Autism & Schooling The REAL picture
By Shruti Gupta
Autism spectrum comes with its own set of developmental delays and challenges. While one can deal with behavioral challenges and delays , the society at large suffers from a bigger challenge. This challenge that exists in seemingly perfect neurotypical individuals - that is us. This disease is called prejudice and judgemental attitude towards anyone with mental health challenges.
The government enforces the right to education for such children through mandated laws which have found space in the constitution but haven't really seen their light in practicality. Inclusive education which involves a common medium of learning of regular and autistic children remains a bigger challenge than exclusive special schooling.
Schools have a prejudiced attitude towards children on the spectrum and the bitter ground reality is a sad situation. The willingness to incorporate special educators and a rightful support system for autistic children is absent. Teachers and principals are unaware as to what autism is and hence the children are easily placed into the bracket of mental retardation.
Parents are made to feel guilty for their children's delays and aren't provided enough cooperation. There is no provision for shadow teachers by the schools themselves. Parents with autistic children suffer relentlessly facing judgements right from the time the child is diagnosed. The financial, psychological and emotional burden of their lives is unparalleled and is increased by the constant stress of schooling woes. Often schools make mockery of laws and hire special educators for show during inspections.
The lack of empathy may stem from ignorance or due to this being beyond the confines of their comfort zones. Autism awareness is hence pivotal and is being taken up by our forum as a religious step towards building empathy and understanding. Lack of knowledge only makes it more overwhelming to accept something that we don't know much about.
Few modern experiential schools that follow a global cult have been flag bearers of change that we wish to see.
Larger challenges that lie in front of us are making our children independent adults through skill building and vocational training. The very foundation of these goals is schooling. If they experience a positive and supportive atmosphere as children with a non judgemental approach by schools , they will certainly thrive. The implications of negative experiences that they face in schools and by the society at large can have manifold implications in their psychology as adults.
This is true for even neurotypical children.
Everyone deserves a fair chance to be educated in a supportive environment.
These factors take more importance considering the alarming rise in autism. A large chunk of the future generation remains at stake at the hands of prejudices that dictate our mindsets.
We need to adapt and evolve to understand that there may be children who are facing challenges, but we can only do our basic duty by providing them with education at the least.
Someone rightly said , "the way the twig is bent determines the way the tree will grow".
Some trees require more sunshine , while some need shade, some may need less water and some may need more....this is the beauty of the garden that is the framework of this society.
We only need to change our approach as the gardeners of a generation to come.
