Screening and identification

People who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience a range of characteristics and symptoms. Some people may have noticeable characteristics, others may not. Autism may be identified as early as 18 to 24 months, but can be diagnosed at any age. Screening and identification will help increase access to services and supports.

To find a provider, search the MN Healthcare Program Provider Directory using key words “Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention” and “CMDE assessments.” You can also search Minnesota Aging and Disability Resources using key words, such as “diagnostic assessments, diagnosis or autism assessment.”

Why is early identification or obtaining a medical diagnosis important?

To gain access to funding and services: Having a formal medical/ clinical diagnosis opens up the door to accessing services and reducing financial burden.
To help others better understand how to support the person: Understanding how a person thinks and learns may help parents, teachers, co-workers and others understand better ways to communicate with the person, what supports they might need and what their strengths are.
To help you better understand what supports you might need and how to advocate for yourself.

Early years (Birth to 5)
Developmental Milestones: Tracking and Supporting Your Child’s Growth

Every child is unique and develops at their own pace, but there are general developmental milestones that most children reach as they grow. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Learn the Signs, Action Early program, children achieve milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move (crawling, walking, etc.). These include actions like taking a first step, smiling, or waving "bye-bye." Monitoring these milestones helps in:
- Support your child as they grow.
- Identifying early if your child needs need extra help to develop key skills.
Early Intervention: Don't Wait!

If you notice your child isn’t meeting developmental milestones, early intervention programs can make a big difference in their learning and development. It’s important to act quickly if there are concerns.

First Steps: Pathway to Learning, Playing, and Growing

The First Steps: Pathway to Learning, Playing, and Growing resource provides a summary of key developmental milestones for babies and toddlers. It includes tips, tools, and guidance to support your child's development, as well as information on resources available for parents and caregivers. This document is designed for use during home visits, clinics, childcare, and preschool settings.
Concerns About Developmental Milestones?

If your child is not meeting developmental milestones, schedule an appointment with their primary care doctor for an evaluation. You can also call your insurance company for referrals to evaluation providers and services covered under your plan.
- Help Me Connect has additional information on accessing an evaluation.
- The Overview of Medical Identification and Educational Determination of ASD (PDF) explains the pathways to services and supports for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It’s crucial to explore both medical and educational pathways, as each offers different types of support.
  - Medical Diagnosis: Necessary for accessing medically required services.
  - Educational Determination: Enables access to special education services through the public school system.
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - English (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - Lus Hmoob - Hmong (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - ကညီ - Karen (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - Afaan Oromo - Oromo (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - Pусский - Russian (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - Af Soomaali - Somali (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - Español - Spanish (PDF)
  - Overview of Medical Identification and Education Determination of ASD - Tiếng Việt - Vietnamese (PDF)
Developmental Tracking Tools and Resources
- Pathways.org: A free resource to track your baby’s development, learn games and activities for boosting development, and explore important developmental topics.
- Pathfinder Health: A child development tracker available online and as an app. It tracks milestones according to CDC and AAP guidelines, flags red flags, and helps parents provide input to healthcare providers.
- The Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC): A free tool for assessing developmental-behavioral concerns in children aged 0-5½. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and includes resources for childcare providers.
Screening and Identification of Developmental Delays

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend autism screenings to be part of all 18 and 24-month well-child checkups. These screenings help assess if a child is meeting critical milestones. If concerns arise, your child’s primary care provider will refer you for further evaluation.
- Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC): Free annual checkups for children from birth to age 21 enrolled in Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare.
- C&TC Fact Sheet for Primary Care Providers (PDF): Offers information on developmental, social-emotional, and ASD screening tools.
If your doctor recommends further evaluation, don’t wait. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to accessing the necessary services and supports for your child’s development.

Educational Screening and Identification

Local school districts provide early childhood screenings to identify potential health or developmental issues in children. These screenings, or similar health and developmental screenings, are required for children entering kindergarten in Minnesota public schools.
- For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact your local school district or call the Minnesota Department of Education at 651-582-8412.
- Help Me Grow Minnesota is a resource for families with children birth to age 5, offering services and referrals for early intervention.
Even if your child does not have a formal medical diagnosis, your local school district can offer referrals and services. For children over age 5, contact your local district’s special education services.

Accessing Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) Services

To determine eligibility for EIDBI services, contact a Comprehensive Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation (CMDE) provider. You can search for providers in the Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) Provider Directory by selecting "Early Intensive Development Behavioral Intervention" as the type and "CMDE assessments" as the sub-type.

For further assistance, reach out to your local county agency or tribal offices for information on providers and financial assistance.
School age / adolescent (5-18)

If would like an evaluation for your child, contact your primary care doctor. You can also call your insurance company, using the number on the back of your member ID card to receive a referral or find evaluation providers and other services in your network.

If you need additional assistance, contact your local county agency or tribal offices or Disability Hub MN to identify providers in your area or to receive information on financial assistance. For children over the age of 5, contact your local school district for special education services.
Adults (18+)

Although characteristics of ASD often appear in the early developmental period, for some people ASD is identified later in life. If would like an evaluation for you or your child, contact your primary care doctor. You can also call your insurance company using the number on the back of your member ID card to receive a referral or find evaluation providers and other services in your network.

