a specific function in the
life of the student and are a form of communication.
An important aspect of educational planning is to
address behavior through conducting a functional
behavior assessment and incorporating a behavior
intervention plan. In order to change the behavior
we must assess the function of problem behavior and
44
45

Johnson (2007)
Johnson (2007)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
teach a functional skill that will accomplish the same
outcome for the person (also called a replacement
behavior).46 With this view, it is important to
understand that problem behavior is not something
that has to be suppressed. Instead, problem behavior
is something that serves a purpose and should
be appropriately replaced. More information on
addressing interfering behaviors in the following
Ensuring Students Ability to Access Education
section.
Instructional Focus Areas:
V Communication skills
V Social skills
V Play skills
V Coping skills
V Self-management
V Safety awareness

Important
Considerations in
Educational
Programming
Early Intervention
Parents of students with ASD generally identify
concerns by the age of 12 to 18 months. 47 Some
parents noticed symptoms from birth, while other
parents describe normal development until around
16 to 20 months. While research indicates that the
time of onset does not predict the eventual outcomes
experienced by students with ASD, new data make
it clear that students who are diagnosed early
and who participate in appropriate intervention
programs for at least 25 hours per week generally
have better outcomes, including less restrictive
future educational environments.48 Children
suspected of having an ASD should enter into an
46

ONeill, Horner, Albin, Sprague, Storey, & Newton (1997)

Zwaigenbaum (2009)
48
Johnson (2007)
49
NRC (2001)
47

V 34 V

early intervention program as soon as concern is

identified.49

Generalization
Students with ASD have difficulty applying
learned skills in new or novel situations, a concept
known as generalization. Accounting for
generalization should be a core component of the
educational curriculum. The students ability to
generalize should be considered across a variety
of circumstances: time, settings, materials, and
persons. Each is explained below:
Time maintenance of the skill over time,
especially after the conclusion of
instruction.
Settings ability to apply the skill outside of
the environment in which it was acquired,
for example, in other areas of the school
building or division, at home, and in the
community.
Materials ability to transfer the skill to other
examples of the same item.
Persons ability to apply the skill regardless of
who is in the environment and with whom
the student is interacting.
For many students, careful planning must occur
to ensure generalization of skills. Students must
practice skills using a variety of environments,
materials and people. When assessing skill mastery,
generalization should be included in data collection.
The following strategies may assist in fostering skill
generalization:
V Include realistic environmental features
in skill instruction and teaching
environments.
V Conduct skill instruction in as naturally
occurring environments as possible.
V Conduct skill instruction in a variety of
settings with a variety of instructors.
V Pair skill instruction with naturally
occurring, positively rewarding
consequences.
V Transfer mastered skills to a variety of
environments.

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Assistive Technology
Assistive Technologies (AT) are the tools and
strategies that provide students with disabilities
access to applications (hardware or software) that
assist with interactions and learning. Educational
and Assistive Technologies give students with
disabilities greater access to the general education
curriculum and settings, and greater possibilities to
master content, interact with others and increase
independence. In addition, AT can significantly
impact self-expression, self-esteem, and overall
quality of life.
According to IDEA (2004) and the 2010 Regulations
Governing Special Education Programs for Children with
Disabilities in Virginia, Assistive Technology means
any item, piece of equipment, or product system,
whether acquired commercially off the shelf,
modified, or customized, that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve the functional capabilities
of a person with a disability. Assistive technology
services refer to any service that directly assists the
person with a disability in the selection, acquisition,
or use of an AT device. The term includes:
1. The evaluation of the needs of a student
with a disability, including a functional
evaluation of the student in the students
customary environment;
2. Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing
for the acquisition of assistive technology
devices for students with disabilities;
3. Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing,
adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing,
or replacing assistive technology devices;
4. Coordinating and using other therapies,
interventions, or services with AT devices,
such as those associated with existing
education and rehabilitation plans and
programs;
5. Training or technical assistance for a
student with a disability or, if appropriate,
that students family; and

6. Training or technical assistance for

professionals (including individuals
providing education or rehabilitation
services), employers, or other individuals
who provide services to employ or are
otherwise substantially involved in the
major life functions of that student.
Care must be taken to consider AT for the range of
learning needs identified in a student with ASD. AT
considerations should not be limited to expressive
communication needs. AT can be considered for
at least the following areas of need according
to Virginia Department of Educations Assistive
Technology: A Framework for Consideration and
Assessment (2008):
V Writing
V Spelling
V Reading
V Mathematics
V Study/organizational skills
V Listening
V Communication
V Activities of daily living
V Recreation, leisure and adaptive play
V Positioning, seating and mobility
V Computer access
Assistive Technology can be of different levels
and complexities and can be considered no-tech,
low-tech, mid-tech, or high-tech tools. It is not the
complexity of the tool that is the consideration, but
the impact on the student. Examples of ATs include:
Reading and writing software
Alphasmart, Neo, Intellitalk, books on tape
Low technology reading and writing
materials pencil grip, electronic spell
checkers, editing tools
Computer peripherals intellikeys, switches,
touchscreens
Other computers, iPad, iTouch, assistive
technology applications, calculators, digital
cameras

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Augmentative and Alternative

Communication
Assistive and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
is a type of Assistive Technology for communication.
Difficulty with communication is a critical issue for
students with ASD. Communication impairments can
impact an individuals ability to either communicate
with others (expressive communication) and/
or receive communication from others (receptive
communication). AAC interventions assist
individuals with communication impairments
to increase skills in this area and to become more
competent communicators.
It is critical for IEP teams to consider AAC for any
student with ASD. For some students, AAC may act as
the primary mode of communication. For others, it
may be a secondary form. AAC may supplement or
augment verbal communication providing the means
for the student to communicate more effectively
and efficiently. In many instances, it even fosters
increased verbal communication. Research has
demonstrated that AAC often results in increased
verbal production (Schlosser & Wendt, 2008).

It is important for IEP teams to consider

AAC for any student with ASD. For some
students, AAC may act as the primary
mode of communication. For others,
it may be a secondary form. AAC
may supplement or augment verbal
communication providing the means
for the student to communicate more
effectively and efficiently. In many
instances, it even fosters increased
verbal communication. Research has
demonstrated that AAC often results in
increased verbal production (Schlosser &
Wendt, 2008).
potential for change through instruction. Immediacy
of need for increased or improved communication
is a vital consideration and may often be a decisive
factor.

The Educational Environment

There is not one single AAC system appropriate
to all students with ASD. An array of technologies
and systems is available. Each draws on different
skills and takes advantage of different strengths.
Individuals with ASD have been successful using
low-technology AAC systems such as gestures or
sign language as well as concrete visual-spatial
systems (e.g., photographs, pictures, written words).
Technological advances in AAC have provided a
voice to many individuals through voice output
communication aids and talking word processors.
Choosing the appropriate AAC system depends upon a
proper assessment of an individuals current ability to
communicate, or communicative competence. There
is currently not a standard assessment protocol
available nor is there an autism- or ASD-specific AAC
assessment. Determination of AAC interventions
requires a team approach and a careful analysis of the
students abilities, performance related to receptive
and expressive communication, and his or her

V 36 V

Individuals with ASD benefit from an environment

that is structured and that provides predictability
and organization. Professionals and parents should
work together to create an environment that
promotes consistency and enhances independence.
Structure is a key consideration for all educational
settings regardless of whether it is a general
education or special education classroom, or another
setting in the school such as the cafeteria, art room,
or playground. The following considerations are
critical for providing structure and predictability.

Organization and Structure

Physical Environment
A poorly planned or ill-designed physical learning
environment can sabotage learning by imposing
distractions, creating sensory reactions or
producing anxiety. The physical environment must
be simplistic and organized with clearly defined

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
physical boundaries. Minimize distractions, both
auditory and visual. Intended paths of travel and
item locations should be obvious. Different activities
should occur in specific, obvious locations. Convey
the purpose of an area with pictures. Matching
pictures can be included on a daily picture schedule
and/or transportable pictures carried by a student
navigating the room.

motivation. When choosing how to prepare for a

transition, consideration should be given to how the
student best receives information and reasons for
the transition difficulties.
Timekeeping
Understanding temporal relations, or the passage
of time, is difficult for many individuals with ASD.
Providing an appropriate timekeeping device
or strategy to indicate the length of an activity
can reduce anxiety and support independence. A
clock, stopwatch, alarm and hour/minute glass are
examples of timekeeping pieces that can be provided
to an individual student or class.

Schedules
The use of schedules can help the student to be
aware of upcoming activities, assignments, and
events. A daily schedule can make the day more
predictable and less anxiety provoking. A weekly
schedule can relieve uncertainty about upcoming
events. The schedule should reveal
whether it is a typical day or a day
Individuals with
with unusual events. In the case
ASD benefit from an
of unusual events, preparation
environment that is
should take place well before its
actual occurrence. A schedule
structured and that
should be based on the needs of
provides predictability
the student. This means the length
and organization.
of the schedule, level of detail and
Professionals and
symbolic representation should be
individualized. Any one or more of the
parents should work
following can be used to represent
together to create
activities and events:
an environment that
V Physical Objects
V Photographs
promotes consistency
V Drawings
and enhances
V Written language50

Supplies
Organization of materials can be
problematic resulting in difficulty
preparing for class activities, working
on assignments and even completing
daily routines. Arrangement of
materials should be carefully
planned to orchestrate accessibility
and easy management. Additional
organization measures such as
labeling or color coding may be
helpful.

