Special Education Service Use

In The Politics of Autism, I write about special education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Christin A. McDonald and colleagues have an article in The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders titled "Special Education Service Use by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder." The abstract:

In the last decade, the prevalence of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability (ID) in schools has increased. However, there is a paucity of information on special education placement, service use, and relationships between service use and demographic variables for children with ASD without ID. This study aimed to describe and explore variation in type and amount of special education services provided to (N = 89) children with ASD. Results indicated that the largest percentage of children received services under the Autism classification (56.2%) and were in partial-inclusion settings (40.4%). The main services received were speech (70.8%) and occupational (56.2%) therapies, while few children received behavior plans (15.7%) or social skills instruction (16.9%). Correlates with service use are described.

OT

Stories about autism therapy typically focus on ABA.  But OT is an important part of the story too,  This story in the Chicago Tribune offers some detail:

Since she works with children, Cindy DeRuiter's says her days are always memorable. Her patients are sure to say or do something funny, unexpected, or heartwarming. An occupational therapist at Easter Seals Autism Therapeutic School'€™s Chicago site, DeRuiter, 26, works with children with autism and their families, delivering services in a special-education-school setting.

Her goal is to help kids participate more fully in activities related to school, including development of sensory and emotional regulation skills, handwriting ability, vocational skills, self-care and hygiene, task modification and adaptation. She may address environmental modification of classrooms, and consults with parents, teachers and other professionals to help her patients succeed in school.

She especially enjoys witnessing moments of accomplishment.

"One experience that sticks in my mind was helping a child learn to pedal his tricycle and to jump for the first time," DeRuiter recalled. "It absolutely made him light up with joy."

It can be hard to define occupational therapy (OT) because the field is so broad, DeRuiter said. She sees OTs as health care professionals who help rehabilitate people who've experienced injury, illness, or disability. Therapy focuses on mastering everyday activities (or "occupations") that help patients be more independent, productive and happy.