Autism Disability Percentage in India: How ISAA Scoring Works

In India, the disability percentage for autism is worked out with the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), using assessment guidelines the Central Government notified on 12 March 2024 under the RPwD Act. An ISAA score of 70 to 106 means mild autism (40 to 59% disability), 107 to 153 means moderate autism (60 to 79%), and above 153 means severe autism (80% or more).

Children under 6 are not given a percentage from their ISAA score. They receive a temporary certificate at 60 to 79% (moderate autism) and are reassessed between the ages of 6 and 7. The number that matters most is 40%: that is the benchmark disability line, and most certificate-linked benefits start there. This is the position as of November 2026.

What the ISAA is and how it is scored

The ISAA is an Indian rating scale built to measure how much autism affects a person's daily life. It is not a blood test or a scan. A trained professional rates your child on 40 behaviours, using what they observe in the room, what you tell them in an interview, and some simple play-based testing with toys like a ball, blocks, a mirror and a bell. The official instructions say the assessment can take up to an hour.

Each of the 40 items is rated on five levels, from "rarely" (score 1, the behaviour shows up up to 20% of the time) to "always" (score 5, almost all the time). So the lowest possible total is 40 and the highest is 200. The items are grouped into six areas:

Social relationship and reciprocity (eye contact, social smile, playing alone)
Emotional responsiveness
Speech, language and communication
Behaviour patterns (routines, repetitive movements)
Sensory aspects (sounds, touch, textures, pain)
Cognitive component (attention, memory, uneven skills)

One change in 2024 is worth knowing. The diagnosis of autism itself is now made with a DSM-5 based tool called the AIIMS-modified INCLEN diagnostic tool. The ISAA is then used only to calculate the extent of disability, and only for children aged 6 and above. If your child has not yet been formally diagnosed, our guide to what an autism evaluation actually involves explains that first step.

ISAA score bands and disability percentage under the 2024 guidelines

This is the table in the 2024 notification (Section C, Autism Spectrum Disorder), with the rule for younger children added at the top.

Child's age and ISAA score	Category	Disability percentage
Under 6 years (ISAA not used for the percentage)	Moderate autism, temporary certificate	60 to 79%
6 years and above, score 70 to 106	Mild autism	40 to 59%
6 years and above, score 107 to 153	Moderate autism	60 to 79%
6 years and above, score above 153	Severe autism	80% or more

A score below 70 falls outside these bands, so it does not produce a disability percentage for autism.

Why two children with similar scores can get different numbers

The guidelines give a range for each band, not one fixed figure. Clinical psychologists writing in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry in 2024 pointed out that there is no stated rule for picking the exact number inside a range, for example whether a score of 132 should be written as 60%, 79% or something in between. In practice the board decides. If your child's score sits near the edge of a band, it is fair to ask the board how they arrived at the final figure.

Older figures you may see online

Many websites still quote cut-offs from the earlier autism guidelines of April 2016. The 2024 notification states that it supersedes those 2016 autism guidelines and the 2018 guidelines for other disabilities, so use the table above and check the DEPwD page for the current notification if in doubt.

What 40% and 80% mean for your child

The percentage is an administrative number. It says nothing about who your child is or what they can become. But it decides which doors open, so it helps to know the two lines that matter.

40% or more makes your child a "person with benchmark disability" under Section 2(r) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. That brings:

The right to free education from 6 to 18 in a neighbourhood school or special school of your choice (Section 31). See the RPwD Act explained for parents.
Eligibility for central schemes that ask for a 40% certificate, such as the ADIP scheme for aids and assistive devices and the scholarships for students with disabilities on the National Scholarship Portal.
Later, the 5% reservation in government and aided higher education institutions and a five-year upper age relaxation for admission (Section 32).
Access to most state pensions and allowances for children, which usually start at 40%. Our state guides, starting with Karnataka, list them.

80% or more counts as severe disability for the parent's income tax deduction for a dependant with a disability, which is a higher flat amount according to the Income Tax Department. Some states also pay a higher pension tier at this level. Our post on tax benefits for parents covers the forms, including Form 10-IA for autism.

Separately, autism is one of the four conditions covered by the National Trust, so your child may also be able to join the Niramaya health insurance scheme.

Who does the autism assessment and how to apply

The certificate is issued by a medical board at a government hospital notified by your state. Under the 2024 guidelines the board is headed by the Medical Superintendent, Chief Medical Officer or Civil Surgeon, and includes:

A paediatrician, paediatric neurologist or developmental paediatrician (where available)
A psychiatrist or child and adolescent psychiatrist (where available)
A clinical or rehabilitation psychologist

Because of the shortage of specialists, the guidelines allow the chairperson, who must be a government doctor, to add qualified private practitioners to the board.

