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. 2014 Nov;48(3):167-179.
doi: 10.1177/0022466913483576.

Special Education Services Received by Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders from Preschool through High School

Xin Wei  1 , Mary Wagner  2 , Elizabeth R A Christiano  3 , Paul Shattuck  4 , Jennifer W Yu  5
Affiliations

Special Education Services Received by Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders from Preschool through High School

Xin Wei et al. J Spec Educ. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Little is known about how special education services received by students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) differ by age, disability severity, and demographic characteristics. Using three national datasets, the Pre-Elementary Education Longitudinal Study (PEELS), the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study (SEELS), and the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2), this study examined the age trends in special education services received by students with ASDs from preschool through high school. Elementary-school students with ASDs had higher odds of receiving adaptive physical education, specialized computer software or hardware, and special transportation, but lower odds of receiving learning strategies/study skills support than their preschool peers. Secondary-school students had lower odds of receiving speech/language or occupational therapy and of having a behavior management program, but higher odds of receiving mental health or social work services than their elementary-school peers. Both disability severity and demographic characteristics were associated with differences in special education service receipt rates.

Keywords: age; autism; demographic characteristics; disability severity; service; special education.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interaction plots describing the effect of age group on odds of receiving speech or language therapy, behavior management service, occupational therapy, or none of three basic therapeutic services depending on the severity of communication impairment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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