Autism is a complex developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life and affects the brain’s normal development of communication skills, establishing and maintaining relationships with others, as well as one’s flexibility in everyday life. Autism is a behaviourally defined syndrome in which symptoms occur on a continuum ranging from mild to severe.
With the information gathered, I believe that it is not at all easy for a child with autism to lead their lives without complications. Children with autism face challenges with social interactions and relationships, communication and their behaviour. However, this does not mean that they are inferior to the normal children.
Inclusion of children with autism in mainstream schools, as mentioned in this blog, has many issues and challenges. A child with autism may find it hard to adapt to the mainstream class as the children in the mainstream classes would be learning at a faster pace. More visual clues and a lot of patience from the teachers and peers will be needed to aid the learning of the children with autism in the mainstream school. However, these teachers would most probably be untrained to deal with children with autism thus leading to the negligence of the child.
Children with autism may have problems and issues pertaining to communication, social relationships and their behaviour but with intensive and early treatment, it will improve their outlook tremendously. Treatment may include different kinds of therapies and medication.
In my opinion, even though children with autism may face a lot of challenges and including them in mainstream schools would incur may many more issues, I believe that they deserve a fair chance of leading their lives with ease. Children with autism can get better if they are treated early and however inferior they may seem in the eyes of others, they do have their strengths and they are special in their own ways.