Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of pervasive developmental disorders that cause significant impairments in communication and social interaction. The Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) estimates that as of 2006, the number of children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is 1 in 88. The CDC’s estimated occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder increased 23% during 2006 to 2008 and 78% during 2002 to 2008. The influx of these students in public schools highlights the need for educating general teachers as to the characteristics of the disorder, as well as, providing research based academic and behavioral interventions to be used in the classroom so that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder might be successfully included. In general, most students with Autism Spectrum Disorder have been educated in general education classrooms with teachers who have little experience and training in working with this specific population. v The goal of this project was to determine the knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a group of primary general education teachers. This data was then used to create an on-site staff development presentation providing teachers with training to include students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the general education classroom.