Rules
Class rules are an important
component of an orderly educational
environment. Rules should be
independence.
minimal (no more than five) and easy
Transitions
to comprehend and apply. Rules can
Transitioning is a significant issue for students
be represented in a format that is readily understood
with ASD. This may include transitioning from one
by the student. This may include pictures, drawings
activity to another, from one setting to another,
and/or words. Steps should be taken to ensure the
or from one teacher to another. Individuals with
student with ASD knows, understands, and can apply
ASD may not be aware of naturally occurring
the rules in a variety of situations.
environmental cues signaling a change, whether
Classroom Management
routine or unusual. Further, they may not be aware
of what is happening next. Advanced preparation
Classroom management for a classroom with a
for the transition and the pending activity can
student with ASD, whether general education or
prevent students from feeling anxious, frustrated,
special education, is going to be a mix of traditional
and overwhelmed. Clearly defined expectations can
increase knowledge of the rules, while reinforcement
for appropriate behavior may provide the necessary
50
Dyrbjerg (2007)
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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

It is crucial that teachers

spend time outside of
school hours to create a
classroom management
system that will optimize
direct instruction of
students, engagement,
and result in learning,
while minimizing chaos
or confusion for staff and
students.

and nontraditional classroom

management techniques.
Traditional techniques entail
such strategies as creating
rules, lesson plans, routines,
and classroom procedures,
while nontraditional
techniques include such
strategies as using visual
supports, providing schedules,
and collaborating with many
adults in a single day.

An important part of
managing a classroom for a
student with ASD is teaming.
In many cases, as a classroom teacher, you are a
member of a team that includes 2-4 other adults that
will work with you on a daily basis. This may occur
within the classroom or other school settings. As
the classroom teacher, you will often be expected
to be the instructional leader. With so many people
working with one student, each party involved will
need to build their collaboration and communication
skills efficiently. Collaboration helps students with
ASD to function better in the home, community, and
throughout the school building.

For those receiving services in a classroom for

students with disabilities (ASD or otherwise)
classroom management becomes a challenge and
an acute need. Typically, there are multiple adults,
often consisting of one classroom teacher and at
least one paraprofessional, working in a small space.
There are frequent transitions between activities
and room locations as activities for this group may
be short in duration due to learning needs. Effective
instruction requires teachers to ensure students
receive sufficient amounts of adult attention in
one-to-one and very small group instruction to meet
individualized goals, further adding to the need for
effective classroom management.
It is crucial that teachers spend time outside of
school hours to create a classroom management
system that will optimize direct instruction of
students, engagement, and result in learning, while
minimizing chaos or confusion for staff and students.

V 38 V

There are a number of strategies to assist with this

endeavor:
V Providing a written plan for classroom
roles and responsibilities will be helpful
in creating an organized and effective
classroom staff team.
V Establishing a job chart that is visually
displayed will help all teaching staff
understand their individual responsibilities
and shared tasks.
V Assigning staff to an activity, a location of
the room, or specific students will ensure all
students receive adult attention as needed
and will reduce confusion regarding roles
and responsibilities.
V Providing written instructions for
implementing programming, whether it
is for skill acquisition or behavior support,
and verbally discussing them prior to
instruction, will ensure everyone is
knowledgeable of the program.
V Matching class activities with staff
strengths and interests will create
motivation and enhance learning.
V Working together to have each person
establish their morning break (if applicable)
and lunch time during activities which can
be handled by a smaller amount of staff
members will help ensure staff are available
during key periods and instructional
sessions.

Personnel
As noted above, in many cases there is a team of
parents and professionals who support a student
with ASD. Professionals typically include a general
education teacher, special education teacher, speech/
language pathologist, and occupational therapist.
Others, such as a guidance counselor or physical
therapist, may also be part of the team.

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Another potential service provider is the
paraprofessional. Paraprofessionals are essential
to the learning process for students with ASD.
When professionals collaborate with them,
paraprofessionals can play an essential role in
supporting students academically, socially and
behaviorally.

systems (NRC, 2001). Proper education and training

can help shape the specific skills needed to work in
a class with students with ASD and is essential for
professionals to provide effective and accessible
instruction that optimizes learning outcome for
students with ASD.

Systematic Instruction
Schools are faced with urgent and impactful
decisions regarding staffing of personnel. According
to the Regulations Governing Special Education
Programs for Students with Disabilities in Virginia
(2010), when providing services to a student with
autism, there should be one teacher for every six
students or one teacher and one paraprofessional
for every eight children. It goes without saying
that schools must first and foremost abide by
state law. However, careful consideration must
be given to the pervasive and tremendous needs
of this group of students. The challenge is how to
provide differentiated curricula that are adapted
to the social, cognitive, and communication needs
of students with ASD. Low student-teacher ratios
are frequently needed to provide an appropriate
education. It is strongly recommended that each
students needs are evaluated on an individual basis
to make staffing determinations.51 For professionals
and paraprofessionals to effectively support this
group, there is a strong consensus in the research
literature that all working with a student with ASD
must be qualified to do so. 52 Professionals must
be familiar with theory and research concerning
best practices for students with ASD including
instructional methodologies, assistive technology,
augmentative and alternative communication,
inclusion, adaptation of the environment, language
interventions, social supports, behavior supports,
assessment, and the effective use of data collection

Systematic instruction is required to teach students

with ASD to be more independent and capable.
Systematic instruction refers to instruction that is
organized and follows a logical order. The sequence
of instruction proceeds methodically from the
easiest and most basic elements to more difficult
and complex material. Instructional activities are
adapted to the students age, abilities, and learning
style.
Through systematic instruction, the level of
difficulty gradually increases while support is
provided. Teachers and parents may need to break
complex tasks down into subtasks and reinforce in
small, teachable steps. By scaffolding learning, the
students frustration will be minimized and learning
maximized.
It is important to remember, while the premise of
instruction is to teach in a sequential order, students
with ASD may have highly developed skills in one
area and be delayed in another. Further, as students
age, their educational needs will change. Educators
should be careful not to assume instruction should
be provided according to standard developmental
markers or in a conventional progression. It may be
beneficial for many not to teach in a direct linear
fashion but instead to teach based on the actual
needs and strengths of the student.

Intensive Instruction
Proper education and training can help
shape the specific skills needed to work in a
class with students with ASD and is essential
for professionals to provide effective and
accessible instruction that optimizes
learning outcome for students with ASD.

Active engagement in intensive instructional

programming is also required for optimal progress.
Intensity of intervention refers to: (a) number
of intervention hours per week; (b) amount of
51
Scheuermann, Webber, Boutot, & Goodwin, (2003); Simpson,
(2003)
52
Simpson (2004)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
intervention provided throughout the year,
including summer months; and, (c) the degree of
active engagement on the part of the student. For
progress to occur in social and cognitive abilities,
communication skills, adaptive skills, amelioration
of behavioral difficulties, and generalization of
abilities across multiple environments, instruction
may be provided through a full range of formats.
These include one-to-one instruction, small group
instruction, student-initiated interactions, teacherinitiated interactions, and play and peer-mediated
interactions.
Although there is no definitive level of sufficient
intensity appropriate for every student with
ASD, it is generally agreed that more quality
intervention produces better outcomes. The NRC
(2001) recommended students with ASD be actively
engaged in systematic and intensive educational
intervention.53 The level of intervention intensity is
an individualized determination and is based on the
specific needs of the student and the skill taught.
The following considerations may be used when
deciding the level of instructional intensity:
V Assess the need for individual versus small
group versus whole group instruction;
V Assess the need for year-round services
(extended school year);
V Assess individuals and familys strengths
and needs in regard to programming; and
V Assess ongoing data to modify the type or
quantity of instruction.

The level of intervention intensity is

an individualized determination and
is based on the specific needs of the
student and the skill taught.

53

NRC (2001)
Iovannone, et al. (2003)
55
Myers (2007)
54

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Instructional Strategies
Instructional strategies implemented with students
with ASD need to be evidence-based. This requires
the strategy to have credible empirical research as
a foundation. There are a number of instructional
strategies identified as effective for this population.
Contrary to the rhetoric found in public media, there
is not just one single approach or program superior
to others for all students with ASD.54 Although
programs for students with ASD may differ in
philosophy and relative emphasis on particular
strategies, they share many common goals.55
Appendix C presents a list of those strategies that
have been demonstrated as evidence-based according
to the National Professional Development Center on
Autism Spectrum Disorders. Additionally, Appendix C
details the type of skills best matched to the strategy.
As instructional
strategies are
There are a number of
employed there
instructional strategies
are several
important
identified as effective for
considerations.
this population.
First, teachers
can feel
confident implementing any of the strategies above
provided they are able to implement the strategy
with fidelity. In other words, instructional strategies
chosen for students with ASD should be implemented
by knowledgeable and skilled individuals. Second,
teachers must ensure they have used the strategy
to teach an appropriate skill or skill set. Individual
strategies may be effective only when used to teach
identified skills and not when universally applied to
any skill. Finally, it is important to verify the success
of the strategy through data collection. Not all

It is important to verify the success

of the strategy through data
collection. Not all strategies will be
effective with all students. Progress
must be evaluated on an individual
basis and changes made accordingly.

