A IS FOR AUTISM

A lot of bloggers are doing A to Z blogging challenges during the month of April (writing about a selected topic using one letter of the alphabet each day).

I did not really consider joining the challenge, instead being very happy to sit back and read the creative contributions of others. I did for a moment think to myself “A is for Autism…”

… and then, kind of obviously, thought about the Navigator’s school and how it incorporates Autism awareness and information into the curriculum. Which, to be honest, is limited — at least to my knowledge.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Navigator’s school and all his teachers and the administration have done in support of my child. I also understand that a lot of the curriculum is really not under the teachers’ control, and when it is I don’t think Autism is the first thing they think of in terms of subject matter.

Last year they wore t-shirts on Fridays during Autism Awareness Month. I have no idea if or to what extent they actually discussed Autism with their students. Or each other.

To their credit they continued to wear the t-shirts on Fridays throughout the year. What kind of informational follow-up occurred? I don’t know.

Last year, during Autism Awareness Month his reading teacher assigned a book about Autism. The Navigator came home very tense about it, and would have been fine with it had he not been surprised by it. I asked that the next time there was an assignment about Autism that we get a heads up so I could prepare him.

I have not been told that Autism was going to be discussed since.

These examples highlight what’s missing — the next steps, following-up on the t-shirts and the blue light bulbs, steps focused on understanding, acceptance, and respect, not just awareness.

It is like showing someone a logo — say this one:

Photo credit: Public domain found on Wikipedia

and then telling them it is for a sporting event.

Without follow-up information, there is no understanding of the powerful importance of this logo, what it means, and how it impacts the world.

If a school, business, other entity decides to promote Autism awareness, it needs to also commit to offering follow-up information to promote understanding, acceptance, and respect. Otherwise it is just a two-dimensional logo and a huge missed opportunity.

For my son’s school, this could involve the really simple steps of building Autism-related examples into reading, social studies, math, history, etc., assignments, as part of the curriculum all year around.

The school district could do this by talking with Autism experts and people on the spectrum. These folks should be at the table when developing curricula and when looking at materials options.

The school district should be asking the big school materials publishing houses “Where are your materials incorporating Autism into lessons? You don’t have any? When will they be developed and available?”

At estimated rates of 1 in 68 (1 in 42 for boys) there is likely a child on the Autism spectrum in almost every classroom. All year round. Not just in April.

Educating about Autism — what schools do, after all — promotes Autism awareness, understanding, acceptance and respect, all year round, not just in April.

It is doing more than simply sharing the logo.

Originally published on Autism Mom April 2015.