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Education and Autism:

Knowing Your Options
By,
Amanda Lazo
For my ENC1102 class, taught by Ron Salutsky

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Objectives

Learn more about autism

inform parents of children with autism of their

different options regarding education

outline the step by step process of enrolling a

child into a special education program in a public
school

outlining the different laws associated with public

school systems and special education

discuss the advantages and disadvantages public

schooling

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of

private schooling

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of

specialized educational schools

give references for more information on Autism

and how to help out the cause.

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History

In 1943, Leo Kanner released an article titled

Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact

It was in this article that autism was first

used to describe 11 children exhibiting what
are now recognized as symptoms of autism

Kanner noted that: The basic desire for

aloneness and sameness has remained
essentially unchanged

It was based upon this observation that he

decided to use the word autism itself, because
of its meaning in Greek which is self

Autistic adults and children alike were being

misdiagnosed in the early twentieth century.

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Childhood Schizophrenia vs Autism

Autistic adults and children alike

were being misdiagnosed in the
early twentieth century as having
childhood schizophrenia

They both have similar symptoms

such as:

Isolation

Not relating to peers

Unusual thinking

Unusual behavior

It wasnt until Leo Kanners article

that people started to recognize
Autism as a different disorder

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Symptoms of Autism

Developmental disorder

There is a broad spectrum

Once you know one child with autism; you know one child with autism

The spectrum is far and wide

individual cases can be vastly different

Autistic people view the world differently than you or I would

Some common symptoms include, but are not limited to:

social awkwardness

appearing to be disconnected from the world and the people in it

an infant may not respond to people, even their parents

An infant may concentrate on a toy for a while

A child with severe autism may be taken aback by their own mother, who cares for them everyday

yet a child with mild autism may just not approach people they dont know too well

Children have trouble with speech

more severe cases are not able to speak at all

Routines and repetitive movements

If a routine is interrupted or changed, it is hard for them to function or deal with said change.

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The Autism Spectrum

One child with autism may be completely

different from another child diagnosed with
autism

The spectrum aids in differentiating between

the severity of the case

How to place child on spectrum:

an evaluation to first diagnose autism

a questionnaire

a deeper evaluation that requires

a psychologist

neurologist

psychiatrist

speech therapist

other professionals familiar with children

There may be other factors that may be

causing symptoms similar to autism

for example, slow speech development is a

symptom of autism

deafness may slow speech development in a child

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Hmmm.

Do autistic children go to school?

Can my child go to school with

other children their age, or will
they be sent away to a facility?

Autistic children have problems

interacting socially, so it may seem to
be an issue with families as to
whether or not they want to send
their child to a public or private
school, or even to a separate
institution.

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Education and Autism

Autistic children require a highly structured

and monitored learning environment to
flourish.

According to the Autism Society, the

education of autistic children should cover an
array of topics that may incorporate
treatment

academics

communication and language skills

social skills

self-help skills

behavioral issues

leisure skills

The Autism Society lists social skill

development, communication, behavior, and
sensory integration as major areas when
making an education plan for autistic children

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Option 1: Public School

Many public schools have special education

programs designed to help those with
disabilities

includes autism

The Individuals with Disabilities Education

Improvement Act of 2004, also called IDEIA

a federal law that helps children with

disabilities

guarantees children with disabilities a free and

appropriate public education

No Child Left Behind Act

gives all children the opportunity to have

appropriate, high-quality education

Also includes those with disabilities (IDEIA &

Your Child's Rights).

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Public School Process

IDEIA states that an evaluation is required

to be sure the child has a disability, and to
identify said disability

After the evaluation, one would contact the

school and notify them of their childs
disability so they can follow through with
IDEIA.

The school will need proof from a

professional that the child has a disability,
or may request to perform an evaluation by
a team of professionals.

autism is very individual, and different children

exhibit different symptoms so it is crucial the
evaluation is done by professionals to develop an
appropriate program for the child.

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Public School Process Ctd

After an evaluation, an Individual Education

Program (IEP) is developed

An IEP is a written document that outlines a

childs education (Individualized Education
Plan).

Every child with a disability in the public

schooling system has their own unique IEP

The IEP states:

the goals for the child for the school year

how the child is going to reach said goals

it is used as a method to track the students progress

Developing an IEP is an involved process

IEP would not be declared as complete until it is

analyzed and everyone at the meeting agrees on
what the final document entail

A year later all of those present at the meeting

meet up again to discuss progress and future
changes

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Public Schooling
Pros

Inexpensive

Cons

the IDEIA states that public

schools will provide treatment and
education for children with
disabilities at no cost

Effective

Social interaction with peers has

shown to help autistic children

Individualized plan

Children get good education along

with treatment

May not get all attention

needed

Schools may not have good

instructors

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Option 2: Specialized Schools

Another option would be to send

your child to a specialized school

Schools exist across the nation

specifically to help those with
disabilities

Victory Center in Miami,

Florida

nonprofit, nonsectarian
center that provides
education and services for
children and families affected
by autism and developmental
or behavioral challenges

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Specialized Schools
Pros

only enroll autistic children

provide a secure, safe

environment

Children receive a good

education, along with treatment
for their disorder

Cons

Cost.

According to the Victory

Centers website, tuition is
between $29,400 to $43,200
per year

Option 3: Private
Schooling

Private schools are not controlled by the state, and therefore have
their own policies regarding children with disabilities.

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Private Schooling
Pros

Cons

Good quality education

Social interaction with other

children

would need to pay for

separate OT

not obligated to make an IEP, or

even give the child special
treatment or attention to learn

may not get the same quality of

education based on the fact that
autistic children learn
differently than non autistic
children

Graduate from school with

good name
With combination of separate
OT may be same as public
schooling

Expensive

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Want more info on autism?

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Sources

"Autism Fact Sheet." National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke. 7 Feb. 2010
<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm>.

"Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)." NICHD - The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development Official Home Page. 7 Feb. 2010 <http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/asd.cfm>.

Bursztyn, Alberto M. The Praeger Handbook of Special Education. New York: Praeger, 2006.

Cumine, Val. Autism In the Early Years A Practical Guide. London: David Fulton, 2000.

Forman, Lorine. E-mail interview. 7 Feb. 2010.

"Genetic History." Exploring Autism. National Alliance for Autism Research. 7 Feb. 2010
<http://www.exploringautism.org/history/index.htm>.

"IDEA & Your Child's Rights." Autism Society of America. Autism Society of America. 7 Feb. 2010
<http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=life_edu_IDEA>.

"Individualized Education Plan (IEP)." Autism Society of America. Autism Society of America. 7 Feb. 2010
<http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=life_edu_IEP>.

Kanner, Leo. "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact." Nervous Child (1943): 217-50.

"Mission: Victory School for Children with Autisim - Miami FL." The Victory Center. 7 Feb. 2010
<http://www.thevictoryschool.org/cms.php?id=15>.

"Schizophrenia In Children." American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. American Academy of Child
Adolescent Psychiatry. Web. 02 Mar. 2010.
<http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/schizophrenia_in_children>.