If you need additional assistance, contact your local county agency or tribal offices or Disability Hub MN to identify providers in your area or to receive information on financial assistance. For children over the age of 5, contact your local school district for special education services.

The Autism Society works to ensure that every adult with autism has access to services and supports that maximize independence and secure the highest quality of life. For many, employment and living in the community are goals to pursue during adulthood. 

Autism Society of MN specializes in diagnostic assessments for adults. You can also search the Autism Society of MN Resource Directory for organizations who provide evaluations to adults.

Greg Simonson from The Luminous Mind has specific expertise and interest in assessment related to autism (including expertise on autism presentation in individuals socialized as girls or women), learning, attention, memory, mood/personality concerns, OCD, and trauma.
Culturally competent evaluation

People who provide services and supports for people who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or related conditions must evaluate and conduct assessments in a culturally responsive and sensitive way. This ensures accurate diagnosis and referral. Proper diagnosis and evaluation helps the person and family make informed choices and ensures they are referred to the right services and supports.

Improving Cultural Competence (PDF) developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guide: Practical Strategies for Culturally Competent Evaluation (PDF)

Act Early Culturally Competent Autism Screening Kit (PDF) is created by the Massachusetts Act Early to promote the early identification of autism spectrum disorders across culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
Resources while you wait
- Learn more about autism by taking one of the on-demand trainings
- Explore healthcare coverage options
- Contact Help Me Grow MN that connects you to resources through your local school district.
  - Call 1-866-693-GROW(4769) or visit HelpMeGrowMN.org
  - For children over 5, contact local your local school district directly.
- Request the MnCHOICES assessment and support plan from your local county or tribal nation
- Make referrals to community resources—especially if the child does not qualify for early intervention services, or is on a wait list (e.g., Follow Along, Head Start, Early Childhood Family Education, Child & Teen Checkups, Community Education through your local school district, and others)
- Join Support Groups or contact Advocacy organizations to connect with other families and people who can help you navigate services and supports.
- Explore Community and Recreation opportunities.
- Read through Navigating Autism Supports and Services (PDF): A guidebook for parents and caregivers to walk through the process of accessing services and supports step by step.
  - Next steps following a diagnosis
  - Training and resources on ASD
  - Setting goals for your child & family
  - Questions to ask your provider to determine the right therapy for your child and family
- Contact the Disability HUB MN: a free statewide network that helps solve problems, navigate the system and plan for the person’s future. You don’t have to be eligible for any service or even have a disability determination to use the Hub. Chat, call or e-mail a HUB representative Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm.
- Explore research study opportunities through the University of MN Teleoutreach center that work to connect families with early intervention to support their child’s communication and other skills while waiting to be evaluated or access services.
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for important information and resources.
- Visit our Events Calendar for information on trainings and sensory friendly events in the community.
- On this website, you will learn practical strategies that you can incorporate into your everyday life to help support your child with autism. Visit Training and events for more resources.
- Follow milestone tracker apps or resources to track milestones and support your child’s health development.
Autism assessment requirements
An autism diagnosis is typically a multi-disciplinary evaluation consisting of observation(s), interviews, and other assessments.

Who can complete the assessment(s)?

To be eligible for medical assistance or social security income, a licensed mental health professional must complete the assessment. Commercial payors often have their own specific requirements. Contact member services for specific criteria.

For the MA-TEFRA / State Medical Review Team (SMRT) / Social Security Income & waiver disability determination process, objective evidence is required from an acceptable medical source, including a:
- licensed physician,
- psychologist,
- advanced practice registered nurse,
- physician assistant or
- a licensed or certified school psychologist.
Note: The acceptable medical source can be a co-signer on an evaluation or the sole author.

Evidence from other sources (whether they’re non-medical sources or non-acceptable medical sources) can still be used when evaluating severity of the conditions and the functional impact. School evaluations may be considered but they can't be the only source of evidence.

This process follows the federal Social Security Administration criteria.

What are the required components?

For the Medical assistance (Medicaid/ MA) or MA-TEFRA, Social Security Income (SSI) & waiver disability determination process, documentation must meet criteria outlined in the Childhood Listings and include:
- Results of an autism evaluation (e.g., Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule™ (ADOS), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)).
- IQ and adaptive skills testing
Note: Use standard deviation language in assessment.

What is a comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluation (CMDE)?

A CMDE determines eligibility and medical necessity for early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention (EIDBI) services.

A diagnostic assessment or DA is necessary to determine a member’s eligibility for mental health services through Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).
- A CMDE can also qualify as a DA if all required components are included.
- A diagnosis of ASD or a related condition (which is required for EIDBI services) must meet the requirements of a standard DA according to section 245I.10, subdivision 6.
Who must complete the CMDE?

A licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse or mental health professional with 2,000 hours of experience diagnosing or treatment a child with autism or related conditions—enrolled as a CMDE provider

What are the required components of the CMDE?

Complete the components outlined in the Comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluation (CMDE) template. IQ and adaptive skills testing are encouraged but not required. Autism specific testing is only required for an initial diagnosis or if the CMDE is also functioning as a DA.

Note: The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule™ (ADOS) isn't a requirement, but it is highly recommended as the gold standard of autism diagnostic tools.

Where is training on completing autism evaluation offered?

The University of Minnesota Autism and Neurodevelopment Clinic offers autism evaluation trainings.