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
strategies will be effective with all students. Progress
must be evaluated on an individual basis and
changes made accordingly. In order to implement
instructional strategies, educators should follow the
steps in Figure 2 below:
Figure 2. Implementing Instructional
Interventions
Identify
present level of
performance
Decide
yearly focus for
IEP related to
independent
living

Revise
teaching
strategy

Implementing
Instructional
Interventions
Assess
success of
teaching
strategy

Develop
measurable
goals
Identify
and implement
instructional
strategy

Ensuring Students Ability

to Access Education
Problem and interfering behaviors are among
the most challenging issues faced by schools (and
parents) in their efforts to educate students with
ASD. Such behaviors reduce instructional time and
efficacy, alienate others, and can result in more
restrictive placements. Problem and interfering
behavior is generally viewed as maladaptive,
responsive, or communicative rather than malicious.
As such, behavior must be evaluated in context for
proper understanding or intervention.
Management of problem behavior can be
complicated by communication barriers. A decrease
in problem behaviors may require an alteration
to the environment or instruction, instruction in
alternate forms of communication, and an increase
in self-determination opportunities.

Functional Behavioral Assessment

Assessing the function of problem behavior and
using the assessment results to design a behavioral
intervention plan is fundamental to effective
management of problem or interfering behavior. In
fact, interventions based on functional behavioral
assessments usually result in significant reductions
in problem behavior.56 This is because most
problem behaviors serve an adaptive function and
are reinforced by their natural consequences.57
The appropriateness of curricular demands for a
particular students competency, also known as
environmental fit, is an important consideration
when assessing problem behavior of students with
ASD.58 For some students with ASD, the function
of problem behavior is to escape from or avoid
undesirable situations.59
The following model for conducting a Functional
Behavioral Assessment (FBA) and creating a
Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) is drawn from
the Virginia Department of Educations Functional
Behavioral Assessment, Behavioral Intervention
Plans, and Positive Intervention and Supports: An
Essential Part of Effective Schoolwide Discipline
in Virginia, which can be found at: http://www.doe.
virginia.gov/support/student_conduct/functional_
behavioral_assessment.pdf
Steps to Conducting a
Functional Behavioral Assessment

Step 1.
Verify the Seriousness of the Problem
Experience has shown that many classroom
problems can be eliminated by consistently applying
standard strategies of proven effectiveness. In an
effort to address minor problems so they do not
grow into larger ones, school personnel usually
introduce one or more of these strategies before
initiating a functional behavioral assessment. When

56

Blakeley-Smith (2009)
Johnson/Myers (2007)
58
Blakeley-Smith (2009)
59
Blakeley-Smith (2009)
57

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
it is clear the behavior manifested by a student
cannot be resolved through standard means, as
well as in response to situations for which the law
requires a functional behavioral assessment and a
behavioral intervention plan, then school personnel
should consider initiating a FBA.

Other factors to consider in identifying the
seriousness of a behavior include:
V The degree of discrepancy between the
students behavior and acceptable behavior
or that of his/her classmates.
V The frequency and/or duration of a
behavior.
V The degree to which the behavior
interferes with the education of the
student or other students in the class.
V The safety of the student and other
students and staff.
V Cultural differences expectations.

Step 2.
Define the Problem Behavior
Before determining the techniques to be used to
conduct a functional behavioral assessment, the
teacher and the IEP team should define the problem
behavior in observable and measurable terms. If
descriptions of behaviors are vague, such as Jack
gets angry, multiple difficulties will arise. Primarily,
it is essential that each observer and team member
are able to agree on the occurrence of a behavior, in
order to collect meaningful data or conduct useful
observations. Vague or subjective definitions will
lead to exceedingly variable and inaccurate results.
Objective and measurable definitions, such as Jack
attempts to hit staff with his hand, will lead to more
accurate data collection.
Furthermore, lack of an observable and measurable
definition will make it impossible for the team to
reliably identify the function the behavior serves,
decide on an appropriate intervention, or devise
an appropriate way to evaluate its success. Later,
after more information has been collected, the
team can refine the definition of the behavior by
including multiple examples and non-examples of
the behavior.

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Step 3.
Collect Information on the Reasons Behind
(Potential Function(s) of) the Problem Behavior and
Maintaining Variables
Once the IEP team has defined the problem behavior,
team members can begin to observe the student
and the school environment to determine the exact
nature of the behavior. The team generally collects
information on the times, conditions, and individuals
present when problem behavior is most versus least
likely to occur; the events or conditions that typically
occur before (antecedents) and after (consequences)
the behavior; and other relevant information
regarding the problem behavior.
The team might begin the assessment process by
conducting a series of classroom observations. An
examination of these data may suggest times and
settings in which to conduct further observations
to document the variables that are most predictive
of inappropriate student behavior. It also may be
useful to observe situations in which the student
performs successfully to compare conditions that
evoke appropriate versus inappropriate behavior. For
example, Jalene may perform successfully in science
class but routinely disrupt the history class by calling
out and refusing to complete her work.
Depending on the behavior of concern, it is usually
beneficial to conduct indirect assessments in addition
to direct observations to assist in identifying the
likely reasons behind the problem behavior. Indirect
methods include a review of the students cumulative
records, such as health, medical, and educational
records, as well as structured interviews with
teachers, other school personnel (e.g., bus driver,
cafeteria workers), or the student of concern. Gaining
knowledge of the students strengths and preferences
is also useful.
Teachers know that events affecting a student
outside the classroom may increase the likelihood of
classroom problems. Both past and present events
can increase the chance that the student will pose
a challenge in the classroom. These setting events
can range from a longstanding pattern of negative
classroom interactions, to a fight with another child
at the bus stop, to a chronic headache. For these

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
reasons, interviews conducted with the student and
his or her parents or guardian can be an important
source of information in understanding the
function(s) of the problem behavior.
The collection of data must be individualized to fit
the situation. Data must yield information needed
to determine the precise function and maintain
variables for this particular student and problem
behavior. It is important to collect multiple types
of data to gain a thorough understanding. It is also
important to have more than one person involved in
collecting data since multiple sources will be much
more likely to produce an accurate picture. This is
especially true if the problem behavior serves various
functions under different circumstances.

Step 4.
Analyze Information Collected on the Problem
Behavior
Once the IEP team is satisfied that sufficient
information has been collected, the next step is
to determine what is known about the problem
behavior and the context in which it occurs. Such an
analysis helps the team to decide whether there are
any specific patterns associated with the behavior.
The team carefully reviews the information to look
for any patterns of events that predict when and
under what circumstances the behavior is most or
least likely to occur, what is maintaining the behavior,
and the likely function(s) of the behavior.
Upon review, the team may conclude that Charles
disrupts class by yelling each time the teacher asks
him to complete work that is too difficult. In this
example, Charless behavior typically leads to his
removal from class and the difficult task. In collecting
information on student behavior, teams understand
that even an occasional event or unusual condition
cannot be ruled out as a reason for the problem
behavior.

Step 5.
Develop a Hypothesis about the Function and
Maintaining Variables of the Problem Behavior
Next, the IEP team formulates a hypothesis
statement, or best guess, regarding the likely
function(s) of the problem behavior. The statement

relates to what the student receives, avoids, or may

be communicating with the problem behavior. The
hypothesis can then be used to predict the social and/
or academic environmental context under which
the behavior is most likely to occur and the possible
reason(s) why the student engages in the behavior. A
hypothesis statement should contain three parts: the
antecedent and/or setting event to problem behavior,
a description of the behavior, and the hypothesized
function of the behavior. For example: When Charles
is told to transition from a desired activity like
computer time to a less desired activity like classwork
at his desk, he is likely to scream, throw his work, and
hit others in order to avoid his work.

Step 6.
Verify the Hypothesis Regarding the Function and
Maintaining Variables of the Problem Behavior
Before proceeding with an intervention, it is usually
a good idea to take time to modify various classroom
conditions in an attempt to verify the IEP teams
hypothesis regarding the likely function(s) and
maintaining variables of the behavior. For instance,
the team may hypothesize that during transitions
between activities, Maurice runs around the
classroom in order to gain teacher attention and
avoid changing activities. Thus, the teacher provides
a visual schedule and more choices for Maurice to
help him learn to transition appropriately rather
than inappropriately and gain teacher attention for
making successful transition between activities. If
this strategy produces a positive change in Maurices
behavior, then the team can assume its hypothesis
was correct and a behavioral intervention plan can
be fully implemented; however, if Maurices behavior
is unchanged, then a new hypothesis needs to be
formulated.
In some instances, it may not be necessary or
appropriate to manipulate classroom conditions
to observe their effects on student behavior. For
example, with severe acting-out behavior, the team
should immediately implement an intervention and
evaluate its impact against any available assessment
information. Based on that evaluation, the team
should be ready to make any necessary adjustments
in the plan.

