Autism Education and Inclusion Classes

Question: Autism Education and Inclusion Classes

I'm told my child with autism will be "included" with typical peers. What is an inclusion class exactly? Is autism education and inclusion a good thing?

Answer: Inclusion is the new fangled term which, in general, means the same thing as "mainstreaming with support." The idea is that autistic children are included in classrooms with non-autistic children, but they may have significant supports in order to be successful. Some support options include a one-on-one aide, adapted curriculum, special social groups and more.

Many parents prefer inclusion as a compromise between a special needs classroom and unsupported mainstreaming. And, indeed, inclusion can be a terrific option in the right setting.

There are, however, a few potential down sides to inclusion. For example, autistic children in a typical classroom may suffer from bullying and teasing, as kids will notice they are being treated differently. If the child has a one-on-one aide, the teacher may see the autistic child as "taken care of" and focus her attention on other students. If the child has an adapted curriculum, it may actually be taught to him by the aide and not the trained, credentialed teacher.

_Resources:

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Questions and answers about no child left behind: update 2004.

Hayes, N. To accommodate, to modify, and to know the difference: determining placement of a child in special education or A504. New Horizons for Learning, 2000.

Iovannone, R., Dunlap, G., Huber, H., & Kincaid, D. Effective educational practices for students with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on autism & other developmental disabilities, 18(3), 150-166 2003.