| As the prevalence of autism has increased | | | | include children who are in both general |
| astronomically in recent years, so has the | | | | education and special education classes. Some |
| number of available treatments and education | | | | parents keep their children in a general |
| options. Parents must sift through the many | | | | education class for their education with |
| interventions and decide which is best for | | | | support services being provided for |
| the education of their child. More and more | | | | specialized needs. Many children with autism |
| parents are educating themselves; the | | | | are educated in a special education class. |
| treatment options are exciting and give hope | | | | Special education classes are designed |
| to parents of children with autism. But the | | | | specifically for students with disabilities |
| task of determining which treatments and | | | | and are taught by a special education |
| education paths are best for each child is a | | | | teacher. A child can also be serviced by a |
| great responsibility. Once a child is | | | | resource specialist who is a special |
| diagnosed with autism, families have many | | | | education teacher who either goes into a |
| questions and concerns. One of the major | | | | general education class or pulls students |
| dilemmas is determining how a child with | | | | with disabilities out of the general |
| autism will be educated. Each child is | | | | education class. The related services that |
| different with unique qualities; the | | | | are available include school psychologists, |
| education of each child with autism is | | | | school nurses, speech specialists, physical |
| determined by their needs and strengths. | | | | occupational therapists and behavioral |
| Autism is considered to be a spectrum | | | | therapists. Other special education services |
| disorder. It is a disorder characterized by | | | | available are community-based training for |
| symptoms that include repetitive behaviors or | | | | the older child and summer school for many |
| interests, deficits in social interaction and | | | | special day class students. Services vary |
| deficits in verbal and nonverbal | | | | according to the child's needs. A child with |
| communication. Furthermore, children with | | | | autism may have difficulty with communication |
| autism often have unusual responses to | | | | and may need services specifically focusing |
| sensory stimulation. Children with autism may | | | | on speech and language development. A child |
| also display symptoms that include an | | | | with Asperger's disorder which is on the |
| inability to form relationships, delay in the | | | | autism spectrum may have average or above |
| development of speech, lack of imagination, | | | | average intelligence but may still be in need |
| repeated patterns of activities, extreme | | | | of services. Services required for a child |
| aloofness and insistence on consistency in | | | | with autism will most likely change over |
| routines and isolated areas of strong | | | | time. The most important thing a family can |
| ability. Research has determined that early | | | | do once a diagnosis of autism is determined, |
| intervention is crucial for children with | | | | is to seek support and services. Recent |
| autism. Early interventions include services | | | | reports reveal one of every 166 children is |
| from speech therapists, occupational | | | | diagnosed with autism. Fortunately, the |
| therapists, adapted physical education, | | | | exposure of the topic is providing extensive |
| applied behavior analysis, social skills | | | | and exciting research and hope! |
| training and other therapies. Some of the | | | | |
| services are provided through the local | | | | Theresa McFarland, M.A. has over 20 years of |
| school district; however, many families | | | | experience providing services to children and |
| choose to hire private therapists and aides. | | | | adults who have disabilities including |
| Children with autism are eligible for special | | | | autism. For up to date news on topics related |
| education services under the federal law once | | | | to autism, please visit: "Your Online |
| they turn three years old. The services | | | | Magazine for Autism Related Issues! |