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Developing and Implementing a Behavioral
Intervention Plan

Step 1.
Develop and Implement a Behavior Intervention
Plan
After collecting enough information to identify the
function(s) and maintaining variables of the student
behavior, the IEP team must develop or revise a
behavioral intervention plan (BIP). The plan should
include positive strategies, program modifications,
and the supplementary aids and supports required
to address the behavior, as well as any staff supports
or training that may be needed. Although, it is always
the hope that these proactive strategies alone will
decrease the problem behavior significantly, it is
also essential that it is clear to those involved how
the behavior should be handled when it does occur
to ensure consistent consequences. Many teams
develop an intervention plan that includes one or
more of the following strategies or procedures:
V Teach the student more acceptable behavior
that serves the same function as the
inappropriate behavior (e.g., ways to get
peer attention through communication).
V Modify the classroom setting events (e.g.,
lessen task demands when headache is
present or after week break from school).
V Modify the antecedent events (e.g., post
schedule, warn of upcoming transition).
V Modify the consequent events for the
problem behavior (e.g., ignore, redirect,
provide reminder of rules).
V Modify the consequent events for positive
or appropriate behavior (e.g., precise praise,
verbal and nonverbal feedback).
V Modify aspects of the curriculum and/
or instruction (e.g., provide multilevel
instruction, shorten instructional session).
V Introduce a reinforcement-based
intervention (e.g., student contract).

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For the majority of problem situations, there is

more than one solution that can result in a positive
outcome. Generally, a behavioral intervention plan
includes steps to accomplish the following:
V Manage any recurrent episodes of the
problem behavior.
V Teach the student appropriate way to
replace the problem behavior.
V Ensure frequent opportunities for the
student to engage in and be reinforced for
demonstrating acceptable behavior.
Most authorities agree that it is usually ineffective
to use punishment as the only means of addressing
student misconduct. With behavior intervention,
the emphasis is on teaching students new skills
with which to become more effective and efficient
learners.
The success of an
intervention plan
With behavior
rests on the students
intervention, the
engaging in the
emphasis is on
appropriate behavior
without continued
teaching students
external support.
new skills with
Accordingly, teams may
which to become
need to incorporate
more effective and
strategies to promote
the maintenance,
efficient learners.
durability, generality,
and longevity of
appropriate student behavior. One strategy is to
structure positive peer interactions; another is to
instruct the student to use self-talk, self-cueing, selfmanagement or self-reinforcement.
In some cases, supplemental aids and supports may
be necessary to help the student to maintain the
appropriate behavior. For example, the student may
need to work in a specially designed workstation
in order to decrease distraction from everyday
classroom noise and movement. Supports may
also include curricular modifications to decrease
a students avoidance of academic situations or

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
instruction to increase the students verbal skills
and ability to respond appropriately to stressful
situations.

Step 2.
Evaluate Fidelity in Implementing the Plan
It is good practice for the IEP team to monitor
the accuracy and consistency with which the
intervention plan is implemented. To do so, the
team might spell out the various components of
the intervention plan, along with the individual(s)
responsible for its implementation. Then, a checklist
of steps or a scripta step-by-step description of the
intervention and its application, can be developed for
each person responsible for implementing the plan.

Step 3.
Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Intervention Plan
A second evaluation procedure should be developed
to evaluate changes in the behavior itself. Initial or
baseline information should serve as a standard
against which to judge any changes in behavior.
Evaluating the effects of the intervention will yield
data upon which the team can judge future changes
in the intervention plan. Subsequent review of the
data or student behavior is essential to determine the
effects of the intervention across time.

Step 4.
Modify the Intervention Plan
IDEA (2004) states that a behavioral intervention
plan must be reviewed and revised any time the
IEP team feels that an adjustment is necessary. The
circumstances that may warrant such a review
include the following:
V The student no longer exhibits problems in
behavior, and the team terminates the plan.
V The situation has changed, and the plan no
longer addresses the students needs.
V The IEP team determines during a
manifestation determination review
that the behavior intervention strategies
are inconsistent with the students IEP or
placement.

V The original plan is not producing positive

changes in the students behavior.
In the end, the process of functional behavioral
assessment is not complete until we see meaningful
changes in student behavior.

Program Evaluation
Monitoring Student Progress
One of the most important aspects of educational
programming for students with ASD is ongoing
monitoring of their progress toward target goals
as outlined in their IEPs. It is only through close
monitoring that a teacher can determine whether a
skill has been mastered and a student is ready for the
next level or whether a student is not progressing
at an acceptable rate and a program change is
warranted. Through careful scrutiny, a teacher can
make determinations regarding implementation
of all aspects of the IEP including frequency and
duration of intervention.

Data Collection
Although there are a number of ways to monitor
student progress toward goals (e.g., teacher made
tests, anecdotal notes, etc.), the most accurate
and sensitive method is systematic, ongoing data
collection of direct observable skills and behaviors.
Observation and systematic data collection allows
teachers and other educational staff to objectively
evaluate the effectiveness of instructional strategies
on the acquisition of new skills and the reduction of
behaviors that may be interfering with a students
learning. In other words, systematic data collection
will provide the evidence that lets teachers know if
their instructional strategies are working.
To begin the data collection process, educators need
to determine the most appropriate measurement
for accurately evaluating the change in the target
skills and behaviors. Below are common types of
data collection used in an educational setting:
V Occurrence (Whether the skill/behavior
occurred)

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
V Frequency (How many times the skill/
behavior occurred)
V Duration (Length of time the skill/behavior
occurred)
V Latency (Length of time elapsed between
instructional cue and performance of the
skill/behavior)
V Prompt (Level of assistance required to
perform the skill/behavior)
It is essential that the measurement system matches
the type of behavior change expected. For example,
when measuring a students peer-related social
initiations, frequency of initiations may be the
most accurate measure. If the skill is to increase the
amount of time a student spent interacting with a
peer, duration would be the unit of measure. When
measuring putting on a coat, the level of prompt
needed may be the most appropriate. Depending on
the targeted skill, permanent product measures, such
as teacher made pretest and posttest or a written
assignment, may also be used.
After the unit of measure is
established, a method for collecting
and recording data is determined.
There is no one way to collect
data across all different skills and
behavior. Therefore, educators
need to select a data collection
method or form that is most
appropriate for helping to gather
the information that reflects a
change in the target behavior. The
method should allow educators to
maximize instructional time while
gathering accurate and thorough
information.

To provide a clear, visual depiction of the students

performance, it is beneficial for data to be graphed.
The graphs can be systematically evaluated using
different data analysis techniques to determine
if the student is making progress toward their
goals and objectives. As the saying goes, a picture
is worth a thousand words. Whether the student is
working on increasing a skill or decreasing a problem
behavior, graphs are pictures that help evaluate the
effectiveness of instruction.

Professional Collaboration

Successfully educating students with ASD requires

collaboration amongst a variety of professionals
and stakeholders. Friend and
Cook (2007) define interpersonal
It is only through close
collaboration as a style for direct
interaction between at least two
monitoring that a teacher
co-equal parties voluntarily engaged
can determine whether
in shared decision making as they
a skill has been mastered
work toward a common goal.
For example, a speech-language
and a student is ready for
pathologist and special education
the next level or whether a
teacher may work together towards
student is not progressing
improved communication skills for
at an acceptable rate
a student with ASD. Additionally, a
variety of collaborative teams can
and a program change is
support and further the education
warranted.
of students with ASD (Friend and
Cook, 2007):

Data Analysis
Once the data is collected, it needs to be summarized
in a way that can assist the teacher in seeing learning
trends. It is critical for data to be analyzed regularly
to make programmatic decisions. Therefore, it is
essential for data to be summarized in a clear and

V 46 V

succinct manner to make this an easy and efficient

process. Systematic evaluation of the data will help
determine if the students skills and behaviors are
progressing in the desired direction and provide
evidence on the effectiveness of the instructional
strategies. If progress is not indicated as expected, the
teacher will know that changes in the instructional
strategies, supports, and/or IEP objectives need to
occur.

V Multidisciplinary Teams comprised

of members who represent a number of
perspectives and disciplines, but with less
frequent meetings.

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
V Interdisciplinary Teams comprised
of members who represent a number of
perspectives and disciplines, but with more
frequent meetings.
V Transdisciplinary Teams
professionals perform their related tasks
interactively and, through role release,
may share or blend their roles, and one or
two team members may be responsible for
delivering interventions.
V Student-Centered Problem-Solving
Teams building-level, problem-solving
teams to assist teachers in accommodating
students with behavioral or learning issues
in their classrooms.
V Teacher Assistance Teams Three
elected teachers, a referring teacher and,
when appropriate, parents and other
specialists. A general education teacher
defines the issue and the team develops
alternative interventions and then chooses
the preferred intervention.
Collaborative teams cannot make or alter decisions
that must be made by the IEP team. For example,
if a student with ASD is presenting with problem
behavior that is disrupting the learning environment
or his access to the general curriculum, it may be that
the IEP team needs to conduct another FBA and revise
the BIP.

