Published on 12, July, 2020
As a concerned parent navigating the complexities of education for an autistic child, I find myself at a crossroads, contemplating a crucial decision:
mainstream schooling versus special education schools. This choice is not merely about selecting an institution; it's about choosing a path that will significantly shape my child's development, social skills, and self-esteem.
Mainstream schools offer the prospect of integrated learning environments where children, regardless of their neurological differences, are educated together. This setting promises social integration and exposure to a variety of teaching styles and peer interactions, which are beneficial for understanding diverse perspectives and developing social norms.
On the other hand, special education schools provide tailored educational strategies specifically designed for children with autism. These institutions often offer smaller class sizes, specialised staff, and customised curricula that address the unique needs of autistic students, potentially making learning more accessible and less stressful for them.
Given the importance of this decision, I am reaching out to the members of the National Autistic Society for advice and insights. Your experiences and the knowledge gained from them are invaluable to parents like myself, who are striving to make informed decisions.
1. Mainstream Schools:
- What were the benefits for your autistic child attending a mainstream school?
- How did mainstream schools support your child both academically and socially?
- What challenges did you encounter, and how were they addressed?
2. Special Schools:
- What specialised approaches did these schools use to support your child’s learning and development?
- Did attending a special school enhance your child’s educational experience compared to a mainstream school?
- What were the potential drawbacks or limitations you observed in special schools?
The goal is not merely academic success but fostering an environment where my child can thrive, feel secure, and be understood. Understanding the benefits that both educational settings offer, and hearing about the real-world outcomes for other children on the autism spectrum, will greatly assist in making a decision that best suits my child’s needs and potentials.
I hope you all to share your insights, experiences, and any research that can illuminate this path. Your contributions will help build a well-rounded perspective that many parents, including myself, seek during these challenging but crucial decision-making times.
Hi Adeen
I will be watching this thread carefully as the information you seek I might possibly seek for my youngest son. My son is going into year 5 after the summer break and the older he gets the more concerned I am. He was fine at school until the day he became a year 4 and it was like a switch had flipped, he has struggled on and off for the entire year. Academically he is above the schools expectations but as we all know it’s everything else in that environment that causes the challenges of daily life for them. My son has regular therapy sessions privately and she has told me that she doesn’t expect he will need to be outside of a mainstream setting. It’s a real tough one for me because on one hand being exposed to the typical population at a mainstream is preparing you for the reality of later life, this also in my opinion increases the chances of being bullied and singled out for being different. On the other hand at a school outside mainstream they get the tailored education and the opportunity to express themselves more but I guess are in a bubble. Once that bubble is gone they are in the real world. I feel at the moment my son should be in a mainstream school but I have heard from my friends wife who is a teacher of how things can get challenging in a secondary environment.
Not sure how old your child is Adeen but primary has been great for my child. I plan on reviewing the situation once he has done some time in secondary education and if he’s not settling or refusing to attend then I would look at alternatives.
I am on the spectrum myself and have only realised this since the discovery of my child’s neurodiversity. Looking back my school life was tough to say the least but I got through it by masking. Had a lot of jobs as an adult but always been a hard worker. Somehow ended up being self employed and working alone (it’s like this job found me somehow). What I’m trying to say is in my case I’ve always struggled but subconsciously found a way around things.
I hope you get enough information to be able to help you make a decision.
I wish you luck