Different Groups’ Different Groups’ Perceptions of Children Perceptions of Children

with Autismwith AutismBy Michelle Abbasciano

What is Autism?...What is Autism?...

Also known as ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder

Neural development disorder characterized by repetitive behavior, limited social skills and language impairments.

Widely misunderstood disorder identified about 67 years ago by Leo Kanner.

Some stats about ASD…Some stats about ASD…4-5 times more common among boys than

girls.

Estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girlsare diagnosed with autism in the U.S.

Statistics suggest prevalence rates have increased 10-17% annually in recent years.

What causes Autism?...What causes Autism?...

In the early days, manybelieved it was caused by bad parenting– distant and cold mothers!

Really it is most often a combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors that influence brain development.

What about the kids?...What about the kids?...No two children on the spectrum and their

characteristics are the same.

Many on the autism spectrumhave exceptional abilities – visual, musical and academic skills.

Others are affected differently by the disorder and are unable to live independently.

Some are completely nonverbal.

Throughout their lives…Throughout their lives…Children with autism will have to work with

dozens of different kinds of people in their lives.

Teachers, aides, counselors, principals, special education teachers, doctors, therapists…and of course parents, family, and friends.

And all will have their own opinions and perspectives….

The Parents…The Parents…Multitude of studies done gauging parents’ experiences

with family, friends, and the public interacting with their child with autism.

Strangers can’t ‘see’ the disorder, so they just think the child is throwing a fit and the parent is a bad parent.

Many parents feel stigmatized by their child’s disorder. Mothers tend to feel like this more often than fathers.

The Parents…The Parents… Complete strangers scold them. Some ignored it, some

either yelled back or tried to inform the aggressor.

Some parents seem to be holding out for a cure. Others realize there is no cure. In both cases, they find multiple ways to cope with their child’s disorder.

Mothers in one study conveyed that their child with autism “saved them” or “healed”

them in some way.

The Teachers…The Teachers…

In one large study of Greek teachers, a majority of the respondents believed autism was the most serious mental health disorder.

A majority also didn’t think themselves informed of the condition enough to be able to pinpoint autistic characteristics and refer them to a specialist.

A general consensus for this study was that the teacher respondents were not well informed enough on the condition and needed further special education training.

The Teachers…The Teachers…

A recent study in 2011 indicated that general education teachers still are hesitant about the idea of having an inclusion classroom.

Though they do not look down poorly on children with autism, they more worry about the severity of the child’s autism and how it will affect their classroom management.

The Teachers…The Teachers…

Some teachers have expressed concerns about having children autism/emotional behavioral disorders in the general classroom mostly because of behavioral outbursts and lack of training and supports.

More and more teachers, however, are getting the training and support they need in the classroom, and can gladly and confidently teach to all kinds of children.

More teachers are also realizing that the inclusion of children with autism in the gen ed class can be beneficial for all if done appropriately and with the right support.

The Children…The Children…Children tend to perceive their peers with autism with

negativity as opposed to those without autism.

One study done in 2007 revealed that kids aged 7-12 were more likely to avoid the child described with autism and view them

unlike themselves.

The Children…The Children…Another small study showed that children with

autism are judged as less friendly by their peers, based solely on their appearance.

That isn’t to say all children are like this!

From my experience in the classroom, I have observed children in an inclusion class interacting with and playing with children with autism without any problems or biases.

The Children…The Children…

And what about the children with autism? How do they view themselves?

Not many studies have been done that delve in to this question.

Some research has shown that high-functioning children with autism who perceived themselves as less socially competent demonstrated strong intellectual capabilities and greater understanding of others' emotional experiences than were those who perceived themselves as more socially competent.

To sum it up…To sum it up…Everyone is always going to have an opinion.

Perceptions are just the way people view certain things based on their personal experiences and exposures.

Children with autism tend to come under fire from teachers, peers, and people they don’t even know for things they can’t control.

What it all means…What it all means…

“Autistic children appear to be physically normal, yet suffer from a disability that is extremely pervasive. It is this combination of pervasive disability and apparent physical normality that gives the stigma experienced by families with autistic children its unique quality.”

What it all means…What it all means…For us as teachers, we need to try to understand

each one of our students on varying levels; accept them for who they are; use patience and understanding both with them and their parents; and above all else, always be kind. You never know what struggles they are

having outside of school.