As the new school year approaches, some families are questioning whether their child’s current school environment is providing the necessary support for success. For autistic students with complex needs, signs that a change may be needed include changes in behavior, limited progress toward individualized goals, or increasing difficulty navigating the school day.

Understanding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The IDEA is a federal law that guarantees eligible students with disabilities access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) tailored to their unique needs. Autism is one of the fastest-growing disability categories served under the IDEA, accounting for nearly 15% of school-aged students with disabilities.

Autistic students may have co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, or nonverbal learning disability, which can make traditional school settings challenging. Social interaction constraints can also make it difficult for autistic students to thrive in traditional schools.

Signs that a School Placement May Not Be Working

Families should be aware of signs that a school placement may not be meeting their child’s needs, including safety and structured support, integrated services, consistency across settings, communication access, and environment and regulation.

Research suggests that flexible, team-based, and personalized care models with specialized services such as occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and behavioral supports can play important roles in helping autistic students build communication, self-regulation, and social skills.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.