Autism in the School-Aged Child

Autism can affect anyone, can't it?

Son's autism gives golf ace Ernie Els a grand ambition - CNN.com For a man dubbed "The Big Easy," Ernie Els isn't putting his feet up anytime soon.

Sadly, this is what can easily happen when teachers do not receive the necessary training to educate students with autism. It is unacceptable that many school districts pay more for litigation than they do for services. Maybe I should send them a free book, what do you think?

Stuart Chaifetz Secretly Tapes His Autistic Son at School, Discovers He's Being Bullied by Teachers When his 10-year-old son started getting into trouble at school, Stuart Chaifetz was stunned. After months of meetings went nowhere, he sent his son, who has autism, to school with a wiretap -- and discovered that the boy was being bullied by his teachers

“There may be no greater challenge facing public schools today than the staggering increase in children diagnosed with autism… school budgets are not growing nearly as rapidly as the number of children classified as having special needs. Parents are increasingly demanding more than basics; they want intensive, expensive services that offer the best chance to rescue their child from a lifetime of disability.” (Smith, Fran. "Educators Deal with the Growing Problem of Autism." Edutopia 19 Mar 2008. n.pag. The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Web. Accessed 10 Apr 2012.)
Do you know someone who is struggling with a child on the Autism spectrum? Do you know a teacher who is struggling to help educate a child with autism? No one should have to "reinvent the wheel." Share this page with them.

The Challenge of Educating Children with Autism Just Got Harder:

About 1in 88 children in the United States has autism or a related disorder, the highest estimate to date. "One thing the data tells us with certainty - there are many children and families who need help," CDC Director Thomas Frieden said at a press conference.
(Smith, Fran. "Educators Deal with the Growing Problem of Autism." Edutopia 19 Mar 2008. n.pag. The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Web. Accessed 10 Apr 2012).

"I want to live in a world where I can say 'I am autistic' and not be expected to be a bundle of abnormalities and defecits. I want the word 'Autism' to provoke not a mental defect or something that needs 'fixing', but an image of a wonderful and unique person with a wonderful and unique way of being and experiencing the world."
- Amanda Baggs