TWo systems are currently used in the United States to diagnose and classify school-age children With autism for special education services. These are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—Fourth Edition—Text Revision ( DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) and the 1997 amendments to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. This article revieWs the DSM-IV-TR and compares and contrasts the diagnostic criteria With the educational requirements. Problems With using a dual classification system are highlighted.
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