ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the evolution of federal legislative actions impacting individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the development of the standards project, evidence-based practices, and state and international efforts supporting individuals with ASD. Although autism was recognized and identified in the early 1960s, education and support programs were scarce. Nevertheless, parents were organizing and initiating programs for their children. The history of autism legislation exhibits the same confusion that education and health professions encountered when trying to provide services to children with autism and their families. From the 1973 Public Law 93-112, known as the Rehabilitation Act, to the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), the United States’ current national education law, key legislative actions are presented. The dramatic increase in numbers of persons identified with ASD burst into the public consciousness and changes in legislation, program development, and service delivery expanded at the same time. This chapter provides information on the legislation that helped define the programs and service delivery systems designed for people with ASD.
