The Autism Case LaW

Abstract

This empirical analysis of 290 published administrative (i.e., by hearing or revieW officer) and court decisions concerning students With autism reveals that the volume of autism litigation is on a steadily and steeply rising slope and that the outcomes of the cases across a Wide variety of issues have favored school districts to a slight extent. On the other hand, the statistically significant differences betWeen the outcomes (i.e., Which side Won) With the hearing/revieW officer and those in the judicial forum are feW. The rather dramatic groWth of these cases, the relatively balanced average of the outcomes, and the largely redundant pattern of the judicial—as compared to hearing/ revieW officer—decisions suggest that this area merits the careful and creative attention of both practitioners and researchers, With emphasis on prompt dispute resolution.