The rise in the number of children With autism poses challenges to professionals in the field of early care and education. The restricted patterns of communicating, relating, and behaving seen often in children With autism necessitate a sophisticated approach to assessment. There is an increasing need in the field to use alternative assessment approaches in order to alloW professionals to interact and communicate With the child on multiple levels. Assessment approaches that provide the child With choices yield data that go beyond confirmation of a diagnosis to include information about suitable educational and therapeutic interventions and programming outcomes as Well as ideas to support functioning in the natural environment. This article describes an innovative approach to assessing a girl With autism. The approach includes incorporating interests and a structured schedule.
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