Successfully Serving Students With ASD in the Schools: Let the Evidence Be Your Guide

Abstract

The caseload of a speech-language pathologist in the school setting consists of students with an array of abilities. The number of students with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is on the rise according to the most recent statistics: 1/110 children have an ASD (Centers for Disease Control, 2009). The diagnoses that fall under the ASD umbrella include autism, Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Given these statistics, school clinicians will see an increase of students with ASD on their caseloads. Ways to effectively address the needs of children who fall under the ASD diagnostic umbrella will be discussed.