Any parent who has a child with learning disabilities or a child on the Autism spectrum can understand and appreciate how difficult it can be make the right decisions for your child. Research surrounding Autism and the best social and academic programs differ greatly, depending on the specific school and source. You are probably wondering what you can do to assist your child in developing the necessary skills that allow them to lead as normal of a life as possible. The best steps and advice will depend on your specific child and their struggles and difficulties. It will also depend where on the Autism spectrum your child is. Many school programs are actually designed with the specific purpose to helping children who are autistic.
Autism is one of the 3 recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other 2 being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met. It is important to work with a professional when attempting to see where your child lies on the Autism spectrum.
An autism program will also depend on the specific type of Autism. However, these programs provide help for children with Autism and help for children with learning disabilities. Some parents may be tempted to send their children to a traditional school, not wanting to single them out or give them any special treatment. However, these programs can actually be very beneficial by providing the children with the necessary help. Sometimes, it is best for them to be singled out and allow the private school to work through their individual struggles. An Autism program will work specifically on your child?s individual struggle and will develop a plan for them. Each Autism program will be different from the next.
An Autism program may be beneficial as early as toddler age. This is an important age for a child, because it is when they are learning their social and interacting skills. Autistic toddlers differ more strikingly from social norms, for example, they have less eye contact and turn taking and do not have the ability to use simple movements to express themselves, such as the deficiency to point at things. A child who is unable to express themselves, even at a young age will struggle with their emotions and it may be more difficult for them to learn to do so in a different way once they are older. A school program specifically for children with Autism or other learning disabilities will begin to learn these skills early on. Additionally, students with special needs are likely to benefit from additional educational services such as different approaches to teaching, use of technology, a specifically adapted teaching area or resource room. These are just a few of the example that an Autistic program might include.
Parents are constantly making decisions for their children to ensure their well being. These decisions can become especially difficult to make when your child is Autistic or have learning disabilities. However, special Autism programs in school will provide your child with the necessary skills and assistance that will help them to improve. These schools will work individually with your child and develop a specific plan for them and their educational and social needs. The teachers will use different methods and will work individually with each child, giving them the chance to succeed that they deserve.