| Are you the parent of a young child who you believe | | | | make sure that they are familiar with this diagnostic |
| has Autism or Pervasive Developmental | | | | tool. |
| Disorder(PDD)? Are special education personnel in | | | | 7. Typically the people who are using this tool are |
| your district refusing to acknowledge this diagnosis, | | | | Doctors, Clinical Psychologists, School Psychologists, |
| despite a lot of evidence? Many school districts refuse | | | | Speech Pathologists, Certified Occupational Therapists |
| to admit that a child has autism, because they do not | | | | etc. |
| want to provide the special education and related | | | | 8. While this is not an objective test it is far from |
| services that a child needs! But this tool can be used | | | | subjective. The ADOS is a schedule of observations |
| by special education personnel to see if your child has | | | | which has been developed over several decades and |
| autism. | | | | has been found to be effective! |
| Below are 9 things that you must know about the | | | | 9. This tool should be used in conjunction with other |
| ADOS: | | | | rating scales, such as the Childhood Autism Rating |
| 1. Purpose: Allows an accurate diagnosis of autism and | | | | Scale (CARS)! A full developmental history of the child, |
| pervasive developmental disorder | | | | a medical history, developmental and academic |
| 2. Can be used for children who are 2 years up to | | | | evaluations, testing of adaptive functioning, and |
| adulthood. | | | | information on the child's sensory integration function, |
| 3. Takes 30-45 minutes for a qualified examiner to use | | | | should also be included. As well as Speech Language |
| this tool. | | | | evaluation and Occupational Therapy evaluations if |
| 4. The person using the tool must have prior education, | | | | needed. |
| training, and experience in using this type of diagnostic | | | | Parents can become very frustrated with school |
| took. They must also have extensive experience with | | | | districts who refuse to acknowledge that their child has |
| autism and PDD! | | | | Autism! A private independent evaluator who is trained |
| 5. The person using the tool must take a clinical training | | | | can also do the ADOS on your child, so you do not |
| workshop, and at the end receive a certificate of | | | | have to depend only on school district personnel. Bring |
| completion. Be sure and check that any special | | | | any private evaluations to special education personnel |
| education personnel using this tool, has a certificate of | | | | and they must consider the results! Keep fighting your |
| completion. | | | | child is worth it! |
| 6. Person should have at least 8 practice sessions to | | | | |