Autism Supplement

Parents of Texas' roughly 20,000 students who are on the autism spectrum hope that a November 2007 addition to the requirements for special education students will help resolve one of special education's more contentious areas. Known as the “Autism Supplement” this additional requirement for IEP consideration include the following points:

AUTISM SUPPLEMENT – 11 POINTS THAT MUST BE DISCUSSED

Parents and educators must discuss each of the following 11 points before creating an Individualized Education Program for a student with autism in Texas:

• Extended educational programming, including extended-day and extended-year services
• Daily schedules with minimal unstructured time
• In-home and community-based training that helps students acquire social and behavioral skills
• Positive behavioral support strategies
• Planning for the life, work and education of children of all ages
• Parent and family training and support
• Suitable student-to-staff ratios for children during the various stages of learning
• Communication interventions
• Social skill supports
• Professional educator and staff support and training
• Teaching strategies based on research-based practices, including discrete-trial training and applied behavior analysis

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