According to the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (2007), the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is 1
in 150, making autism the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States.
Within the past decade, school districts have been faced with inclusion due to the laws
supporting education of all students and the increase in number of students with
disabilities. Laws such as The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA) of 1990, and No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001 support
inclusion of students with disabilities in regular education environments with the right to
appropriate support services in the least restricted environment (Winnick, 2005). The
increase in the prevalence of autism and the laws supporting education for students with
disabilities makes it very likely for educators to teach several students with autism during
their career. However, research has indicated teachers feel they have not received