Is Special Education the Best Way for Children with Asperger's Syndrome to Learn?

In the past, special education used to be the catchall term for all those kids who did not learn as well in the regular classroom environment as other kids. This led to those with autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, developmental and also cognitive disabilities to be lumped together in huge classrooms where precious little learning actually took place. Chronically underfunded, these special education classrooms were scrapped, and gave way to the educational model that would put all kids into the same classes.

This, too, is a recipe for disaster as it leaves those who are differently able to flounder while children who are considered normally enabled find a curriculum almost exclusively geared toward them. Parents who kids diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome have been wondering for some time if there is a good way of educating their youngsters, and since neither the all inclusive nor the special education classroom experience seems to have worked, there is some confusion and frustration evident.

It is important to recognize that Asperger’s Syndrome in no way affects a child’s IQ. As a matter of fact, while children with the condition may have a hard time in their social development, their ability to learn and even excel in some studies is well documented. Unfortunately, it is there that some run afoul those educators with a specific agenda that would see them once again crammed into special education classrooms where – under the guise of having their special abilities catered to – they are kept separate from other kids with different abilities.

Parents must be vigilant in their efforts to keep their children in educational environments that combine those with Asperger’s Syndrome and those without the condition. At the same time, teachers trained in the fine art of teaching students with all levels of abilities should make up the majority of the faculties of education facilities. The separation of differently able children who have the cognitive wherewithal to learn alongside their peers is a process that presents more problems than it solves while at the same time failing to properly help children to integrate and interact with those who might be slightly different.

There is, however, a bona fide venue for special education when it comes to teaching children with Asperger’s Syndrome to interact with others. Lacking of course are social skills and the ability to read and understand verbal nuances and nonverbal body language clues. A form of special education that promotes interaction between children with Asperger’s Syndrome and those without, for the express purpose of teaching the former how to interact properly, is a great idea that should find a lot of support on the neighborhood level as well as on the national level.

Of course, until both parents and educators understand that there is no IQ driven reason for separating students with Asperger’s Syndrome from other kids progress will be rather slow in coming. Once again, parents must be the educated advocates who will push on for their children’s proper education and socialization, and moms and dads simply cannot afford to remain inadequately informed on the issue.