Education
Back to IndexIf the child with an ASD such as Asperger's syndrome is to be educated in a mainstream school it is important that the correct amount of support is made available. In order to get the correct support a Statement of Special Educational Needs should be drawn up from the various advices supplied by you and the specialists. This procedure, when it begins, can take 6 months and be a very stressful and confusing time - don’t be afraid to contact people who can help, this need not be a professional it may just be someone who has done it all before.
It is beneficial if the school of your choice is willing to learn about the difficulties that they and the child will face, some schools are better than other on this score. Looking at several schools will give a better picture of exactly what is available.
The support currently offered in mainstream school is by Special Support Assistants (SSA) for a certain number of hours each week based on the child's needs in order to help the child access the curriculum and develop in a social setting. A teacher with specialist knowledge of autism should support SSA, teacher and school in understanding and teaching the child.
Other professional input may also be required such as speech and language therapy to help develop skills.
The home/school link is vital, a diary can prove invaluable giving two way communication on achievements and problems on a regular basis.
Visual clues will help enormously. Teachers and assistants can give a child who can read a sheet giving the main points of the lesson to help the child to focus. Younger children may need symbols. Remember the child is likely to find break times/lunch the most difficult to cope with and alternative ‘safe’ arrangements may be needed. For other children break times are stress relievers. This is usually the opposite for a child with autism. They will probably benefit from being allowed to go to the library or to do ‘jobs’ inside for the staff.
A child who is to benefit from a mainstream experience will need the whole ‘team’ to be committed to helping him/her fit in. Without such a level of team support placements often fail.
© Rosalyn Lord 2000