What is it going to take to get local education authorities to provide a fair education for autistic kids?

Question

Children with autistic spectrum disorders suffer through poor provision of specialist teachers and are often left behind in mainstream schools , where they are often misunderstood, left to one side in classrooms and the target for bullies. To get any help parents have to fight the local education authorities to get a statement of special educational needs which often has to be contested and fought over in every detail to overcome the unwillingness of local authorities to provide any assistance and funding. As recent figures suggest 1 in 100 children now suffer it is about time schools were given appropriate staff trained for these childrens needs, rather than farming them into pastoral support or left in the corner with some teaching assistant with no clue how to communicate the lesson to the child in an appropiate way. Every child has a right to a decent education so why is it the local education authorities fail to provide this and leave these kids destined to a meaningless life?

Answer 1

They probably don't have the money. It could be $50,000 per year for a specialized school (real number that local school systems are spending to put autistic kids into specialized schools around here). If 1 out of every 100 (I don't believe that ratio since even the TV ads asking for aid to autistic kids have a lower number) needs that money it is not going to turn up without closing down the schools for non-autistic kids. And that is not going to happen since the parents of the other non-autistic kids have a right to have their kids educated too.

Answer 2

I think the answer lies with parent led non profit organisations, support groups etc, using their voice through the media and and informing their local MPs of how difficult life can be for not only the child but how schools and LEAs often blame the parents for the child's difficulties. The fact most of these children have average or above average intelligence, and labelled with Aspergers Syndrome or High Functioning Autism, gives a false impression, that when in adulthood they will be independent, but the sad fact is only 1 in 3 will manage this the rest will require an amount of support for the rest of their lives. Most of all the Educators need educating, parents are the experts on their ASD children not the educators. As a parent , I know where you are coming from. I have never used this before so I don't know if you can get back to me. But it would be good to share ideas.

Answer 3

I respect what you have written and completely agree that all children are entitled to an education, however, your comments about the autistic children are being left behind can be applied to many children with special needs.

As a former Educational Assistant, I know first hand that children with a diagnosis of autism, down syndrome, fragile x, etc. receive alot more support then a child with a learning disability or behavioural difficulties. Children that may require some extra attention to complete assignments/tasks are pushed aside. Although their disorder/disability may not be as extreme or noticeable as a student with autism they are not granted time for an Educational Assistant or special education support. They continue to fall between the cracks.

I used to work with a boy with autism (very low functioning. Needed assistance for bathroom, could not read, did not speak etc) he was allocated an EA for 100% of his day. Most of your time was spent helping him with hygiene issues or calming him down from an outburst. Out of my time with the student we spent possibly 25% of the day on school work. Is that an effective use of an Educational Assistant?

There has to be a balance and unfortunately a time to say...when do we draw the line and assist the students that actually require the help in EDUCATION. I do believe that everyone is entitled to an education, however, the public system is NOT for everyone. As much as inclusion seems like a great idea, there are some students that do not benefit from it. Their teachers ignore them or push them to the side, students ridicule them and their only friend is the EA that has been placed. Is this the sort of education that these extreme cases deserve?

There are different degrees of autism and disabilities and each case needs to be assessed on an individual basis. Those students that are severely disabled may benefit from an alternative educational program/setting where more specialized programs can be created.

Answer 4

First..to phish...no child is an "it". Your wording was both insensitive and insulting.

So you know, the reason most families are constantly fighting for services through the school system is because they can't afford to pay for them on their own. While there are many outstanding private schools in the country for autistic children, top notch specialists and all sorts of therapists doing the cutting edge work with these kids, they are simply out of reach of your average parent. The one other place many families try to turn to, their health insurance providers, are equally dismissive and even less willing to help pay the costs of the care and services that autistic children and adults need. Nor are these therapies that even the most devoted of parents could master thouroughly enough and have the emotional and physical energy to provide, along with providing for all the other needs of the family. It would be like asking you to make your own medications every time you needed aspirin...and you needed aspirin freshly made every four hours and it took three hours and forty minutes to make!

I have been extremely fortunate with my son's placement. Our school system very quickly admitted that they did not have a placement they felt would give my son the support he needed. I was also very lucky that one of the leading non-profit, private centers in the DC area...Kennedy Kreiger..was just implementing a plan with our county schools to open two classes spedcifically for moderate to severe autistic students. These are stand alones...the kids here are not integrated, which for our son is the correct choice. Each class has a max of 6 students, a teacher and a minimum of 2 para-educators. Children are grouped by developmental abilities, not age. Each child recieves individual speech, OT and if needed PT. The curriculum covers educational as well as life skills. All the specialists work in the classrooms with the groups on a daily basis as well. WHile we have chosen to home school our daughter rather then send her to the local middle school (one of the worst in the state), we have chosen to stay in the district to keep our son in this program.

We were lucky. we were prepared for the fight...and it never happened. However, I know dozens of other families...and have helped many of them..who have had to fight hard and long. Educating an autistic child is a challange. They have communication and often behavior issues which take a very special teacher with sufficent training and time to handle. However, we do know that if these kids don't get the services, they can not grow into happy, caring, involved adults.