You start the process on the UDID portal, swavlambancard.gov.in, where you register, fill the form and pick a hospital. A parent or guardian can apply for a minor, and DEPwD lists the fee as nil. The step-by-step version is in our UDID card guide and disability certificate guide. To see how long each stage usually takes, try our free disability certificate timeline tool.

How to prepare for the ISAA assessment

Hospital rooms are bright, noisy and unfamiliar, so many children behave very differently there than at home. Some shut down and look calmer than usual. Others are so overwhelmed that the board sees a very hard morning. Your job is to help the board see the child you live with every day.

Answer about "most of the time". The official ISAA instructions tell the examiner to explain that answers should be based on the child's behaviour most of the time. Do not describe your child's best day or worst day.
Carry a folder. Bring the diagnosis report, any earlier assessments, therapy progress notes from speech, occupational or behaviour therapists, and recent school or teacher reports.
Write a one-page summary. Describe a typical day: sleep, eating, toileting, dressing, how your child communicates needs, what triggers meltdowns, and how much help they need with each task.
Record short videos. A 30-second clip of a meltdown, a stimming pattern or a typical attempt to communicate can show what may not happen in the room.
Do not coach your child. Rehearsing eye contact or answers before the visit only blurs the picture.
Plan for the wait. Pack snacks, water, ear defenders or headphones and a favourite toy. If your child was unwell or did not sleep, tell the board and ask that it be noted.

If the waiting area becomes too much, it is reasonable to say to the staff: "My child has autism and is finding the crowd very hard. Is there a quieter place we can wait, or can we be called by phone?" The pre-assessment list in our autism evaluation prep checklist also works well for this visit.

After the assessment: validity, reassessment and appeals

How long the certificate is valid

Under 6: the certificate is temporary. Your child needs reassessment between the ages of 6 and 7 for recertification, this time with the ISAA.
6 to 18: once more than 40% is certified, reassessment and recertification happen at 18.
18 and above: the certificate issued at or after 18 is valid for life.

Section 58(3) of the RPwD Act says a disability certificate is valid across the country, so you do not need a new one if you move from, say, Chennai to Bangalore. Set a phone reminder a few months before the reassessment age, because benefits linked to the certificate can pause if it lapses.

If you disagree with the percentage

Section 59 of the Act gives you the right to appeal against the certifying authority's decision to an appellate authority designated by your state government. The time limit and the format are set by each state, so ask the hospital or the district disability welfare office for the name of the appellate authority and the deadline on the day you receive the certificate.

In your appeal letter, say clearly which part you disagree with (the diagnosis, the score or the percentage chosen inside the band), and attach the reports and videos that support your view. If the board did not follow the procedure, for example it gave a percentage to a child under 6 using the ISAA, or there was no psychologist on the board, you can also write to your State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, whose job under Section 80 includes looking into the denial of rights under the Act.

If you are in Bangalore, Carely's therapists work with autistic children at home on communication, daily living and behaviour, and can write a clear progress summary for you to carry to the board. You can see what we offer on our services page or message us on WhatsApp at +91 98809 11516.

Frequently asked questions

What ISAA score is needed for an autism disability certificate?

For children aged 6 and above, a score of 70 is the starting point of the mild autism band, which carries 40 to 59% disability. That meets the 40% benchmark used by most schemes. A higher score means more support needs, not a "better" or "worse" child.

Can a child under 6 get an autism disability certificate?

Yes. Under the 2024 guidelines, a child under 6 with a confirmed autism diagnosis is given 60 to 79% disability (moderate autism) on a temporary certificate. The child is reassessed between 6 and 7, when the ISAA is used to set the percentage.

Is the autism disability certificate permanent?

Not for children. A certificate issued between 6 and 18 is reviewed at 18, and the one issued at 18 or later is valid for life. A certificate issued before 6 is temporary.

Can a private psychologist's ISAA report be used for the certificate?

The certificate must come from the medical board notified by the state. Private reports are useful supporting documents and you should carry them. The guidelines also allow the board chair to include qualified private practitioners as members when specialists are short.

Does an autism certificate give a railway concession?

Not automatically. Indian Railways gives fare concessions to four specific categories, and autism is not listed on its own. Our guide to the railway concession for children with disabilities explains who qualifies.

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By The Carely Team