It is the quintessential dilemma for parents of autistic children. Public or private. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has made an auspicious proposal to create additional schools specifically for children with autism, as reported in the New York Times.
This notion is music to the ears of parents who demand more speech, more occupational, and more behavioral therapies for their children. To be fair, the parents demand services because their children are in dire need of direct instruction and invaluable and intense intervention that is lacking in a typical public school setting. Nevertheless, the nagging question remains; is isolation the answer?
“We’re horrified at this suggestion to have another segregated setting for children with autism in every county in New Jersey,” said Diana Autin, executive co-director of theStatewide Parent Advocacy Network, a nonprofit group that assists families. “It would also send a message to parents that children with autism can’t be included.”
I am torn between two worlds in this arena. Given that my son is 23, he started as a pioneer, navigating the school system. We were full of hope and resolved to uncover every truth about autism. The services offered in a public school setting were not as available when he was a kindergartener. We chose private, where he learned speech, listening, and simply, attending. He had no understanding or awareness of people around him. He did not recognize relationships. Consequently, the “squeaky wheel” moved front and center. He learned to speak, which was our most pressing quest.
When he began to mature, he realized that he wanted to be in a school with his siblings. We tried it again. While it was a promising idea, he was a lone soldier in this endeavor. There were no other children like him, and the typical children were not schooled in the area of understanding people with differences. What to do?
We outplaced him again and the result was abysmal. He did not learn and he was engulfed in an atmosphere of special needs, all different, equally important. Following 2 years of inertia, he was able to matriculate to the public school again, and what he learned in social responsibility remain with him to this day. This is a work in progress.
Full circle, the question remains: public vs. private. Governor Christie must take into account the very impact of what the future holds for adults with autism. How can he prepare our children, both those with autism and without special needs? How can a foundation be built for advancing the futures of our children, if they are segregated, seen and not heard?
The statement on the Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism website states:
“As a society, we have an obligation to secure a brighter future for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. By taking action now, we can ensure that adults with autism break free of the all-too-common status of “dependency” and become engaged, involved and ideally, tax-paying, members of their communities. It is time to develop and drive policies that provide for life-long living and learning with autism.”
Creating segregated schools might be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our children will be further isolated as the years go by. This is a problem that requires creativity and tenacity, on both sides of the table.
Comments
I am a parent of a 13 year old Autistic son. I can from first hand say WE NEED MORE SCHOOLS for Autisitic children. My son has been to public school where they did not do what we asked or what doctors asked. If he couldnt do the work (even with an aid) he was sent to a table where he could color!!! They did not understand his sensory needs. If he was frustrated about something he would get upset they didnt want him in the classroom when he was upset. So they called me to come get him. How is that helping my son?? I then put him in a Charter shool which was wonderful!! BUT bus ride to get there was 2 hours 1 way!! Can we say sensory overload before he even gets to school?? Well now he is doing online school. This isnt working that well because he dosnt have the one on one help. We have 2 empty school in our town not being used those cant be turned into special school because our public schools here are above the red line for acadimics. ( hard to believe). I say YES more schools please!!!!!!! Thank you
I agree with you 100% Debbie! My daughter is going to be three and there are NO spaces in any schools, public or private for her. She will get a home program until there is a space. For some autistic children, more schools are needed. For those appropriate for integrated classrooms, our schools need to support them properly. But don't throw the baby out with the bath water by dismissing the idea of more schools. Our kids need them.
There is a need for schools for autistic children. But not ALL autistic children. My daughter is low-functioning and very young. Right now, an integrated program would not be appropriate for her. She does not model behavior and when she does, she only models negative behavior. She does not relate to peers and is sometime the victim of her peers. She needs to develop essential skills, and until she does, her typical peers are useless to her.
Autism is a spectrum and children with autism are snowflakes. Each of them needs an individual program and sticking some in an LRE is not the answer. Just as segregation is not an answer for others.
I think we should be open-minded with regards to Governor Christie's answer, It will suit some, not all autistic children. And under FAPE, that should be our goal - a free, appropriate public education. If an autism school is appropriate, it should be an option. And hey, at least NJ is trying to remedy it's autism crisis by acknowledging it is a crisis! I know that first-hand - I can't find placement for my daughter and she turns 3 in less than 2 weeks!
This isn't even something that needs to be discussed.......Public schools aaren't able to handle it, period!!We need specially trained people instead of pencil pushing administrators behind desks.This topic really gets me fired up because of all he BS our school system has put us through, promises made, bad decisions made, etc.......Public school is in way over their heads on this one.
Marc,
This is such a hard one. Public schools are required to give an "adequate" education, consequently special needs are sometimes grouped together, so I hear you.
However, there are sometimes no checks and balances in the private sector. Also, our children are not exposed to typical kids, and those children are not exposed to ours. Our kids can't live in a bubble. Counterpoint, their needs MUST be met, so there are no easy answers.
There are no good answers.
When our son was put in the public school system he was over looked. He was bullied and picked on. When they found out our son couldnt handle loud noises the other kids would go up and scream in his ear. He was to have a aide but where was she when this was going on on the play ground( where he needed her most) she was at lunch!!! The teachers don't want special needs kids in there class they already have 30 kids they are teaching throw in to the mix a child that needs even more extra help ...dosn't work...like I said above they sent him to another table to color a picture because they didnt have time to help him. I have heard some teachers say that kids with disabilities are a lost cause they can't learn at the speed of thier peers so why teach them. That is why I say send them to a special school where they can learn at thier own pace and not put them in 5th grade when he is only learning on a 2nd grade level. Socialy my son cannot comunicate with kids his age. He is on a 5 years olds level mentaly and emotionaly. What he talks about to other kids they just look at him and walk away! There needs to be special schools for these kids within a distance that is reasonable to their home!! Other wise I will keep home schooling my son.
Debbie,
This is such a tough situation. It is a lose-lose opportunity of other children are allowed to scream in your son's ear. Educators, whether in public or private schools need to be educated. Just because they are teachers, does not mean they have all of the answers. That goes for private education as well.
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