Mainstreaming Benefits Autistic Students Summary

Cindy Long is a writer and editor for NEA Today. (Long par. 2) She discusses that enrolling autistic students in regular classes will benefit them. Teachers are given the opportunity to attend training, so that students are able to transition from special education into the real world. Also, before going into regular classes, students experience classrooms based on Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), which prepare them for their regular classes. After reading “Mainstreaming Benefits Autistic Students,” I agree with Long that enrolling autistic students in regular classes benefits them because it teaches them to engage with others, demonstrates that students are capable of excelling in academics, and brings awareness of autism to the community.
When students are enrolled in the Stepping Stone program they are given the opportunity to enroll in regular classes. Being around other peers, it allows them to learn valuable skills such as: engaging with others, managing their behavior,

and learning social skills. For example, Nick, an autistic student at Central Kitsap, has the opportunity to be a teaching assistant in Julie Moore’s class. After finishing his regular class work he is able to assist the teacher with certain tasks such as making photocopies and three-hole punching papers. Nicks proudest moment though was when he has the task of making a bulletin board in the hallway. With creativity being difficult for autistic students in general, this stood his proudest moment for Nick. Having the opportunity to do these tasks, it gives Nick a sense of pride, and makes him feel like part of the school.
With these new opportunities, students are able to show their outshining abilities in the classroom.

We are able to aid these students in excelling, in all subjects, with the different techniques coming along to help them learn. Kristen, a 9-year old student with autism, has received help from a paraprofessional, Nancy Potter, since first grade. When Kristen started the Stepping Stone program her teacher, Carol Granoff, was a little worried at first. Later, she realized that Kristen was a bright student and even said, “She grasps so much. She attains 100s on the majority of her tests, and she has such a memory” (qtd. in Long par. 12). The majority of autistic students are like this, they are extremely bright, but they lack the essential social skills to succeed. For example, my cousin, who has autism, has a fascination with money. He can tell someone just about anything they would like to know about his collection; however, he lacks the social skills he needs to fully succeed in

life.
With more children being diagnosed with autism the need for awareness rises. These kids wish to be accepted just like any other student would. When Nick was named Student of the Month, he had his picture hanging right along with the other students. He said this made him feel just like the other students. Society should not exclude autistic students; it should treat them just like everyone else. By gradually integrating them into classes, they will be able to go farther than we would have imagined.
I completely agree with mainstreaming autistic students, it teaches them the skills you are not able to learn in an autistic classroom. They have the means to learn to engage with others, demonstrate their academic achievements, and bring awareness of autism to the community. A new generation of students will be coming, and it is our duty to help them flourish. The education system needs more programs, like Stepping Stone, in order to provide these students, the best chance to succeed.