The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, defines the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Under the DSM-5, autism is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period and must cause clinically significant impairment. The DSM-5 replaced the previous separate diagnoses of autistic disorder, Asperger's syndrome, and PDD-NOS with a single 'autism spectrum disorder' diagnosis and introduced severity levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) indicating the degree of support needed.
Waiver eligibility often depends on your DSM-5 severity level. Level 2 and 3 typically qualify more readily. Understanding the criteria helps families document support needs accurately.