[bernardom]

You nailed it. I've spoken with doctors who were involved in changing DSM V to have a more inclusive definition of ASD with the express purpose of getting more kids access early intervention that they wouldn't with the PDD-NOS and other diagnoses from DSM IV.

[austin-cheney]

That might be the intent but in practice the opposite has come true. The more narrow definition is more exclusive, which means fewer child with autism can be diagnosed as autistic. For example criteria under the description of Asperger’s and PDA are excluded so those children cannot be diagnosed as autistic and therefore those children cannot receive additional support. That is a massive handicap that requires main streaming children that cannot function or learn in a normal classroom.

[cyanydeez]

I think you might be in the wrong state.

Many states require health insurance cover autism and have their own definitions.

It's definitely a broad sprectrum if the right healthcare system from the State's POV.