[Source:  Best Practices Autism]

The number of children identified with autism has more than doubled over the last decade. The dramatic increase in prevalence, together with the clear benefits of early intervention, have created a pressing need for schools to identify children who may have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As a result, specialized support personnel such as school psychologists are now being asked to participate in the screening, assessment, and educational planning for children and youth on the autism spectrum more than at any other time in the recent past. Moreover, the call for greater use of evidence-based practice has increased demands that professionals be prepared to recognize the presence of risk factors, engage in case finding, and be knowledgeable about evidence-based assessment (EBA) and intervention practices for ASD.

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