Erica Grindinger
Special Education Intensive Resource
UNIQUE LEARNERS
Special Education Professional Portfolio
The History of ASD
1943
Johns Hopkins professor Leo Kanner, the first self-described "child psychiatrist," identified autism as a disorder affecting: social development, communication development, behavioral development.
1944
Dr. Hans Asperger gave details of a scientific study. This became the basis for the further study of autism spectrum disorders that would occur toward the end of his life and after his death in 1980. Asperger's Syndrome is named after him.
1949
"REFRIGERATOR" MOTHER THEORY
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Autism was blamed on parents. This fell especially on a mothers' lack of warmth.
1949
DSM - 1
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The first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is released, with autistim-like symptoms classified under childhood schizophrenia.
1964
Bernard Rimland publishes a paper proposing that autism is a neurobiological disorder
1972
Studies by Kolvin (1972) and Rutter (1972) make clear that autism is different from childhood-onset schizophrenia.
1975
Education for All Handicapped children act went into place.
1980
DSM - 3​
Infantile autism is added to the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.​In 1987 infantile autism was replaced with autistic disorder.
1990
IDEA
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) replaces the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1975
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IDEA lists autism as an eligibly category.
1994
DSM - IV
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DSM-IV adds Asperger's Disorder, Rett's Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
2004
IDEA of 2004
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 is passed.
2013
DSM - 5
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DSM-5 eliminates the separate diagnoses Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-NOS, reclassifying all as "Autism Spectrum Disorder." Rett's Disorder is dropped completely.