What Constitutes an Appropriate Education for Autistic Children?

Autism is a medical condition that is frequently excluded from health insurance coverage in the United States; therefore the burden of educating autistic children often falls solely on the public education system. Public schools were designed to educate the masses, yet because of U.S. federal law requiring all children be provided with a Free and Appropriate Public Education, they find themselves providing a specialized and intensive therapy to an ever-increasing number of children, as the rate of autism steadily grows. A tension exists between parents seeking services for their children and the school system, which must manage finite resources, which has resulted in disproportionately high litigation rates involving the quality of education for autistic students in comparison to other disabilities. I sought to learn what factors parents consider most important in their autistic child’s education. It was my privilege to interview parents and therapists who strive to tap the potential of these special children as I examined their thoughts on the services provided through the school system and other factors considered crucial for their satisfaction with the education provided.