Understand Autism(Revised)

 

Autism spectrum infographic 

What does it feel like to be isolated in a place that’s supposed to be safe? It feels lonely and distressing, as students who should feel supported are instead excluded and lack proper care from those around them. 

School is one of the most important things students with autism and their parents rely on. The school sets up curriculum and provides accommodations that best support the students' needs. However, students with autism are often placed in situations where they feel overwhelmed and misunderstood. 

Students with autism have a vast range of characteristics and symptoms, which include their difficulties in speech, emotions, behavior, and other skills. Because of this diversity, it is important for teachers and students to have a clear understanding of autism.

A lack of awareness about autism in schools contributes to the bullying and neglect of autistic children, highlighting the need for better education and support systems. With an increase in awareness, students would be more familiar with autism and less likely to use differences to spread negativity. Schools would also be able to provide above-the-norm support to students with autism. 

The effects of bullying and neglect can also be seen outside of classrooms. Autistic students who experience exclusion may develop anxiety, depression, or a lasting fear of social situations. In Accardo et al. ,“Results show significant positive associations between bullying victimization and depression among autistic youth”. These negative experiences can impact the ability to build relationships later in life and their academic performance. This makes it even more important that schools address bullying, including the lack of awareness and understanding of autism. 

While in many situations, schools are a place to learn and interact with others; students don't always follow expected standards of behavior, allowing negativity to spread easily. This leads to students with autism feeling unsafe and lacking trust in their peers or teachers. As stated in Autism and Bullying, “The young people in our focus group reported that bullying made them feel lonely and isolated, have low self-esteem and poor mental health, and made them lose their sense of self. They also reported not feeling safe, not wanting to go to school, and not trusting teachers and adults.”  

Autism and Bullying states autism spectrum disorder can range from mild to severe, but difficulties with social interaction are common. These challenges affect communication and overall social and intellectual development. 

 Accardo et al. states that they “conducted a meta-analysis and reported the general school bullying victimization of autistic youth at 44%, including 50% verbal bullying, 33% physical, and 31% relational bullying.” With a high rate of bullying victimization among autistic youth, this shows how a school environment has lacked enough enforcement, awareness, or even enough support systems to stop students with autism from being bullied. 

Although bullying can stem from general behavior issues and poor discipline, this view overlooks how most autistic students are often targeted because their behaviors and the way they speak are often misunderstood. Without awareness, teachers and students may misunderstand autistic traits, which might be seen as “strange”. These misunderstandings can make autistic students more susceptible to bullying and less likely to receive support. 

Also, many schools provide support programs and special education programs. This support is not always effective if the teachers or students don’t have a good understanding of autism. Without awareness, many teachers might not recognize certain needs of autistic students, which may lead to neglect. General support programs may not always address bullying, which comes from misunderstanding and lack of acceptance among peers. A greater awareness and education on autism is needed to ensure support programs protect and include autistic students. 

 

Teachers play a critical role in shaping the experiences of autistic students.  Without proper training, many autistic traits as stated in the article National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, might be misunderstood, such as lack of eye contact, repetitive movements, or even difficulty following directions, which can be seen as disrespect. This can lead to students with autism feeling overwhelmed and opportunities to provide support being missed. When teachers fully understand autism and train in autism awareness, they can provide a better environment in the class and prevent situations that may lead to bullying. Some might say awareness won’t help because some people are just mean.  

 There will still be those mean people who would bully those with autism fully aware of their disability. But with awareness, it will help lower and discourage the amount of bullying being done to autistic students from people who aren’t aware of their disability. 

While school is meant to provide a safe learning environment to everyone, not enough attention is given to students with autism. A lack of awareness leads to misunderstandings, bullying, and neglect. While student discipline and support programs are provided, they are not enough without proper understanding of autism. By increasing awareness, improving teacher training, and support systems, schools can create a better environment for all students, including those with autism.