NRS427A.878. Division required to ensure that personnel who provide early intervention services possess necessary knowledge and skills; early intervention screenings, protocols and evaluations.

      1.  The Division shall ensure that the personnel employed by the Division who provide early intervention services to children with autism spectrum disorders and the persons with whom the Division contracts to provide early intervention services to children with autism spectrum disorders possess the knowledge and skills necessary to serve children with autism spectrum disorders, including, without limitation:

      (a) The screening of a child for autism spectrum disorder at the age levels and frequency recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, or its successor organization;

      (b) The procedure for evaluating children who demonstrate behaviors that are consistent with autism spectrum disorders, which procedure must require the use of the statewide standard for measuring outcomes and assessing and evaluating persons with autism spectrum disorders through the age of 21 years prescribed pursuant to NRS 427A.872;

      (c) The procedure for enrolling a child in early intervention services upon determining that the child has autism spectrum disorder;

      (d) Methods of providing support to children with autism spectrum disorders and their families; and

      (e) The procedure for developing an individualized family service plan in accordance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1431 et seq., or other appropriate plan for the child.

      2.  The Division shall ensure that the personnel employed by the Division to provide early intervention services to children with autism spectrum disorders and the persons with whom the Division contracts to provide early intervention services to children with autism spectrum disorders:

      (a) Possess the knowledge and understanding of the scientific research and support for the methods and approaches for serving children with autism spectrum disorders and the ability to recognize the difference between an approach or method that is scientifically validated and one that is not;

      (b) Possess the knowledge to accurately describe to parents and guardians the research supporting the methods and approaches, including, without limitation, the knowledge necessary to provide an explanation that a method or approach is experimental if it is not supported by scientific evidence;

      (c) Immediately notify a parent or legal guardian if a child is identified as being at risk for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and refer the parent or legal guardian to the appropriate professionals for further evaluation and simultaneously refer the parent or legal guardian to any appropriate early intervention services and strategies; and

      (d) Provide the parent or legal guardian with information on evidence-based treatments and interventions that may assist the child in the child’s development and advancement.

      3.  The Division shall ensure that the personnel employed by the Division who provide early intervention screenings to children and the persons with whom the Division contracts to provide early intervention screenings to children perform screenings of children for autism spectrum disorders at the age levels and frequency recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, or its successor organization.

      4.  The Division shall ensure that:

      (a) For a child who may have autism spectrum disorder, the personnel employed by the Division who provide early intervention screenings to children and the persons with whom the Division contracts to provide early intervention screenings to children use the protocol designated pursuant to NRS 427A.872 for determining whether a child has autism spectrum disorder.

      (b) An initial evaluation of the cognitive, communicative, social, emotional and behavioral condition and adaptive skill level of a child with autism spectrum disorder is conducted to determine the baseline of the child.

      (c) A subsequent evaluation is conducted upon the child’s conclusion of the early intervention services to determine the progress made by the child from the time of his or her initial screening.

      (Added to NRS by 2009, 1539; A 2011, 2709, 2719; 2013, 3051)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 442.750)