Autism

"Autism" means 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. Autism does not apply if a child's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disturbance. A child who manifests the characteristics of autism after age three could be diagnosed as having autism if the criteria are satisfied.


Common Characteristics

        • Impairments of communication and emotional dysfunction

        • Difficulty relating to others in a typical manner

        • Resistance to being picked up or held by parents

        • Significant speech deficits including mutism and echolalia

        • Early specific food preferences

        • Obsessive desires for repetition and sameness

        • Bizarre repetitive behavior, such as rocking/spinning

        • Lack of imagination


Criteria

Aspergers

  • Impaired social interactions

  • Restricted repertoire and stereotypical patterns of behaviors, interests and activities

Autistic Disorder

  • Impairment in communication

  • Education impact

Training & Technical Assistance


Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center of Excellence (VCU ACE)

The VCU Autism Center of Excellence (VCU ACE) is a collaborative partnership between VDOE; the VCU School of Education, Department of Special Education and Disability Policy; the VCU School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and the VCU Research Rehabilitation and Training Center. VCU-ACE is dedicated to improving services to individuals with autism spectrum disorders and to the implementation of evidence-based practices in schools and the community. VCU ACE provides:

  • Division-wide technical assistance in schools

  • Informational Webinars on a wide range of topics relating to autism spectrum disorder for parents, community members, and professionals

  • Professional development opportunities for families, administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, medical personnel, and community service agents

  • Communities of Learning in Autism (CoLA)

Virginia’s Training/Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC)

VDOE, sponsor of Virginia’s Training/Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC), also supports eight regional TTACs that comprise a statewide system emphasizing collaboration in the planning and provision of services to meet state and local staff development needs. The mission of Virginia's Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC) is to improve educational opportunities and contribute to the success of children and youth with disabilities (birth - 22 years). The Centers provide quality training and technical assistance in response to local, regional, and state needs. TTAC services increase the capacity of schools, school personnel, service providers, and families to meet the needs of children and youth. The TTACs meet these needs through activities such as:

  • consultation

  • information services

  • linking and networking resources together

  • lending library of multimedia resources and technology

  • referral to other services

  • workshops

Additional Autism Spectrum Disorders Resources