Accreditation

1. The residential care facility for children with autism shall provide services to assist children with a medical diagnosis of autism or autistic-like characteristics gain or regain their highest practicable level of mental, physical, and emotional functioning including the capacity to function adaptively in their environment, to care for themselves, and be accepted by society. In achieving this goal, residential care facilities for children with autism shall attain and maintain accreditation by the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities standards for organizations serving people with disabilities in the categories of integrated living programs and infant and early childhood developmental programs or accreditation by the accreditation council on services for people with developmental disabilities. 2. The residential care facility for children with autism shall provide, through an interdisciplinary assessment and approach, at a minimum, services including: a. Twenty-four-hour assistance with activities of daily living in a homelike environment which includes dietary, laundry, housekeeping, and janitorial services. b. Provision of or arrangement for diagnostic and treatment services specific to the individual needs of children with autism including, but not limited to, medical, dental, nursing or physician services, audiology and speech services, physical and occupational therapy and orthotics services, and psychiatric services. c. Behavioral management services provided by or under the direction of a qualified mental health professional. d. Educational and special education services provided by certified personnel in accordance with North Dakota Century Code chapters 15-47 and 15-59. 3. As a result of interdisciplinary assessments, an individualized program plan for the resident must be established which describes specific needs, services, and time frames for implementation and evaluation. 4. The residential care facility for children with autism shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and requirements.