Reply to What’s the “right way” to say “profound autism?”

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Op here:’groups of people. Trying to give “different presentations of the spectrum” a comparative voice instead of lumping anyone with an ASD diagnosis in one bucket.

In context - it’s about school: How can you Compare the school experience of someone “severely impacted” with high support needs and non verbal in a specialized setting vs the experience of someone with low support needs in a mainstream grade level classes? [/quote]

It's really problematic when you confuse setting and level of disability.  I know nonverbal and minimally verbal kids with autism, and intellectual disability who are well served in general education classes, with alternative learning outcomes and substantial special education support.  It's the best place for them, because their highest priority goals are communication, social, and independence and gen ed is the most effective place to practice those skills.  It's also the best place for them because nonverbal and minimally verbal kids are safest in places with lots of verbal witnesses who don't have power over them.

I know highly verbal college bound kids with autism who are well served in specialized school with no general education students in the entire building, because they learn best in environments with less stimulation, and because their highest priority goals are developing self regulation, executive functioning, and remediating dyslexia, something that specialized environments often do well.  They have the verbal skills to protect themselves, so the safety concerns aren't there.

I also know other kids who aren't well served in their educational environments, in part because the school system decided that kids with certain IQ's or who need certain supports always belong in certain places.

The idea that autism occurs along a linear spectrum, and that your position along that spectrum determines how restrictive the educational environment you receive, is a really dangerous thing.  Sadly, as a special educator, I have taught a number of kids who experienced sexual abuse in contained environments where they were placed because of this idea.[/quote]

I never thought of the abuse aspect. I know a mom of a profoundly disabled child (not on autism spectrum) who always wanted him in public general ed with supports (like a self contained class in general ed that pushed into some general ed subjects) because like you say, her goals were socializing and normality for him. That said I don’t think you are necessarily getting the point here which is that trying to shy away from saying “profoundly” or “severely” autistic doesn’t do much for anyone. [/quote]

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