Eric is a 7-year-old student who presents to your office with his mother and father. They have just moved to your area and are seeking psychiatric services. He had been diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder two years earlier by a multi-discipline clinic at a university medical school. Eric had trouble making eye contact with listeners. His expressive language was vague: his sentences were long enough and had the right grammar and syntax but the words he chose did not quite communicate his meaning and the listener had to work extra hard at decoding the message. Throughout the assessment, Eric monopolizes the conversation and tends to focus on his favorite subjects which include cars and robots. He has trouble with focus and attention and is quite distractible. Eric periodically had bouts of anxiety and if was much harder for him to focus when that was happening. Eric has received speech and occupational therapy in his former hometown. The family has several questions about Eric attending his new school as well as establishing a treatment plan with you.

How can you as a PMHNP help Eric and his family navigate the school system?

What accommodations should the school provide and how can the family request the accommodations?

What additional resources and referrals might Eric and his family need?