Social Aspects of Autism in Conflict with NCLB

Abstract

Teaching children with autism presents an enormous challenge to educators. Professionals who have students with autism in their classrooms must decide how they will structure their curriculum to meet the special needs of these students. Current research suggests that educators should focus on developing the social behaviors of children with autism. In fact, much of the research on teaching autism does not focus on strategies and theories for teaching students specific subjects. Instead, most articles suggest that social learning serves as a foundation for all other learning in the education system. This type of research and philosophy seemed to be making headway in America's schools until the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB). This powerful piece of federal legislation intends to level the playing field for all demographic groups, including special education groups. Contrary to its own goals, the NCLB actually places students with autism at a disadvantage because of its emphasis on academic standards and goals at the expense of social aspects of education for students with autism. Under NCLB, educators have very few opportunities to build a solid social behavior foundation within their students with autism. In short, children with autism seem to be back where they started prior to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) provision of a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE).