NAC388.028. “Autism” defined.

     1. “Autism” means a spectrum disorder which:

     (a) Significantly affects the verbal and nonverbal communication and social skills of a person and is often characterized by repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to changes in environment or daily routine and responding to sensory experiences in an unusual manner;

     (b) Is usually apparent before the age of 3 years; and

     (c) Adversely affects the educational performance of a pupil causing significant delays or irregular patterns in learning, or both.

Ê The term includes, without limitation, a group of developmental disorders such as autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, atypical autism, pervasive developmental disorder and other disorders that share the characteristics described in this subsection.

     2. The term does not apply to a pupil if the pupil’s educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the pupil has a serious emotional disturbance.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Education, eff. 11-23-93; A by R085-99, 2-16-2000; R071-05, 2-23-2006; R058-07, 10-31-2007)