Preschool Children Ages Three to Five
IDEA Part B Services
For concerns about development for preschool children ages three to five, please refer to the NDE Guide to Preschool Special Education guidance document. It provides guidance and technical assistance for local school districts and educational service units (ESUs) to implement quality and effective services for preschoolers with disabilities and their families.
Below is a curated list of excellent resources to help you gain a deeper understanding of ASD diagnosis and educational eligibility determination, insight into differences in the presentation of ASD in boys and girls and considerations for making decisions about services and supports.
Ages 3-5: (Part B) Resources
NDE Guide to Preschool Special Education
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance and technical assistance for local school districts and ESUs to implement quality and effective services for preschoolers with disabilities and their families.
Many Faces of Autism Course (From our friends at OCALI)
This free introductory online course presents information about the unique characteristics of ASD, including social communication, restricted interests, patterns of behavior, sensory, cognition, information processing and emotional regulation. Five simple strategies are introduced that may be used anytime, anywhere with young children, students and adults that have ASD. The module is designed to be completed in approximately 90 minutes.
Learn The Signs Act Early
Help Your Child Grow and Thrive: From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves. Track your child’s development and act early if you have a concern.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Support You Can See (and Feel): Teaching Children with Autism. Teachers who purposefully use multiple instructional approaches optimize children’s opportunities for learning. Children arrive in preschool with different backgrounds, interests, experiences, and abilities. By considering these differences, teachers are better able to meet each child’s needs and help all children learn. This article supports standards by sharing instructional supports for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Sesame Street and Autism Resources
- Learn what autism is and how to celebrate and support the amazing in all children. Explore our free, bilingual resources to help support the autistic children in your life.
- Family Connections
- How to Make Friends
- Talking About the Challenges of Autism
- Building a Skillset for Flexible Thinking
100 Days Kit for Families of Young Children
Knowledge is power, particularly in the days after an autism diagnosis. The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit helps families of children ages four and under make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis. This kit will help you learn more about autism and how to access the services that your child needs. It contains information and advice collected from trusted sources.
AFIRM Evidence Based Practices Module
AFIRM modules are designed to help you learn the step-by-step process of planning for, using, and monitoring an evidence-based practice (EBP) with learners on the spectrum from birth to 22 years of age. Supplemental materials and handouts are available for download.