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Education and Autism: Knowing Your Options

By,Amanda LazoFor my ENC1102 class, taught by Ron Salutsky

+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.

+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 it’s meaning in Greek which is ‘self’

Autistic adults and children alike were being misdiagnosed in the early twentieth century.

+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 wasn’t until Leo Kanner’s article that people started to recognize Autism as a different disorder

+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 don’t 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

+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.

+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

+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”).

+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 child’s 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.

+Public School Process Ctd…

After an evaluation, an Individual Education Program (IEP) is developed An IEP is “a written document that

outlines a child’s 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 student’s 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

+Public Schooling

Inexpensive 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

Pros Cons

+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”

+Specialized Schools

only enroll autistic children

provide a secure, safe environment

Children receive a good education, along with treatment for their disorder

Cost. According to the “Victory

Center”’s website, tuition is between $29,400 to $43,200 per year

Pros Cons

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Option 3: Private Schooling

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

disabilities.

+Private Schooling

Good quality education

Social interaction with other children

Graduate from school with ‘good name’

With combination of separate OT may be same as public schooling

Expensive 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

Pros Cons

+Want more info on autism?

+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>.

"Symptoms of Autism." Autism Speaks, Home Page. Autism Speaks Inc. 7 Feb. 2010 <http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/symptoms.php>.

"Tuition Information." The Victory School. 7 Feb. 2010 <http://www.thevictoryschool.org/cms.php?id=35>.

"Unique Needs and Abilities." Autism Society of America. Autism Society of America. 7 Feb. 2010 <http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=life_edu_unique>.

"A very brief history of Autism." Best Behaviour Consulting. 7 Feb. 2010 <http://www.bestbehaviour.ca/briefhistory.htm>.

"What is Autism?" Autism Speaks, Home Page. Autism Speaks Inc. 7 Feb. 2010 <http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php>.

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