Understanding Autism: We Know so Much More; We Still Know so Little!

Autism Spectrum Disorder Defined

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disability category recognized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a law that makes available a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to eligible children with disabilities throughout the United States and ensures special education and related services to those children. As defined by IDEA federal regulations (US), autism spectrum disorder is “a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three that adversely affects a child’s 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” (Ohio Operating, 2014, p. 17).