Chances are also very good that you have gone to school with another special classmate. He may like to talk nonstop about trains. Maybe she carries a plastic ring with her that she sometimes puts in her mouth and chews. Perhaps he keeps mostly to himself and likes to pickup dirt or sand and watch it fall to the ground over and over again. She may wave her hands in front of her face and sometimes she acts like she is a lot younger than she really is. Each of these children have a disability too.
The difference is that the first group of kids have a disability that can be seen with your eyes. The wheelchair, crutches, or special item they have to wear or carry with them.
The second group of kids may look like everyone else but their actions and behaviors are very different. These kids have Autism.
I have 2 sons with Autism. Both fall on the severe side of the spectrum. This means that they go to a special school and attend a classroom specifically designed for children with Autism. However, most classrooms have one or more children with high-functioning Autism, often called Asperger's Syndrome.
Helping children understand their classmates with autism is often a difficult task because of the wide spectrum that encompasses Autism. One one side of the spectrum we have individuals who cannot care for themselves on a day to day basis. Most are incontinent and wear diapers, non-verbal, and require assistance from adult caretakers for their entire lives. However, on the other end of the spectrum we have individuals who carry a diagnosis of high-functioning Autism but are not "disabled" by it. These individuals will more than likely attend regular classrooms, graduate from high school, attend college, marry, have children of their own, and live what many call "normal" lives. The differences lie in their demeanor. Their peers may describe them as "quirky" or perhaps they look at the world or talk about things differently than most. Often they are more introspective and prefer spending time alone over socializing in a group. They may have some physical "ticks" such as fidgeting or putting things in their mouth (like pens, pencils, etc.).
I believe one of the best things we can do for our children is to teach them compassion and respect. A recent study by The Massachusetts Advocates for Children found that 90% of autistic students in their state suffer with bullying. 40% of those students endured bullying that lasted over a year. Individuals with autism are especially prone to bullying due to the fact that they may not know what others are saying about them or doing to them is wrong. I have seen this happen on a number of occasions with my own sons. Another child will call them "weird" or "stupid" and at times they have actually pushed my children down or purposely hurt them knowing that they do not have the verbal or cognitive ability to tell an adult what happened. One of the best ways to combat bullying is to encourage your children to make friends with classmates of all walks of life, including those with disabilities.
