New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 8 - HEALTH
Chapter 20 - BIRTH DEFECTS REGISTRY
Subchapter 2 - AUTISM
Section 8:20-2.2 - Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Asperger Syndrome" means a disorder defined by DSM criteria (criteria 299.80) and marked by clinically significant impairments in social interaction and the presence of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. There are no clinically significant delays in the development of language, cognition, self-help skills or adaptive behavior. These criteria are not met for another specific pervasive developmental disorder.

"Autism" means a developmental disability as defined by DSM criteria, and diagnosed according to standard DSM criteria, which is marked by significant impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Autism includes the following diagnoses commonly known as the Autism Spectrum Disorders: Asperger Syndrome; Autistic Disorder; and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not otherwise Specified; and the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, including Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, the causes of which are currently not known.

"Autistic disorder" means a disorder defined by DSM criteria (criteria 299.00) and marked by qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior with onset prior to three years of age and that is not better accounted for by Rett Syndrome or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.

"Child" means an individual from birth through 21 years of age.

"Childhood Disintegrative Disorder" means a disorder as defined by DSM criteria (criteria 299.10) and that appears after at least two years of normal development after birth and results in the clinically significant loss of previously acquired skills in at least two areas of functioning (language, social skills, adaptive behavior, bowel/bladder control, play or motor skills) before age 10. There are abnormalities of functioning in social interaction, communication and the presence of restricted and stereotyped patterns of behavior and is not better accounted for by another pervasive developmental disorder or by schizophrenia.

"Custodian" means a person, financial institution or agency that has charge or custody of property, securities, papers and other such assets of an individual.

"DSM criteria" means the professional standard behavioral criteria for autism published in the American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) (criteria 299.0 - 299.90), Washington DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented. Copies of DSM-IV may be obtained from the American Psychiatric Association, 1400 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20005.

"Health care professional" means a physician, psychologist and any other health care professional licensed pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes and who is qualified by training to make a diagnosis of autism.

"Legal guardian" means a person who has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person.

"Parent" means a biological parent, stepparent or adoptive parent.

"Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" means a disorder defined by DSM criteria (criteria 299.80) and marked by severe and pervasive impairment in the development of social interaction or verbal and non-verbal communication or when stereotyped behavior, interests and activities are present but the criteria are not met for a specific pervasive developmental disorder. This category includes "atypical autism."

"Rett Syndrome" means a disorder defined by DSM criteria (criteria 299.80) and that appears after apparently normal prenatal and perinatal development and which results in severe impairment in expressive and receptive language, loss of social engagement, retardation of psychomotor development, loss of previously acquired purposeful hand skills and the development of stereotyped hand movements.