Quick background on child in question... 6.5 years old, diagnosed Classical Autism at just 2 years old. Began at a Autism Specific Prep-Grade 3 school last year and made amazing leaps in development. Can speak mostly clear and while still struggles to have conversations, he can get his point across and talk back to people when he wants too. Very intelligent with numbers but struggles with pencil grip so has trouble writing. This year at school he has started to copy other children’s behaviours in the class, eg jumping up and down, flapping hands and making noises, hitting himself. When asked why he say’s “because **** does it” there is only 8 children in the classroom but I’m so torn on finding the balance on keeping him at the special school or if we should move him to mainstream which we know he will still have struggles with due to his lack of handwriting skills and he can often need redirecting to stay on task.
Is there even a way I could politely bring this matter up to the school and see if he can be moved into a different class? They advised me there will always be a mix of verbal and non verbal in each room but I thought they would group the children nearing mainstream into the same classes to have a more focused environment for the children to learn.
Autism School VS Mainstream
Autism School VS Mainstream
Posted in:
Education, Behaviour, Aspergers & Autism
15 Replies
To be honest, I would stay where you are.
Your child has dedicated and highly trained specialists working with him. Sadly mainstream schools simply don't have the funding, resources or staff appropriately trained to deal with special needs children. Plus, autistic students rarely cope well with change so whilst your child is thriving at the moment, at a school he is familiar and feels safe at, I would be extremely hesitant to risk a negative impact that a big change could bring.
Of course you can bring it up! It's difficult, been there done that, but your priority should be your child. It's not impolite to bring it up with the teacher, principle. It doesn't hurt to go look at some mainstream schools to find out what they can offer.
I found I was constantly assessing, reassessing my sons schooling situation because what's best this year, might not work next year etc.
go research and make your decision based on all the information.
Resources are limited at mainstream schools. He won't receive nearly as much support compared to what he is getting now.
My now 11 year old son (diagnosed Aspergers back then) went straight into mainstream, did the work, had a couple of friends, seemed ok to start
Then hit 9 years old and everything unravelled, he became non-verbal, suicidal, aggressive, withdrawn, until we got him into a support unit.
He looks great now, verbal, happy, open, but it's the scaffolding he's getting in the unit
Places are so hard to get, my other 4 kids are autistic too, and no spaces so they're mainstream
If you have it, keep it!
He might seem ok now, but puberty, more complex work and social expectation hit quicker than you know
And seriously, who cares if he flaps? If it feels good to him, let him
The problem though is that it is copied behavior, wasn't present before and is obviously learnt from the other children in the room. Don't get me wrong, I understand it's not the other children's fault and feel mum guilt that he has speech when other children don't... but I just wish that they could group the children in ways that would enhance his education and not have him learning these other behaviors. The hitting himself was the trigger for me writing in here.
I know autistic adults who are just learning to flap now.
It sounds like you want to take him out of an autistic specific class because he's acting too autistic, honey he's not acting, he IS autistic
I don't care that he is at an 'autistic school' but i do care that he is in a room with children who self harm. I have been fighting for 6 years to get him the help he needs and working my butt off to pay for it so he can hopefully live a life without needing support 24/7
I know he is autistic, thanks for reminding me once again........
100% agree. He is autistic. I'd be happy that he was copying behaviour, that means he is learning! Whether it be "appropriate" or not, who cares if he flaps? If it makes him happy, that's wonderful!
He has an opportunity to blossom where he is, he is accepted. He won't have the same reception at mainstream unfortunately.
Is it making him happy? He's doing it because others are doing it, he didn't say it made him happy. That's just us assuming because it makes one autistic person happy it makes them all happy. I've never flapped, I'm autistic and I am happy.
We seem to have all missed the copying self harm part, which is far more important than wether or not he flaps!
If youve worked your butt off to get him there, i guess you feel or felt at one point that he really needs to be there. Before thinking about moving schools perhaps talk to the school about your concerns right now, about him learning and copying behaviours, about your fears that its not helping him if hes grouped this way. They may be able to explain their system and educate you with some info or suggestions that put your mind at ease.
Honestly. I'd leave him there.
But what I think you need is some "normalisation of appropriate behaviour" by that I mean spending time around children who aren't autistic. I think if you haven't already, maybe try a sport or after school activity. Soccer would be great, teaches skills, gives focus and he's liasing with peers from a different environment.
I think the goal should always be to get him into mainstream school at some point, many have transitioned successfully. However, if he is still having issues with pencil grip/handwriting, I don't think he is ready. I have a little boy in grade 4, you would not believe the work they do these days, with naplan and the curriculum, it is so much more advanced than when I went to school. I would talk to the teachers about my concerns and I would also always be looking at the appropriate grade level work and comparing it to where he is at constantly, so you will know when he is ready. You can buy the grade level books in office works, for maths and English, see where he is at and how he compares. You also want him to enjoy learning and if you transition him too soon, he could become disengaged and that would set him back. You can also spend the day in a mainstream classroom, see what goes on, talk to them about your transitioning goal and assess if you think he would cope. It's just that handwriting is vitally important to everything and he needs to get on top of that. Good luck, it sounds like your boy is doing fantastic and just know that other have made the transition at the right time and have been successful.
My child has been in both a special school and mainstream. Main stream made him very depressed because he was the child who was al Aus picked on. In his special school he has also picked up the behaviours of other children , but I find when he stopped playing with the child the behaviour stopped. IF it isn't in his nature he probably won't keep it up long term. I was concerned about the same thing last year it went on all year, this year haven't seen any of the previous behaviour.
If there is a class that you think he'd be better suited to be in, then ask away!
Keep communication lines open with the school, speak to other parents of ASD kids in the area. Go for a tour at a mainstream school and see how they support our kids
If there is a class that you think he'd be better suited to be in, then ask away!
Keep communication lines open with the school, speak to other parents of ASD kids in the area. Go for a tour at a mainstream school and see how they support our kids