Family Involvement
Family members can be the most stable, influential
and valuable people in a students environment.60
Family members are often the first to recognize that
a student may have an ASD. The pervasive nature
of ASD and difficulties generalizing from school to
home and community environments make parents
essential partners in the education of students
with ASD. While parents should not be expected
to provide educational programming, regular
communication regarding the students educational
programming and progress is essential. The degree

of a familys collaborative involvement will vary from

family to family, and it is important for educators
to consider the range of obligations and demands
faced by parents. Educators must also demonstrate
an awareness and respect for the culture, language,
values and parenting styles of the families of students
with ASD.
Educators can support family involvement in many
ways, such as:
V Inform parents about the range of
educational and service options
V Inform parents about disabilities and
education
V Communicate regularly regarding the
students progress
V Address educational concerns
V Ensure parents are supported as active
participants in the development of their
childs IEP
V Provide parents with opportunities to meet
regularly with the education professionals
serving their child

Professional Development
Advances in the understanding of ASD and
educational interventions for this group are being
made every day. Ongoing training for educators
and stakeholders ensures all are well-equipped with
a broad and current knowledge base. In addition
to these benefits, participation in professional
development can provide a network of collegial
support for educators and stakeholders.
Professional development takes many forms and is
available at convenient times and locations. Training
programs include both pre-service and in-service
training. Training can take the form of conferences,
presentations, online, webinar, college courses, and
more. In order for training to be truly effective,
technical assistance in the educational setting is
essential. Adults benefit from the same teaching
strategies as children. Providing hands-on assistance
in the form of modeling and coaching can help an
60

Iovannone (2003) quoting Dunlap 1999

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In order for training to be truly effective,

technical assistance in the educational
setting is essential. Adults benefit from
the same teaching strategies as children.
Providing hands-on assistance in the form
of modeling and coaching can help an
educator to actually implement training
content and to apply it effectively.
educator to actually implement training content
and to apply it effectively.
Supplementing ongoing professional training
with regular reading of peer-reviewed journals
and scholarly books on topics pertinent to ASD will
help educators and stakeholders have as current
a knowledge base as possible. New information is
constantly available and best practice depends upon
ongoing professional development.

Training Topics
Identifying who needs training and the specific
training needs should occur prior to their
involvement with students with ASD. Training
should focus on at least the following topics:
V Characteristics of individuals with ASD
V Medical implications of conditions
associated with ASD
V Assessment and diagnostic tools
V Using assessments for program
development and evaluation
V Curriculum adaptation
V Instructional strategies
V Communication
V Assistive technologies
V Team collaboration
V Data collection
V Use of data for program modification
V Current legal issues
V Behavior management
V Functional behavioral assessment/
behavior intervention planning
V Transitions

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V Social skills
V Promoting independence
V Motor skills

Creating Professional Development

Professional development for professionals who
work with these students must be meaningful,
practical and occur within the context of students
with ASD and larger school reform efforts. Effective
professional development should be based on the
following standards, which are modeled after those
suggested by Leko & Brownell (2009):
V Relevance align professional development
with teachers goals and needs; local, state
and national standards and accountability
mechanisms; and schoolwide curricula.
V Content-focused help participants
understand how interventions and the
general education curricula or IEP goals fit
together.
V Incorporate real situations use actual
physical environments and real situations,
including student assessment data and
lesson plans.
V Discussion have professionals to have
meaningful discussion about what
is happening in their classes and any
concerns they might have.
V Bring in experts bring in experts from
the divisions, local universities or elsewhere
to provide instruction on specific topics.
V Incorporate technology - ease
communication and networking by
incorporating technology.
V Collaboration have teachers work
together to problem-solve concerns.
Encourage exploration into how
collaboration can be expanded and
improved to impact student outcome.

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
V Coherence ensure that professional
development opportunities are part of a
coherent program in which one activity
builds upon another and is followed-up by
further activities.
V Effective strategies highlight the most
effective research-based interventions and
review new research regarding existing
interventions.
V Demonstrate demonstrate effective
implementation of interventions.
Allow participants to observe experts
implementing interventions and to be
observed practicing appropriate skills.
V Decision-making provide instructional
frameworks that can guide teachers
decision- making within specific content
areas.
V Plan classroom implementation link
ideas learned in professional development
within the educational environments of
the participants.
V Communities of Practice use professional
development to establish communities of
practice in which professionals engage in
ongoing problem solving, which may occur
online.
V Follow-up follow-up with professionals
and provide feedback on their instruction.

Virginia Skill Competencies

The Virginia Autism Council published the Skill
Competencies for Professionals and Paraprofessionals in
Virginia Supporting Individuals with Autism across the
Lifespan. This document provides a comprehensive
list of knowledge and skill competencies required
of any professional or paraprofessional who serves
a student with ASD. These competencies can guide
professional development planning. The document

is available at www.autismtrainingva.org and is

reproduced in Appendix E.

Guardianship
In Virginia, at age 18 all rights including education
and special education related rights transfer from
the parent/guardian to the individual. This is true
for students with ASDs regardless of severity or
ability. The presumption of the law is that at age 18
a person is able to manage the business and affairs
of their life, and gives them the right to contract,
consent, sue, bank and undertake all other legal
activities on their own behalf.
For some students with ASD, this level of
independence is not safely realized and he or she
may require a legal guardian and/or conservator
to tend to their affairs. This may be surprising to
unprepared parents.
Parents are encouraged to consult an attorney
regarding the courts procedures for declaring
an adult student incapacitated or appointing a
guardian and/or conservators. Information is
available at the Virginia Department of Education
regarding options available to parents and adult
students with disabilities regarding the students
option of designating a power of attorney or when
the student is not competent to participate in special
education matters.
(See Virginia Regulations, at 8VAC20-81-180; Web site:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/regulations/
state/regs_speced_disability_va.pdf.)
Determination that an adult is incapacitated and
appointment of guardians and conservators must
take place through the judicial system by court order.
The process can take several months to complete,
but may be begun in advance of the students 18th
birthday. Additional information can be found on
the Virginia Department of Educations Web site
under the title, Transfer of Rights For Students with
Disabilities Upon Reaching The Age of Majority In
Virginia (August, 2004).

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APPENDIX A:
Data Collection
Data Sheet
Correct / Incorrect Behavior

Target Behavior: Jake will state his full address.

Date
Elements: 3=correct

7 = incorrect n/a = not attempted

Notes

Maple Street

Anytown

VA

9/12

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Frustrated

9/12

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Uncertain

9/15

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Confident

9/15

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Frustrated

9/28

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

Confident

Data Sheet
Occurrence of Behavior

Target Behavior: Callie will state one thing she did at school when asked by adult.
Date

Time 1

Time 2

3/12/09

Ate lunch

Played with Megan

3/13/09

Ate lunch

Ate lunch

3/14/09

Played at recess

No response

3/15/09

No response

Went to music class

Data Sheet
Frequency of Behavior

Childs Name: Jamal Robinson

Target Behavior: Jamal will use a spoon to feed himself pudding, yogurt, and other solid

foods for a minimum of 10 bites.

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Date

Time/Activity 1: Breakfast

Time/Activity 2: Lunch

2/1/09

III

IIII

2/4/09

II

IIII

2/8/09

IIII

IIII

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

APPENDIX B:
Some Considerations When Developing Effective IEPs
Individualized Education Programs are developed by a
team and must be designed to provide a student with
ASD a free appropriate public education in the least
restrictive environment.
IEP forms can vary between school divisions.
Whatever form the IEP takes, some elements
are required and some are recommended for
consideration. Although it is permissible to create a
draft IEP in advance of the meeting, the final IEP must
be the product of the full IEP Team.
Below are some items members of the IEP team may
wish to consider when developing the IEP. Be sure to
consult the IDEA and federal and state regulations for
a more complete understanding of IEP requirements.

IEP Team Members

Some members of an IEP team are required by law,
while others are permissive. Even when a particular
title or competence is required, the particular
individual chosen may vary.
Required Members (Some roles may be filled by the
same individual):
V Parent(s)
V Student (when appropriate)
V Special Education Teacher of the child
V General Education Teacher of the child (if
applicable)
V Representative of the school system who is
knowledgeable about the general curriculum
and the availability of resources and able to
supervise specially designed instruction
V An individual who can interpret the
instructional implication of evaluation
results.
Optional Members to Consider:
V Family members
V Physicians
V Counselors
V Social Workers
V Other professionals

Present Level of Performance/Academic

Achievement
The present level of performance or academic
achievement should provide a clear picture of what
the student can do currently (as it relates to his or her
education).
Required Components:
V Academic achievement
V Functional performance
V How the childs disability affects
involvement and progress in the general
education curriculum
V If included, test scores must be selfexplanatory or accompanied by an
explanation
Additional Considerations:
V Preferences
V Motivators
V Students short- and long-term ambitions
V Positive phrasing
V Strengths
V Needs
V Parent concerns
V Student concerns

Annual Goals/Benchmarks/Short-Term
Objectives
These goals set forth what the IEP team believes the
student should and can do within one year. Goals
should represent both academic and functional skills.
Required Components:
V Goals should be designed to meet needs that
result from the childs disability and that
interfere with involvement in and progress
in the general education curriculum
V Goals should be designed to meet other
educational needs that are a result of the
childs disability
V Benchmarks/short-term objectives (for
students who take alternative assessments)

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Additional Considerations:
V Are the goals meaningful?
V Are the goals clear on exactly what the
student will do, how it will be done, where it
will be done and when it will be done?
V What is the appropriate level of mastery?
V What is the appropriate number and
sequence of trials for goal attainment?
V What is/are appropriate measurements of
goal progress?
V Is the goal meaningful?
V How will the parent be informed of
progress?

Related Services and Supplementary

Services
Required When:
V Necessary to advance appropriate towards
attaining annual goals
V Necessary to be involved and progress in
the general curriculum
V Necessary to participate in extracurricular
and other nonacademic activities
V Necessary to allow for participation
with other children with disabilities and
children without disabilities.
Additional Considerations:
V When are they necessary?
V Where are they necessary?
V How will they be provided (e.g., teacher
determination, student request)
V Start/finish dates?
V Length of time services will be provided?

