This powerpoint presentation was put together by Nancy Erickson, Coordinator of Related Services, Fulton County Schools and Sheila Connell, Instructional Coordinator for Special Education, Fulton County School , and presented on December 5 at our Georgia Children's Advocacy Network (GA-CAN!) Off-Session Policy Series. This month our panelists discussed the complex topic of autism, it's diagnosis, treatment and coverage.

1. Serving Students with
Autism in the Schools
Nancy Erickson, Coordinator
Sheila Connell, Coordinator

2. Fulton County Schools
• Approximately 95,000 students
• 907 students with autism eligibility receiving special
education services
• To receive special education services there must be
an adverse educational impact (not all students with
autism require special education)
• Service decisions are data-driven and not fixed in
time or place

3. Continuum of Services
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504***
General Education with Supportive Instruction
General Education with Consultative Services
General Education with Collaborative Instruction
Special Education part or most of the day
Related Services

4. Current Initiatives
• Staff training at the local and state level (instruction,
technology, social skills, communication strategies)
• Partnering with Universities to train the next generation
of teachers and therapists
• Partnering with state agencies to staff all children by
their 3rd birthday
• Corporate partnerships to develop off campus
classrooms and job training
• Parent mentors partner with families to navigate and
support