Autism is having a significant impact on the education system because the number of children being diagnosed with the disorder is increasing, and these children are progressing through the education system. Also, these children can have other mental health or learning disorders that have to be addressed through their educational plans along with the autism.
Basics
Autism is a mental health disorder that is diagnosed and treated on a spectrum. The variations in how this disorder can manifest are often significant. For example, one child may be unable to read or effectively use verbal language, while another has a normal or above average level of intelligence and has an advanced vocabulary. Therefore, due to the sometimes drastic variations within the disorder, educational programs have to be tailored to the specific educational needs of each child, says the Autism Society of America.
Types
A number of different types of educational interventions have been developed to help improve the education outcomes for children with autism. Some of these education interventions include behavior modification programs, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis or ABA, inclusion programs, individualized education programs or IEPs and evaluation and sensory integration, reports Autism Society of America. Many of these programs are used in conjunction with others.
Specifics
Due to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, children who are school age and even in preschool are guaranteed free public education that is appropriate to them. An IEP must drawn up and implemented for all children in special education, notes the American Psychological Association or APA. This means that many school districts are funding expensive educational interventions, such as ABA therapy. These interventions are often recommended in the child's IEP because they have been shown to positively affect a child's overall education, the APA reports.
Involvement
To help ensure that the educational advances a child with autism is making in the school system are maintained and improved upon, caregivers should become involved in the child's educational success. Parents should educate themselves on autism and the resources available for children with autism. The early treatments of autism are begun the better the prognosis. According to HelpGuide.org, if a child is younger than 10 and experiencing a developmental delay, a diagnosis of autism is not necessary for her to qualify for free early intervention services. Parents should use the techniques the child learned with in the classroom and at school within the home. This helps further the child's learning and growth.
Considerations
Educational programs used with children who have autism seem to be more effective if they are highly structured and focus on improving the child's social skills, communication abnormalities and behavior problems, notes MayoClinic.com. To help ensure that a child is receiving all of the services he needs, parents can become educated on possible services by a Parent Training Information Center or PTI. According to the Autism Society of America, these centers are located in each state and teach parents of children who have autism about their child's rights, how to communicate with education professions and how to navigate the education system.