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Placement
A major goal of IDEA is meaningful, appropriate
integration of students with disabilities into society,
including the general education environment.
Students with disabilities must be educated in
the least restrictive environment possible given
reasonably available supports and services. Each
more restrictive placement must be justified by the
IEP team.
Required Considerations:
V The goals and, if any, short-term objectives
of the student
V Supplemental aids and services
V Potential harmful effects on the student
or on the quality of services that he or she
needs
V Continuum of placements

Transition
At age 14, the IEP team must begin to consider
educationally-relevant issues related to becoming an
adult.
Required Considerations:
V IEP goals including postsecondary goals
necessary for transition
V Transition services
Additional Considerations:
V Ability of family/guardians to continue
support

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Appendix C:
Instructional Strategies
The 24 Evidenced-Based Instructional Strategies for Children and Youth with ASD (Source: The National Professional
Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2009).
Evidence-Based Strategy

Brief Description of Strategy

Skills Best Taught or Intervention

Addressed by Strategy

Antecedent-Based Interventions

Modifying the environment, antecedents, or setting events to prevent

the need for challenging behavior

In response to problem behavior and after

a functional behavior assessment has been
completed

Computer Aided Instruction

Use of a computer to teach communication or academic skills. There

are some programs currently being used to teach social skills as well.

Communication Skills; Academic Skills;

Limited Evidence for Social Skills

Differential Reinforcement
integrated into SelfManagement Plans

Providing positive reinforcement for the absence or lower rate of a

problem behavior

In response to problem behavior

Discrete Trial Training

One staff to one student instructional approach that relies on repetitive

practice of small skills or parts of skills. Also relies on the careful
presentation of antecedents and manipulation of consequences to
strengthen responses.

Small discrete receptive skills that require a

verbal, signed or behavioral response. Best
used with young children between the ages
of 2 to 9 years old.

Extinction

Behavioral procedure designed to weaken behavior by removing

a previously identified reinforcement for that behavior. When
implemented properly, the behavior frequently increases before
decreasing due to a pattern called extinction burst. Frequently
implemented in conjunction with differential reinforcement of another
behavior (DRO).

In response to a problem behavior where

the reinforcement is known. Care should be
taken to avoid use with dangerous problem
behaviors.

Functional Behavior Assessment

Systematic assessment of behavior to discover the underlying

reinforcement for and the function of problem behavior. Strategies
include: indirect assessment (interviewing those who have personally
observed the behavior, reviewing past records and history); direct
assessment (observation of the behavior using an Antecedent, Behavior,
Consequence analysis; and hypothesis development) (analyzing
existing data and proposing hypothesis regarding the function of the
behavior).

To assess the function of problem behavior

Functional Communication
Training

Replacing a problem behavior with a communication behavior

In response to problem behavior after a

functional behavior assessment has been
completed

Naturalistic Intervention

Providing cues, prompts, and instruction in natural environments to

elicit and reinforce communication and social behaviors

Communication skills and behaviors

Social skills and behaviors

Parent-Implemented
Interventions

Parents receive direct training and implement individualized

interventions for their children with ASD in their home or community.

Used with a variety of skills, but evidence is

limited to children with ASD between 2 and
9 years old.

Peer Mediated Instruction

Teaching peers without disabilities to interact with and cue positive

social behavior

Social interaction and social networking

Picture Exchange
Communication Systems (PECS)

Learners with ASD are taught to use a picture card to communicate

basic wants and needs to others in their environment. This method
relies on teaching individuals to make an exchange with the picture
card to the listener.

Social Communication, especially

requesting behaviors.

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Evidence-Based Strategy

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Brief Description of Strategy

Skills Best Taught or Intervention

Addressed by Strategy

Pivotal Response Training

Applying the principles of applied behavior analysis to natural

environments to teach pivotal behaviors including motivation,
responding to multiple cues, social interaction, social communication,
self-management, and self-initiation

Social communication and interaction

behaviors

Prompting Procedures

Verbal, gestural, physical, model, and visual prompts and prompting

systems including least to most prompts, simultaneous prompts, and
graduated guidance

A wide variety of skills

Reinforcement

Strengthening any behavior by providing a consequence that increases

the likelihood that the behavior will occur again. Includes positive
reinforcement, tokens, point systems, graduated reinforcement systems.

A wide variety of behaviors

Response interruption/
Redirection

Providing another activity that appears to serve the same function as

a problem behavior, e.g.,: Offering popcorn in place of eating a pencil
(pica)

Problem behaviors that appear to serve a

self-stimulatory function

Self-Management

A wide array of interventions to increase appropriate behaviors and

decrease problem behaviors for learners across the spectrum including
social conversation, sharing, giving compliments, anger management,
habit reversal, etc.

Behaviors that are able to be defined and

practiced by the person with ASD

Social Narratives

A written intervention where social situations and responses are

described in detail. Social stories (developed by Carol Gray) are included
in this category.

Social Skills

Social Skills Groups

Up to eight individuals with ASD practice social skills and social

interactions in a group with an adult facilitator

Social Skills

Speech Generating Devices

(Voice Output Communication
Assistance, VOCA)

An electronic device that has small to large screens where a picture

indicates what will be said when pressed.

Communication

Stimulus Control

Using reinforcement to teach a person to perform a certain behavior

under very specific stimuli.

Behavior and Academic Skills

Structured Work Systems

Designing the environment so that work is visually displayed and

expectations for completion are visually presented as well.

Transitions between activities and

Academic Skills

Task Analysis

Teaching skills with many steps a few steps at a time with

reinforcement following each step.

A wide variety of skills

Time Delay

Used with structured prompting procedures, the instructor delays

the implementation of a prompt and reinforces demonstration of a
behavior prior to prompting.

In response to behaviors that are displayed

only when a prompt is presented.

Video Modeling

Using video to show the correct way of responding to a variety of social

situations.

Academic skills, communication, and social

skills

Visual Supports

Providing an array of information in visual formats including the

daily schedule and steps to complete a task, social behaviors, and
communication supports how to transition between activities.

A wide variety of skills

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Student Services

Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Appendix D:
Diagnostic Tools
Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; Lord, Rutter, & Le Couteur, 1994: Rutter,

LeCouteur, & Lord, 2003)
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Generic (ADOS-G; Lord, et al., 2000; Lord,

Rutter, DiLavore, & Risi, 1989)
Autism Screening Instrument for Educational Planning - Second Edition (ASIEP-2; Krug,

Arick, & Almond, 1993)
Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (CARS-2; Schopler, et al., 2010)
Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-Second Edition (GARS-2; Gilliam, 2006)
Gilliam Asperger's Disorder Scale (GADS; Gilliam, 1995)
Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (ASDS; Myles, Brock, & Simpson, 2001)
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale - Second Edition (Vineland II; Sparrow, Cicchetti, &

Balla, 2005)

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Appendix E:
Virginia Skill Competencies
The Virginia Autism Councils 2008 Skill Competencies for Paraprofessionals and Professionals Supporting Individuals
with Autism Across the Lifespan in Virginia, which is available in full at autismtrainingva.org and reproduced in part below.

Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

1. General Autism Competencies Statements

Understands the characteristics and diagnosis of autism
as defined by the most recent version of the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual and definition/description of the Virginia
Department of Education.
Lists and explains the defining characteristics of autism
(Communication, patterns of stereotypical behavior, socialization and
social skill development) and the impact on the individual.
Lists and explains the associated characteristics commonly present in
autism (ex: difficulties in sensory processing, motor skills, theory of mind,
and imitation) and the impact on the individual.
Lists and explains the associated cognitive characteristics and learning
styles commonly present in autism (ex: difficulties in executing,
functioning, attending, planning, abstract thinking, problem solving)
and the impact on the individual.
Describes typical child development (ex: communication, sensory motor,
cognitive, behavior, and social skill development).
Describes the continuum of Autism Spectrum Disorders and the basic
differences between each including Autism, Pervasive Developmental
Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger Disorder, Retts
Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD).
Describes the range of possible behaviors across the lifespan.
Describes potential courses of development and outcomes in individuals
with autism from infancy to adulthood.
Describes the current understanding of etiology and prevalence of
autism.
Understands the impact of common medical issues (ex:
seizure disorders, chronic otitis media, chronic constipation
or diarrhea) and treatments (ex., psychotropic medications
and possible side effects, use of special diets) for persons with
autism.
Assesses and communicates critical health-related information to team
members, especially collaborating with parents and medical personnel.
Identifies health-related resources available to persons with autism.
Documents medications that individuals are taking and the side effects
they might experience.
Develops and teaches the use of communication tools to assist the person
in self-reporting health-related concerns.
Differentiates between self-inflicted injuries and potential abuseneglect-related injuries.
Suggests and requests adaptive equipment and assistive technology
when appropriate.
Understands the implications of dual diagnoses (autism and
any other diagnosis from the latest version of the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and co-morbidity.
Lists behaviors that could indicate the presence of an additional mental
health or disability diagnosis.
Discusses concerns and shares observations regarding possible
additional diagnoses with team, which includes parents, when dual
diagnosis is suspected.

