Communication Is Essential In ChoosingAutism Services

All parents want their children to have access to the very best ineducation. Parents know that the foundation of learning they are able toinstill in their children today can make all the difference to their futures. If

they have the right start and a positive schoolenvironment, it is the beginning of a lifetime ofaccomplishing any goals they wish. It has beenproven that a love of reading, for example, is aneven bigger indicator of future success thanexcellence in subjects like math and science.

Which brings us to something worth discussing.April is Autism Month, and for families whohave children on the autism spectrum, there issomething JUST as important as excellentacademics when looking for a schoolplacement with autism services where thesechildren can thrive, and really become theirmost happy and successful in these important

school years. "Communication" is the key to it.

Those quotes about the ability to effectively communicate being one ofthe biggest indicators of the future success of our children can befrightening to the parents of children on the autism spectrum - becausecommunication, and difficulty with communication, is at the heart ofautism. For this reason, it is very important when looking at educationoptions and IEPs for special needs children on the autism spectrum, toconsider how that program will communicate with them - and teach themhow to communicate, starting with recognizing and responding to their

own feelings and the feelings of others. They need to be able to readsocial cues that can help them understand the world we live in.

It's disturbing to hear stories from from around the world - even aboutspecial needs classrooms where children on the autism spectrum areoften isolated, warehoused, and sometimes even terrified in the worstsituations instead of being supportive in a warm, appropriate, specificallytailored learning environment. It's hard to understand how this canhappen in the modern world, in our schools and communities. Even inschool districts where special needs programming is mandated by law andby the District's own procedures, many children on the autism spectrum -and other children with special needs - are not only falling through thecracks, but in some instances are actually being harmed , in the schools.

Martina Sholitan, who works with families of children on the autismspectrum, as well as children in a wide range of exceptionalcircumstances, has seen and heard it all. She's seen the excellent resultswhen a child is placed in a program that works for them. She has seenhow this can open up the world of learning for a child. On the other hand,she has been saddened to be a witness to how devastating it can be to achild and their family if the right accommodations are not made with thechild in mind. That was the reason Martina left her high profile job in thespecial education department of the San Jose School District. She could nolonger stand by and watch children in crisis and families in distress - sheknew she could help guide those families to success in dealing with theschool districts if she wasn't employed directly by those same schoolorganizations. Setting out on her own, she now works in the privatesector, spending her time ensuring that the children of her clients get thespecial needs services they deserve.

When looking for appropriate autism services even in our modernschools, it's important that parents have all the facts so they can bestchoose the most effective way to advocate for their child.