 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Marygrace E. Yale, PhD, Keith G. Scott, PhD, and Peter Mundy, PhD. Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Psychology Annex, PO Box 249229, Coral Gables, FL 33124, (305)284-4943, myale@miami.edu
Comparisons of epidemiological data from the last 30 years suggest that there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of autism. However, the meaning of this increase is currently poorly understood and few population-based studies have been conducted with large U.S. samples. The CDC recently reported that autism effects 3.4 of every 1000 children ages 3-10 years in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. The present study is a retrospective analysis of the stability of autism eligibility classifications for children receiving special services in the Florida public school system. During the 2000-2001 school year (SY), 459 third graders were eligible for autism services, resulting in an administrative prevalence of 2.24 per 1000 for the disability. During the previous school year (1999-2000SY), 83.4% of the sample had an autism classification, while 8.1% were not receiving special education services. When the sample was in first grade (1999-1998SY), 71.0% were receiving services for autism, 15.7% were not receiving any special services and 13.3% were receiving services for other disabilities. Approximately 60% of the children possessed an autism classification in kindergarten, 20.7% were not eligible for services and 19.0% had another disability classification. As preschoolers, 40.1% of the sample received services for autism, 25.9% for other exceptionalities and 34.0% were not receiving services. These results indicate that a majority of third graders receiving special services for autism possessed the classification during previous school years. When students received services for exceptionalities other than autism, the most common were language impaired or developmentally delayed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Disability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.