I've been following autism reports in the media since my oldest son was diagnosed seven years ago, towards the beginning of what many experts have called the autism "epidemic." And while I thought that as more children were diagnosed, and more people affected - even indirectly - by this disorder, the understanding and sympathy towards these children would also increase, recent stories indicate that is not necessarily the case.
In the past two weeks, an autistic teen was banned from his church by his own priest, and an autistic kindergartner was voted out of his classroom by his peers with the encouragement of his teacher. I'm sure this isn't the first time something like this has happened, but it's the first time I ever heard about anything like it, and somehow it seems more ominous that these rejections happened so close together in time.
Posts on these two incidents got a tremendous reader response - especially Brett's post on Alex Barton, the kindergartner, which at last count had received thousands of hits and over 40 comments. Most of these comments were passionately supportive of the children - such as Twintown's description of Alex's situation as "heartbreaking" and his teacher as "cruel." But there were also several parents who felt that one child should not be permitted to disrupt school - or a religious service - for everyone else. Angry Mom asked, "Why are you attacking those parents who want a good education for their children, undisturbed by the disruptions of a handicapped child? . . . Sure, you parents of handicapped children have the laws and greedy lawyers to insure your children get whatever they want, but at what cost to those of us with normal children? Not everyone embraces this 'feel-good,' 'love-one-another' politically correct crap."
Okay then.
Actually, as bothered as I am by the tone of that last comment, I understand that for all parents, the best interests of their own children are paramount. And I do think parents of severely aggressive children who insist on keeping them in environments where there's significant risk of injury to themselves or other kids are guilty of the same kind of inflexibility parents of typical kids show when they claim that "crippled" kids "should be taught in separate facilities/classrooms."
But the fact is, although many autistic kids have episodes of disruptive behavior, few are so dangerous that they pose a legitimate hazard to those around them. And as Sheri pointed out, "If inclusion is done CORRECTLY (meaning proper supports and training are offered to all teachers and aides), it BENEFITS BOTH handicapped and non-handicapped children alike."
That's what makes these cases so difficult to discuss - what, if any, supports were in place for these children? Although Alex apparently hasn't officially received his autism diagnosis, might the school have put an aide in the class if the teacher felt unprepared to manage him? From all descriptions, Alex sounds like a smart, verbal child. It's hard to imagine, even if he wasn't always the most cooperative kid in the class, that he didn't have a lot to contribute.
That's the most important thing to remember in these types of situations: typical parents and kids aren't just doing us a favor when they tolerate our autistic kids around their kids. Typical children in inclusion settings learn empathy, acceptance and perseverence from working and playing with their special-needs peers. It sounds like a lot of adults could work on those skills as well.
