Originally Posted by Flyboy

I cannot believe that any teacher would be so naive as to believe that there are NO autistic children in mainstream schools. You have either worked in very few schools with limited experience, or are burying your head in the sand. ASD does not necessarily need "very careful teaching," what it does need is teachers and schools to be proactive, in its approach, when providing a balanced and compassionate learning environment. As a parent of a child, who has ASD, ADHD, APD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and other related conditions, I would be appalled at this attitude that he should be shoved away in a special school. Being separated from and ignored by the rest of society. He is thriving at the mainstream school he is in, because he is treated as an individual and given the support, guidance, understanding and respect he is entitled to. Are you seriously trying to tell me that ALL autistic and disabled children, in your LEA/Local Children's Services area, are in special schools and there are no trained teachers, anywhere. No SENCOs, no children with statemnents and no special facilities in any school, except newly built ones? The whole notion and concept is just absurd. I work with national groups, concerned with the education of children with SEN and the way that SEN provisional strategies are implemented in schools. I have never come across a local education authority, without ANY disabled children in mainstream schools. Your local area must be so unique, I am surprised it hasn't come to their attention before now.