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3
3

3
3

3
3

3
3

3
3

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Implements behavioral and mental health recommendations given to

the team by specialists such as psychiatrists or psychologists.
Shares reports of behavioral and symptomatic changes to medical
professionals who are supervising care for persons with autism and
co-morbid disorder(s).
2. Environmental Structure and Visual Supports
Competencies Statements
Understands the importance of the environment and provides
a setting that is safe, structured, and promotes independence.
Provides safe environments that are free of hazards.
Provides a positive climate that promotes respect for the individual.
Structures the physical environment and materials so the individual
can complete activities and routines independently.
Provides environments that are organized visually (ex: color
coding, labeling, pictures) to assist the individual in understanding
expectations.
Provides a distinct space for the individual to engage in a quiet, calming,
or sensory-based activities.
Understands and implements a variety of visual supports and
strategies to promote comprehension and independence.
Designs and implements meaningful visual supports and strategies
that cross all life settings and are based on individual assessment.
Implements a variety of visual supports and strategies to communicate
information and expectations and increase independence (ex: break
cards, rule cards, narratives, and scripts).
Implements a daily schedule of activities that is individualized by
length (ex: full day, part day) and type (ex: objects, photos, icons, words).
Implements mini-schedules to help the person participate in the
environment and complete activities.
Uses visual supports and strategies to help the individual prepare for
and complete transitions.
Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals, and families to implement
visual supports and strategies.
Uses evidence-based practices (ex: modeling, prompting, shaping, and
cueing) to teach the individual how to use the visual supports.
Understands how to measure progress and evaluate the
effectiveness of strategies.
Observes behaviors using objective measures and criteria, and records
data.
In consultation with the team, uses data and ongoing assessments
to modify strategies as needed to promote communication skills in
various settings.
3. Comprehensive Instructional Programming Competency
Statements
Understands how to assess an individuals strengths and
weaknesses and determine appropriate goals.
Identifies and uses appropriate formal and informal assessment tools
to evaluate the individuals strengths, needs, interests, and learning
style.
Solicits information from all members of the individuals team.
Integrates evaluation results from all areas to determine goal and
program recommendations.
Shares evaluation results with the individual, family, professionals, and
paraprofessionals.

3
3
3

3
3
3

3
3
3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3
3

3

3

3

3
3

3
3

3
3

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Develops goals and objectives that are:

Based on the individuals present level of performance
Observable and measurable
Age appropriate
Reflective of the desires of the individual and family
Develops goals that address core deficit areas related to autism (ex:
social skills communication, attention, imitation, play/leisure, sensorymotor, and self-regulation).
Develops goals that lead to the increase of positive behaviors and the
reduction of problem behavior.
Develops goals that lead to immediate and long term independence.
Develops goals designed to target generalization and maintenance of
skills across programs and community and school settings and also in
the home.
Considers and plans for transition needs of individuals (ex: early
intervention to preschool, preschool to elementary school, elementary
to middle school, middle to high school, high school to postsecondary
activities).
Describes the need for early intervention and the provision of intensive
and explicit instruction.
Understands and implements intervention strategies and
supports to address the individuals goals.
Selects and designs intervention strategies based on the abilities,
learning style, and interests of the individual.
Provides intervention through a full range of formats (ex: one-to-one,
small group, school/community interactions, and peer-mediated
interactions).
Implements a wide variety of strategies and supports to effectively
address the many needs of the individual.
Implements strategies and supports that are evidence-based or
promising practices.
Uses strategies and supports that:
Meet individuals academic and adaptive needs in the core
curriculum
Promote the development of life skills across all domains
Promote communication and social interaction
Facilitate the development of healthy relationships
Encourage generalization and maintenance of skills across
programs and settings
Implements prompting strategies and hierarchies that promote high
rates of successful performance.
Provides appropriate reinforcement contingent on behavior and
emphasizes the use of naturally occurring reinforcement.
Implements explicit instructional methods that:
Are clear and concise
Break skills into small teachable parts
Focus on systematic presentation of new skills
Implements instruction that promotes active engagement and
maximizes opportunities for learning.
Implements strategies and supports across all settings and with fidelity.
Modifies and/or accommodates task requirements to address
individuals strengths and needs.
Plans, communicates, and instructs family and professionals on
strategies needed to access home, educational, work, and community
environments.
Implements adaptive equipment and assistive technology options
needed (ex: picture symbols, computer, pencil grip, electronic devices).

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3
3

3
3

3
3

3
3

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals, and families to implement

appropriate components of the intervention program.
Understands how to measure progress and evaluate the
effectiveness of strategies and instruction.
Assesses progress toward goals on a consistent and regular basis (ex:
weekly) using objective measures and criteria.
Analyzes and reviews data with the educational team.
In consultation with the team, uses data and ongoing assessments to
modify program content, presentation, and interventions.
Understands the need and benefit of a team to develop
programs.
Shares useful and pertinent information with family regularly and
provides opportunities for families to respond.
Respects the needs, desires, and interests of the individual and families
and incorporates into goals and intervention.
Includes the individual as an active participant and contributor to
program planning.
Collaborates with the team and has regularly scheduled meetings to
address needs and problem solve using data as appropriate.
Implements and follows-up on team decisions and communicates
results immediately.
Provides appropriate support and training to paraprofessionals or
direct service staff.
Collaborates with the team to effectively plan for transition needs of
individuals (ex: early intervention to preschool, preschool to elementary
school, elementary to middle school, middle to high school, high school
to postsecondary activities).
4. Communication Competencies Statements
Understands components of communication and its impact
on the day-to-day experience of an individual with autism
and how to assess skills for intervention planning.
Uses informal and formal tools to assess and analyze both receptive
and expressive communication (ex: verbal, nonverbal, content, speech,
semantics, and pragmatics).
Determines the functions (ex: request, comment, question, negate) and
frequency of communication across all life environments.
Determines the form of communication (ex: verbal, gestures, visuals)
and considers augmentative communication options that are based on
individual need and strengths.
Solicits information from all members of the individuals collaborative
program development team (anyone who supports, works with, or
provides consultation).
Understands a variety of strategies to increase an individuals
communication abilities.
Designs and implements a meaningful communication program that
crosses all life settings and is based on individual assessment.
Implements programs throughout all daily activities maximizing
communication opportunities.
Implements effective strategies and supports to teach communication
(ex: modeling, prompting, shaping, NET and narratives).
Implements environmental arrangement, routines, and motivational
activities to teach communication.
Supports vocabulary development within a contextual framework.
Implements pragmatic skill strategies using the individuals learning
style.
Provides opportunities for and offers choices across the day.

3 3

3 3

3
3

3
3

3
3

3 3

3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3 3

3
3
3 3

3
3

3
3

3 3

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Provides and is able to instruct others on the team how to provide

adequate processing (wait) time when communicating.
Supports development of receptive communication within a contextual
framework.
Based on the function and frequency of communication, teaches
individuals how to communicate for a variety of reasons, to a variety of
people, and in a variety of settings.
Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals, and families to implement the
communication program.
Implements appropriate augmentative communication
interventions such as object or picture exchange systems, voice output
communication devices, gesture, signs, text, among others to promote
or enhance communication.
Understands how to measure progress and evaluate the
effectiveness of strategies.
Observes communication behaviors using objective measures and
criteria, and records data.
In consultation with the team, uses data and ongoing assessments
to modify strategies as needed to promote communication skills in
various settings.
Assesses and revises communication program to match factors such as
contextual fit, values of team, affordability, and portability.

3
3

3
3

3
3

5. Social Skill Competencies Statements
Understands social skill development and the unique social
skill deficits and challenges associated with autism and how
to assess skills for intervention planning.
Assesses social skill strengths and needs across environments on an
ongoing basis.
Assesses skills related to understanding and regulating emotions (ex:
identify emotions in self and others, self-management).
Assesses skills related to social interactions and reciprocation (ex: joint
attention, sharing, turn taking).
Assesses play and leisure skills.
Solicits information from all members of the individuals team.
Understands appropriate strategies to increase an individuals
social skills.
In collaboration with the individual with autism, uses circles of support
or other techniques to identify their personal relationships (ex: family,
friendship, acquaintance, romantic, and bullying).
Develops social skills goals and objectives that are: appropriate,
observable, measurable, and functional.
Plans for generalization and maintenance of social skills in a variety of
settings with a variety of people including other professionals, friends,
and family members.
Teaches positive social skills in natural environments, general
education and community settings.
Uses specialized social skills strategies (ex: anger and stress
management techniques, social narratives, mentoring, shaping,
natural environment teaching, video-modeling, integrated play groups,
etc.) to teach social skills, and to foster social interest and interaction.
Teaches individuals appropriate behavior for different social contexts
and relationships across settings (ex: when interacting with strangers
and intimate significant others).
Implements age appropriate social skills for play, recreation, and
community activities.

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Teaches individuals how to interact and reciprocate for a variety of

reasons, with a variety of people, and in a variety of settings.
Supports emotional understanding and development in a contextual
framework.
Educates and trains peers to interact appropriately and effectively with
individuals with autism.
Provides instruction, support, and guidance to the individual in
identifying and dealing with manipulative, coercive, and/or abusive
relationships.
Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals and family to implement
specialized social skill strategies in a variety of settings.
In collaboration with the family, teaches self-advocacy and awareness
of autism.
Educates paraprofessionals, professionals and family on the concepts of
social integration and the characteristics of autism.
Understands how to measure progress and evaluate the
effectiveness of strategies.
Observes social behaviors using objective measures and criteria, and
records data.
In consultation with the team, uses data and ongoing assessments to
modify strategies as needed to promote positive social skills.