Our schools have been challanged by the current administration and it's "No Child Left Behind". Sadly, all children seem to the the losers of this policy. Children who should be in gifted placements no longer have that chance. Kids who are happy and doing well in traditional classes are now being forced to do better and better on standard testings since the schools budget depends on them. And the kids who need extra help are just being allowed to slide. Money gets tighter and tighter...teachers get more stressed and angry...administration is left with fewer options and to bear the brunt of decsions they had no say in. I don't know where things will go...but I do worry.

So start writing..write your local school board, your local government, your federal representatives. Help your school by looking online for grants and support from some of the national autism groups. And most importantly, during the next election when one candidate or another starts spouting how he can give more to the schools AND cut your taxes at the same time, stop and think. Can you spend more when your pay gets cut?? Tax cuts take money away from the schools..it doesn't bring more in. Let your candidates know that you are willing to pay the cost of a good education for all kids...and have them find other places to take your tax cuts from! Change does not come without a strong enough catalyst...and we can be it.

Answer 5

these kids are not destined to a meaningless life-far from it they get more from their lives than we do, just because they do not think the way we do or have the same priorities they just have different needs and different wants, and these days most kids suffer through school it does not provide a decent education for any child.
I have an 8 yr old with autistic spectrum disorder he has never been to school, he is happy, confident and loved. I wouldn't change him for the world, he can be difficult but at the same time, he makes every day worth living. His thought processes are out of this world.

Answer 6

I have an autistic son who is 9 years old and goes to mainstream school, we live in London. We have always pushed for the best for him in education but have been happy with the end result. The key is to keep pestering and seek out as much help as you can. You may have to fight for the best but only parents can do it - and it does wear you down so find some good support.

We are now starting on the quest for secondary school. We do not want him to go to a special school so have to be sure that we get the right place.

Answer 7

I would like to point out that not all authorities are useless when it comes to childrens with special needs, I am very happy with the services my son recieves. He has had a statement since he started Nursery which means that he has one to one support all day, he even has his own dinner lady. One thing I will say though is that you do have to persevere if you are having difficulty. There was quite a delay in my sons; statement as his Educational Psychologist was off sick, luckily his Nursery provided extra support anyway as they knew he would be entitled to it.

I would also like to point out that not all Autistic children "suffer". My son is very happy and contented, he is popular at school and is doing very well achievement wise. It worries me that so many parents of Autistic children seem hell bent on finding a cure. What does this say to the child? I am not saying that this is the case here, I just wanted to get it off my chest.

I really hope that you are successful and I wish you and your child happiness in the future.

Answer 8

It is expensive to hire a special education teacher, but there are laws out there that would work in this situtation. One is called Title 1 Education. Another thing that goes along with this is the American's with Disabilities Act of 1990. You can fight the school on this because it is stated that each and every child is supposed to get education and if a certain child has a disability they are to get an education that is supported to their needs. I worked in a school back in Kansas and worked with Special Needs Children and we did have a child with autisim and that child was teached by a special education teacher, but that child was also in regular classes. I would suggest that maybe starting a petition and get as many signatures as you can that would support your cause and hopefully that would help you get your child the help he/she needs. I am for children with needs get all the help they can get at an early age and not waiting til the last minute because it makes it harder on them and gets them to the point where they don't want to go to school because they don't enjoy it.

Answer 9

As a teaching assistant who does know how to teach an autistic child and as a parent who has been on both sides of this I can tell you that schools don't want to have to provide for autistic children or any other child with a disability or disorder. I work in a special education classroom so our kids have varying degrees of autism and othe disabilities.If teachers in the mainstream would bother to learn how to teach an autistic child the world would be better. Parents have to fight the system. Take lawyers, experts and whoever else you need to your IEP meetings.
As for the children having meaningless lives, I disagree. These children are full of love and brightness, They just don't know how to show it or say it. Never stop talking to your autistic children. Play with them constantly, love them and keep talking to them. Open them up and fight the system for their rights. You and your child have them. Use them!!!

I'm off my soapbox now. Thanks!!

Answer 10

What a great question, thank you for raising it.Is there any way I can get back to it to see subsequent answers as am new to this site?
Our daughter is 13,autistic with severe learning difficulties.We live in Cumbria in the UK.Maybe because of the severity of her problems ,we got diagnosis at 6 yrs and she has been at an ordinary school with unit attached ever since.We are happy with her present school,although the junior school that preceded it was restraining her physically without our knowledge.I only found out when she had left and this present school informed me they had witnessed it when she was brought by them(previous school) for her induction.Is this right? I think NOT.
Our fight was getting transport to the appropriate school,as parents are the key to pushing the authorities to providing for their childrens educational and medical needs.Only a parent can have that gut instinct as to which school is best for their child.
I notice that many of these posts seem to be from the States,and am surprised as I thought things were more understanding and advanced over the Pond.Oh well,another illusion shattered?

Answer 11

Good question. Most families spend all of the money they have and lots that they don't to hire and train teams of private tutors to educate their children.

I always suggest that parents keep thorough data of their child's progress and detailed records of all private therapies. Make sure that you can prove that what you are doing privately is more effective than what the school district is providing. Since each child is entitled to a "free and appropriate" education, you may get some funding. The problem is that the word "appropriate" is quite subjective. Also the burden of proof is on you and school districts are not eager to set the precedent of funding private education.