mainstream VS "self contained"

I am a parent with a high functioning ASD child. I have faught and faught the school for appropriate class environment since he was last year in Kindergarden in mainstream class and made little progress all year.

By the end of the year he could still only count to ten, cant identify letters or numbers (consistantly),gets fixated on a letter and thats all he writes (forget the next day new letter)so due to his lack there of I held him back.

This year school has option "Autism" class or Mainstream and they are telling me BEST option is mainstream (he can function) I say yes He can function in there but he CANT learn and takes too long for so little. The teachers have 20+ children not including all the modifications for one child.

Autism class they say you dont want him mocking behaviors of other children....so I reply "Children moch other behaviors no matter where they are". I also feel he needs to be with others he can relate too.

You have an ASD child with transitioning and adaptability issues and flip flop him back and forth along with speech and OT....need I say more.

So on this topic Im torn I see both sides and benefits. I feel they are judging the book by its cover...due to he is HIGH FUNCTIONING. What about his education to be successful and opportunities in life like others.

If any have experiances,suggestions on what has worked or opinions Im ALL EARS
thanks

Go with your gut. You are the Mom and you know what's best for your baby.

Hello, and greetings.

As the mom of a teen with Asperger's, I just wanted to put in my 2 cents on this issue.

I had him "included" with a one-on-one from 1st to 4th grade, but he struggled more and more as the years went on. After a huge meltdown in 4th grade, where he just couldn't function anymore, we placed him in a special "emotionally disturbed" school (a public school, by the way) through 5th grade. That sounds awful, but it turned out to be a miracle: small classes, a therapeutic emphasis in everything (from music to gym), a staff that knew how to implement a behavior plan without fail. I never got another phone call from the school asking me to pick him up, which had happened constantly before. He started some meds at the same time, and turned around completely. He started to feel better about himself, after having his self esteem SO low.

For Middle School, he moved to an "Aspie" class within a regular Middle School. Now he's in High School, and doing so well, he's about to be in almost all "regular" classes, plus some "team taught" (half special ed, half reg ed with two teachers) classes.

I think inclusion for inclusion's sake can be a mistake. The point should be learning to get along with neurotypical people, and to be able to manage through a regular day at school or work. If a child is miserable, struggling, and failing in an "included" setting, however, what's the point? A "special" or more protected setting may be called for if that is what will help a child learn, make gains, and thrive. I now think getting the child learning and feeling successful is the most important, with inclusion much more likely to be successful AFTER that.