6. Behavior Competencies Statements
Understands factors that influence behavior and the
components of behavior analysis (antecedents, behavior,
and consequences) and how to provide positive behavior
intervention.
Identifies and operationalizes target behaviors for assessment and
intervention.
Assists team members, including family, in prioritizing areas of
concern.
Observes and documents behaviors using objective measures and
criteria.
Completes functional behavior assessment to determine function of
behavior and maintaining antecedents and consequences. FBA should
include:
Indirect (structured interviews, checklists, rating scales) and direct
(structured ABC data collection) measures of data collection
Analysis of collected data
Development and testing of hypothesis
Identifies individualized reinforcement preferences using indirect and
direct measures on an ongoing basis.
Develops and implements multi-component intervention plans based
on the results of the FBA that emphasize prevention and are socially
valid. Plans should include:
Implementation of setting event and antecedent interventions (ex:
proactive changes to prevent the behavior from occurring)
Teaching of alternative replacement, coping, and general skills
Implementation of positive consequences to increase the use of the
new positive behaviors
Implementation of schedules of reinforcement and differential
reinforcement to increase use of positive behaviors
Description of thinning of a reinforcement schedule as appropriate
Description of strategies for teaching and promoting desired
behaviors
Implementation of reactive and crisis management strategies to
support the individual if and when the problem behavior occurs

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Implements all components of the behavior intervention plan with

consistency in a variety of complex environments under natural
circumstances.
Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals and family to implement the
behavior intervention plan in a variety of settings.
Educates paraprofessionals, professionals and family on the concepts
of factors that influence behavior and the components of behavior
analysis.
Understands how to evaluate the effectiveness of a behavior
plan reliably and effectively.
Collects data to evaluate the plans effectiveness in:
Decreasing the problem behavior
Increasing the alternative and positive behaviors
Increasing quality of life outcomes
Generalizing skills to new environments
Evaluates data and reports on the plans effectiveness and revises as
needed in consultation with the team.
Develops a plan to generalize behavior to other persons and settings.
7. Sensory Motor Development Competencies
Understands the sensory systems, sensory processing, and
sensory motor development.
Describes the seven senses (visual, auditory, oral, olfactory, tactile,
proprioceptive, and vestibular) and the varying patterns of
hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to sensory input.
Describes the relationship between sensory motor systems and
behavior (ex: demonstrating stereotypical behaviors such as rocking or
hand flapping, or triggering fight, flight, or freeze responses).
Describes the relationship between sensory processing and functional
performance in activities of daily living (ex: work, academic, and play/
leisure activities).
Describes the relationship between sensory processing and motor
planning and coordination.
Understands the implications or influences of sensory
processing when developing a comprehensive plan.
Identifies behaviors that might indicate the need for a sensory motor
assessment.
Observes and assesses sensory motor needs across environments.
Solicits information from all members of the individuals collaborative
program development team (anyone who supports, works with, or
provides consultation).
Develops a sensory motor intervention plan for all life settings
that addresses difficulty with sensory processing and functional
performance and is focused on proactive strategies.
Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals, and family how to implement
the sensory motor intervention plan.
Teaches individuals who need sensory supports to self-monitor/selfregulate sensory motor needs and request to have their sensory needs
met.
Implements sensory motor intervention plan across all environments
with fidelity.
Understands how to measure progress and evaluate the
effectiveness of strategies.
Observes behaviors and collects data using objective measures to
evaluate the sensory motor intervention plan.
Communicates findings regarding the effectiveness of the sensory
motor intervention plan and collaborates with all team members.

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

In consultation with the team, uses data and ongoing assessments to

modify strategies as needed to address sensory motor needs.
8. Independence and Aptitude Competencies Statements
Understands skills needed for short term and long term
independence and how to assess skills for intervention
planning.
Uses informal and formal tools to assess and analyze functional and
life skills related to caring for self, caring for home, participating in the
community, and employment.
Uses informal and formal tools to assess and analyze academic skills
(ex: literacy, math, science, and social studies).
Uses informal and formal tools to assess and analyze cognitive skills
and learning profiles (ex: attention, processing, organization, problem
solving).
Solicits information from all members of the individuals team.
Determines generalization of skills across environments and ability to
use functionally.
Understands a variety of strategies to increase an individuals
short term and long term independence in functional and life
skills.
Develops goals that maximize personal independence, meaningful
participation in community environments, positive relationships with
others, and successful employment.
Develops an intervention plan for all settings that targets functional
and life skills related to caring for self, caring for the home,
participating in the community, and employment with the team that
directly targets individual needs.
Implements effective strategies and supports to teach functional and
life skills (ex: modeling, prompting, shaping, discrete trial instruction,
natural environment teaching, and task analysis).
Implements the intervention plan across all environments with fidelity.
Implements programs throughout all daily activities maximizing
opportunities for learning.
Supports development of functional and life skills within a contextual
framework utilizing the natural environment.
Implements intervention to specifically teach personal awareness and
self-monitoring.
Understands a variety of strategies to increase an individuals
cognitive and learning abilities.
Develops an intervention plan targeting cognitive and learning skills
with the team that is based on individual needs.
Implements effective strategies and supports to teach skills needed to
improve cognitive and learning abilities (ex: visual supports, narratives,
prompting, shaping, and natural environment teaching).
Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals, and families to implement
relevant components of the program.
Understands a variety of strategies to increase an individuals
short term and long term independence in academic skills.
Develops an intervention plan targeting meaningful academic skills
with the team that is based on individual needs.
Implements effective strategies and supports to teach academic skills
that address the individuals learning style (ex: modeling, prompting,
shaping, discrete trial instruction, natural environment teaching, and
task analysis).
Supports literacy and math concept development within a contextual
framework utilizing real materials.

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3

3
3

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Paraprofessional Professional
Master
Advanced

Direct Services
Direct Service
Professional Degree, Program

Staff
Staff
Direct Service
Developer,

Staff Specialist

Teaches paraprofessionals, professionals, and families to implement

relevant components of the program.
Understands how to measure progress and evaluate the
effectiveness of strategies.
Observes behaviors using objective measures and criteria, and records
data.
In consultation with the team, uses data and ongoing assessments
to modify strategies as needed to promote communication skills in
various settings.

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Appendix F:
Examples of Data Driven Assessment
Example 1)
Level of Independence
Student: Date:
Evaluator:

Context & Skill: Obtaining lunch from the school cafeteria
Level of Independance
1.

Waits appropriately in
lunch line

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

2.

Picks up tray and

silverware

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

3.

Selects appropriate foods

from cafeteria counter

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

4.

Selects drink

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

5.

Pays for food

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

6.

Carries tray to table

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

o
o
o
o
o

Full Prompt
Partial Prompt
Gestural Prompt
Verbal Prompt
Independent

Total % of Steps
Completed Independently

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Example 2)
Ecological Assessment
Student: Date:
Evaluator:
Context & Skill: Social Skills/All Environments

Complete this form for each major environment (e.g., home, school, community activity)

V 72 V

What social activities occur in this environment?

How are these social activities structured (e.g., teacher directed, unstructured)?

What types of interactions does the student have with teachers/adults (e.g., task related, playing games)?

What types of interactions does the student have with peers (e.g., conversational, activity oriented)?

What is the nature of typical peer interactions in this environment?

Are there opportunities for the student to interact successfully and be reinforced?

Is this an integrated or segregated environment? How does that impact interactions?

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Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010
Example 3)
Discrepancy Analysis / Comparison of Skills to Same Age Peers
Student:
Evaluator:

Date:
Context & Skill: Transition to Morning Group

Name:
Environment: Kindergarten classroom

Activity: Transition from free time to morning group

Inventory of Target
Student

Inventory of Target
Students Peers
1) Teacher calls class from free
time to morning group and
students finish putting their
toys away and head over to
group area.

1) Child continues to play or

just stands over in the corner
slightly rocking. After numerous
verbal and physical prompts,
child disengages for toys and
goes with Paraprofessional to
group. Goes up to closest line
when prompted to get your
ticket.

2) Scans group area for buddy, and

plops down on chair next to
them.

2) Last child there so sits on end

in last empty seat. Accidentally
bumps and upsets child nearest
him.

3) Teacher does greeting and asks

the children what they did the
night before. Children raise their
hands to be chosen to share.

3) Once teacher has asked for

sharing, child jumps in and asks
if she has a new vacuum cleaner.

4) First child begins to share,

another child adds on.

4) Tries to continue the one-sided

discussion about vacuum
cleaners.

5) Another child says that they

have a dog too and its

5) Once redirected to let someone

else share, withdraws and plays
with the hem of the pants.

6) Teacher acknowledges the

children speaking and then calls
on another child. Other children
quiet down while next child
shares.

6) Begins to rock, bumping into

peer.

Skills that target student needs to be taught or

skills that need to be adapted or modified

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Student Services

V 73 V

Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Notes

V 74 V

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Student Services

Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Notes

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Student Services

V 75 V

Guidelines for Educating Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders V October 2010

Notes

V 76 V

Virginia Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Student Services

 2010 Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education

The Virginia Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of
race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, political affiliation, veteran status, or
against otherwise qualified persons with disabilities in its programs and activities.