Mainstreaming of Autistic Children

Imagine yourself, as a child who has autism and all you want is to be treated like all the other kids in your class. When they get to get into reading groups, you get sent off to the special education instructor so you can work on your social skills. The question comes up almost every day, and that is if autistic children should be segregated, or mainstreamed from public schools. In this paper I am going to go over some of the causes of autism and common symptoms, and then how some these autistic children are being held out of public schools.

First off, there are three main stages of autism. The first being from 3-4 years old, which is known as "early infantile syndrome." (Rimland pg.69) This will only effect about 10% of all autistics. (Ackerman pg.1) The next stage which would include the teen years, which brings up the question as to if these children should be included in public schools. Many a time these kids will be found in the corner, off by themselves. They seem to be in some sort of a daydream and will be distracting classes, so the teacher has to take time to get the class under control, as well as the autistic child. (Dowling-Sendor pg.1) The final stage occurs when they become adults, and then the signs of autism will set in. Depending on the severity of the disease, they may be able to lead a normal life, while others must be watched with close supervision. (Pine pg.17)

There are numerous symptoms of autism, which makes it a hard disease to diagnose, and decide if they will be able to learn in a public school. Some of the common symptoms are when they are in their younger years, such as their kindergarten or first grade; they are able to perform mental feats, which surpass others of the same age.

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...o their fullest potential. (Dorsi pg.4)

My reaction to how these students are being treated, is that these kids should be given the same education as all the other kids. The kids with autism are still humans, but they learn different than the rest of the students in the school, but still deserve to be given the chance to learn the same information, and skills as the rest of the kids without being split from the rest and be put through special schooling until it is proven that they need the special education. There are many people who feel the same way as I do, and all they need to do is have their voice heard, and express their opinions instead of waiting for something like this to come up in their community, and then make a big deal about it. In the future I think teachers will be taught how to deal with children with autism, and the children without autism.