Autism spectrum disorder defined. Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that significantly affects verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction and results in adverse effects, generally evident before age three, on the child's educational performance.

Other characteristics often associated with autism spectrum disorder are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.

The term does not apply if the student's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the student has an emotional disability defined under § 24:05:24.01:16.

Source: 20 SDR 33, effective September 8, 1993; transferred from § 24:05:25:27.01 , 23 SDR 31, effective September 8, 1996; 26 SDR 150, effective May 22, 2000; 41 SDR 37, effective September 4, 2014 ; 49 SDR 12, effective August 14, 2022 .

General Authority: SDCL 13-37-1.1 , 13-37-46 , 13-37-47 , 13-37-52 .

Law Implemented: SDCL 13-37-1 , 13-37-1 .1, 13-37-1 .2, 13-37-28 , 13-37-46 , 13-37-47 , 13-37-52 .

Prior versions effective: 2014-09-04, 2000-05-22.