Autism Education Choices

Posted by Melissa Hincha-Ownby Aug 13, 2008

August and September typically mean back-to-school time. For parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder, this time of year can be quite hectic and even stressful. In order to help ease the transition, I wrote about the Autism Back-to-School Checklist that I use to get our entire household on target for the start of school. With two children on the spectrum, I have double the fun. School is already in full swing for us and thankfully the transition has gone smoothly. The process really got me thinking about education choices for children with autism.

Most parents immediately think of sending their children to school, whether the child is on the autism spectrum or not. Autistic children can be educated using several different classroom models. The Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) states that all children must be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE). In terms of special education, this comes in an inclusive setting. A child with autism is simply educated alongside their typically developing peers in a general education classroom.

An intermediate level of education comes from mainstreaming; a child spends part of his day in a general education setting and the rest in a self-contained classroom. On the opposite end of the education spectrum for inclusion is self-contained. A self-contained classroom means that your child with autism is in a special classroom with other children with special education concerns.

Thinking of these education models reminded me that many parents choose to homeschool their autistic child. Homeschooling is a great choice and many parents who choose to do so find that their children are happier and actually learn better at home. As autism becomes more prevalent, the educational choices for our children will only increase.