Developing appropriate programs for students with autism has been an increasingly complex task for parents, schools, and other stakeholders. Parents of students with autism have challenged the appropriateness of proposed school district programs, and these disputes represent the fastest growing and most expensive area of litigation in special education. In this article, 68 hearings and cases were reviewed. The article discusses the outcomes of administrative and judicial decisions related to appropriate programs for children with autism. Three primary factors were identified: Individualized education program (IEP) goals must be matched to evaluation data, IEP team members must be qualified to develop programs, and the methodology selected must be able to assist the students in achieving identified IEP goals. Implications for school teams are discussed.
Adams v. State of Oregon, 31 IDELR 130 (9th Cir. 1999).
2.
Alexander K. v. Virginia Board of Education, 30 IDELR 967 (ED VA 1999).
3.
Amanda J. v. Clark County School District, 35 IDELR 65 (9th Cir. 2001).
4.
AndersonS.RomanczykR. (1999). Early intervention for young children with autism: Continuum-based behavioral models. The Journal of The Association of Persons with Severe Handicaps, 24, 162–173.
5.
Azle Independent School District, 26 IDELR 931 (SEA TX 1997).
6.
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7.
Barretown Elementary School District, 29 IDELR 521 (SEA VT 1998).
8.
Blackmon v. Springfield R-XII School District, 31 IDELR 132 (8th Cir., 1999).
9.
Board of Education of the City School District of the City of New York, 28 IDELR 519 (SEA NY 1998).
10.
Board of Education of the City School District of the City of New York, 33 IDELR 58 (SEA NY 2000).
11.
Board of Education of the City School District of the City of White Plains, 25 IDELR 872 (SEA NY 1997).
12.
Board of Education of the County of Kanawha v. Michael M., 32 IDELR 170 (S.D. WVA, 2000).
13.
Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, 553 IDELR 656 (S. Ct. 1982).
14.
Board of Education of the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, 35 IDELR 142 (SEA NY 2001).
15.
Board of Education of the North Rose-Wolcott Central School District, 26 IDELR 325 (SEA NY 1997).
16.
Board of Education of the Roslyn Union Free School District, 31 IDELR 201 (SEA NY 1999).
17.
Board of Education of the Syosset Central School District, 4 ECLPR 384 (SEA NY 2002).
18.
BoomerL. W.Garrison-HarrellL. (1995). Legal issues concerning children with autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. Behavioral Disorders, 21(1), 53–61.
19.
Burilovich v. Board of Education of the Lincoln Consolidated Schools, 28 IDELR 277 (ED MI 1998).
20.
Burilovich v. Board of Education of the Lincoln Consolidated Schools, 32 IDELR 85 (6th Cir. 2000).
21.
Clark County School District, 28 IDELR 804 (SEA NV 1998).
22.
Clovis Unified School District, 36 IDELR 201 (SEA CA 2001).
23.
C. M. v. The Board of Education of Henderson County, 32 IDELR 89 (WD NC 1999).
24.
CohenS. (1999). Zeroing in on autism in young children. The Journal of The Association of Persons with Severe Handicaps, 24(3), 209–212.
25.
Commack Union Free School District, 37 IDELR 135 (SEA NY 2002).
26.
Dong v. Board of Education of the Rochester Community Schools, 31 IDELR 157 (6th Cir., 1999).
27.
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28.
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Fuhrmann v. East Hanover Board of Education, 19 IDELR 1065 (3rd Cir. 1993).
31.
Gellerman v. Calaveras Unified School District, 34 IDELR 33 (ED CA 2000).
32.
Georgetown County School District, 4 ECLPR 334 (SEA SC 2001).
33.
Gill v. Columbia 93 School District, 32 IDELR 254 (8th Cir. 2000).
34.
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36.
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37.
Hartmann v. Loudoun County Board of Education, 26 IDELR 167 (4th Cir. 1997).
38.
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39.
Hot Springs School District, 4 ECLPR 370 (SEA AK 2002).
40.
In re: G. v. Fort Bragg Independent Schools, 34 IDELR 176 (ED NC 2001).
41.
In the Matter of Andrew Steinmetz v. Richmond Community School Corporation, 33 IDELR 155 (SD IN 2000).
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44.
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46.
Lachman v. Illinois State Board of Education, 441 IDELR 156 (7th Cir 1988).
47.
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, 30 IDELR 191 (SEA CA 1999).
48.
Lancaster Independent School District, 29 IDELR 281 (SEA TX 1998).
49.
L. B. J. B. v. Nebo School District, 37 IDELR 123 (DC UT 2002).
50.
Letter to Anonymous, 22 IDELR 980, OSERS (1995).
51.
Lexington County School District One, 29 IDELR 808 (SEA SC 1998).
52.
Long Beach Unified School District, 29 IDELR 541 (SEA CA 1998).
53.
Los Alamitos Unified School District, 3 ECLPR 137 (SEA CA 1997).
54.
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56.
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58.
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59.
Mr. X. v. New York State Education Department, 26 IDELR 854 (SD NY 1997).
60.
Norfolk Public Schools, 26 IDELR 249 (SEA MA 1997).
61.
Norwood Public Schools, 28 IDELR 1282 (SEA MA 1998).
62.
Old Adobe Union Elementary School District, 27 IDELR 70 (SEA CA 1997).
63.
Pitchford v. Salem-Keizer School District No. 24J, 35 IDELR 126 (DC OR 2001).
64.
Polk v. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16, 441 IDELR 130 (3rd Cir. 1988).
65.
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66.
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67.
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68.
Renner v. Board of Education of the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor, 30 IDELR 885 (6th Cir. 1999).
69.
Richmond Community School Corporation, 30 IDELR 208 (SEA IN 1999).
70.
Roland M. v. The Concord School Committee, 16 IDELR 1129 (1st Cir. 1990).
71.
Saddleback Valley Unified School District, 4 ECLRP 363 (SEA CA 2002).
72.
Samuel Tyler W. v. Northwest Independent School District, 36 IDELR 236 (ND TX 2002).
73.
Sanford School Committee v. Mr. and Mrs. L., 34 IDELR 262 (DC ME 2001).
74.
San Diego Unified School District, 28 IDELR 244 (SEA CA 1998).
75.
San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, 37 IDELR 107 (SEA CA 2002).
76.
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77.
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85.
Special School District #1 (Minneapolis Public Schools), 30 IDELR 419 (SEA MN 1999).
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92.
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94.
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95.
Washoe County School District, 27 IDELR 560 (SEA NV 1997).
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