"The American Psychiatric Association announced yesterday that it is proposing to eliminate the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome from the official diagnostic guide of mental disorders. The revised manual would place kids who are currently said to have Asperger's within an expanded definition of autism.
That change might affect how families get special education services in public schools. Currently, parents of children with autism turn to the federal law that guarantees a free public education for students with disabilities. Kids with autism clearly qualify, but for kids with Asperger's, it's much less clear. They are are often highly intellligent, but have social problems that make it hard for them to thrive in school.
Melinda Bird, senior counsel with the advocacy group Disability Rights California, says the current guidelines used by psychiatrists present parents with confusing criteria for the disorder. As a result, Bird says, 'parents spend unnecessary time arguing whether a child meets every one of these nuanced criteria.'"
That change might affect how families get special education services in public schools. Currently, parents of children with autism turn to the federal law that guarantees a free public education for students with disabilities. Kids with autism clearly qualify, but for kids with Asperger's, it's much less clear. They are are often highly intellligent, but have social problems that make it hard for them to thrive in school.Melinda Bird, senior counsel with the advocacy group Disability Rights California, says the current guidelines used by psychiatrists present parents with confusing criteria for the disorder. As a result, Bird says, 'parents spend unnecessary time arguing whether a child meets every one of these nuanced criteria.'"