title: Educational placements and service use patterns of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: This project was undertaken to identify child characteristics associated with educational placement and service use in high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorders. The sample of 101 (nine females) had a mean age of 12 +/- 3 years (mean IQ = 101.77 +/- 19.50). Results indicate that lower-cognitive ability and communication skill were associated with placement in special education. Based on parent-report, most students stayed in the same placement (regular or special education) in which they began first grade and the majority of students received special services in their schools (most often speech/language intervention). Findings highlight the emphasis placed on certain child characteristics (e.g., cognitive ability), with far less emphasis on other areas (e.g., degree of social deficit), in educational placement and service provision.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Treatment Center for Children, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 515 North 10th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. swilliams25@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Susan Williams
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scahill
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klin
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Fred R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Volkmar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003142:Communication; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014768:Virginia