Children with autism can be hard to assess. Many children who fall under the criteria needed to determine autism, may be in fact be socially awkward, shy, among other things. As the CDC websites explains: "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain" (CDC, 2014). Some have even identified a gene that could play a role in the development of autism. This however does not speak for the majority of children diagnoses with autism so therefore other assessment tools as well identification methods must be used to determine whether a child has autism. "A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder" (CDC, 2014). Along with the new guidelines for proper diagnosis comes a set of identification methods to help ensure proper assessment of a potential case of autism. Although Autism is a disorder affecting the brain, it does not affect the body. There few if any physical characteristics that will show if a child has autism. Unlike Down syndrome that has its physical traits, autism only shows through the way the child interacts and responds to people in a social setting.

These symptoms may appears in as little as 3 months since birth and last for a lifetime. Symptoms normally appear definitively after 3 years of age. Therefore screening should start at age 3 and onward. To...

For instance, if the child by the age of one year does not respond to his/her name, that could be red flag. Avoidance of eye contact and desire to be alone could be another. Other red flags could be if they are upset over small changes, have obsessive interests and delayed language and speech skills. These are often markers of behavioral and social problems related to autism. Most of the signs relay to obsessive behavior like strong organizational activity and preference to be alone. Other symptoms to look out for is short attention span and reluctance to speak to others especially in a group setting.
Unit 7 option 2

Performance assessment can be very helpful for children, especially young children when it comes to standardized tests. The components of a performance assessment not only prepare the child for testing, but also ensure one can view the child's progress thus far with the mandatory curriculum. The components of performance assessment are: developmental checklists, portfolios, and summary reports. These components not only offer documentation of where the child currently is in terms of academic level, but also gives them a chance to improve.

The developmental checklists cover subject areas such as literacy and language, physical development, and mathematical thinking, subjects included in standardized testing. These checklists are used by teachers to help children see the progress they're making throughout the year and…