Autism and Autism and

Inclusion: Can it

Inclusion: Can it

Work?Work?By Jenna Savage

By Jenna Savage

Wha

t is

Aut

ism

?

Wha

t is

Aut

ism

?

Life-long Life-long neurodevelopmental

neurodevelopmental conditioncondition Characterised by

Characterised by impairments in

impairments in communication, social

communication, social

interaction and the

interaction and the presence of restricted

presence of restricted

range of interests.

range of interests. Changed greatly in past 2

Changed greatly in past 2

decades.decades. Now known as a spectrum

Now known as a spectrum

Experts believe ASD

Experts believe ASD students can benefit

students can benefit from inclusive classroom

from inclusive classroom

environments.

environments. Also argue it is their civil

Also argue it is their civil

rightright

Historically segregated

Historically segregated

from peers and society.

from peers and society. Increasing trend to

Increasing trend to include students in

include students in general classrooms

general classrooms

So varied people are

So varied people are often puzzled as to why

often puzzled as to why

they have the same

they have the same diagnosis.diagnosis. Can be taught in

Can be taught in mainstream settings with

mainstream settings with

careful evaluation of

careful evaluation of each child, the

each child, the availability of supports,

availability of supports,

creativity, flexibility and

creativity, flexibility and

good communication.

good communication.

Primarily described

Primarily described where a student with

where a student with ASD was educated.

ASD was educated. Recent times – now

Recent times – now about promoting the

about promoting the presence of all students

presence of all students

without the use of

without the use of withdrawal.withdrawal.

Can only occur when

Can only occur when adjustments are made

adjustments are made Challenge stereotypes and

Challenge stereotypes and

personal beliefs

personal beliefs Develop peer recognition

Develop peer recognition

and understanding

and understanding Develop appropriate

Develop appropriate social skillssocial skills Modify curriculum content

Modify curriculum content

Adjust language

Adjust language

Your

Tur

nYo

ur T

urn

Share your experiences

Share your experiences

on the forum and discuss

on the forum and discuss

how these were

how these were successful for inclusion

successful for inclusion

of a student with ASD.

of a student with ASD. Discuss ways to improve

Discuss ways to improve

your practice to ensure

your practice to ensure

each child with ASD can

each child with ASD can

be successfully

be successfully included.included.

““People with ASD are like

People with ASD are like

salt-water fish who are

salt-water fish who are

forced to live in fresh

forced to live in fresh water. We’re fine if you

water. We’re fine if you

just put us into the right

just put us into the right

environment. When the

environment. When the

person with ASD and the

person with ASD and the

environment match, the

environment match, the

problems go away and we

problems go away and we

even thrive. When they

even thrive. When they

don’t match, we seem

don’t match, we seem disabled”disabled”

““People with ASD are like

People with ASD are like

salt-water fish who are

salt-water fish who are

forced to live in fresh

forced to live in fresh water. We’re fine if you

water. We’re fine if you

just put us into the right

just put us into the right

environment. When the

environment. When the

person with ASD and the

person with ASD and the

environment match, the

environment match, the

problems go away and we

problems go away and we

even thrive. When they

even thrive. When they

don’t match, we seem

don’t match, we seem

disabled”disabled”