Do autistic children need mainstream education or specialised schools? Their parents are divided
Many parents of autistic children want their kids educated in mainstream schools – but 80 per cent say there’s a chronic lack of support for special needs students.
Many parents of autistic children want their children to be educated in “real-world settings” but eight in ten are concerned about the lack of support in mainstream schools, a groundbreaking new survey has found.
Half of the 650 parents of autistic children surveyed want their children to be taught in regular classrooms and the other half want a variety of other options including autism schools, specialist schools, homeschooling, or a combination of choices.
The study, conducted by Autism Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology, surveyed parents of 400 children in primary school, 173 in high school and 83 who are yet to start school.
Lead author Dr Jill Ashburner said findings showed “the current system is not working for many autistic students with complex needs, despite the undoubted best efforts of many teachers”.
She said parents who preferred regular mainstream classrooms “often wanted their child to learn to manage in real-world settings”.
“However, many parents believed that their child needed more specialised support,” she said.
Her words come as federal taxpayer funding for in-school support for children with disabilities is now $5bn a year under the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), fuelled by a rise in children with autism and ADHD.
Dr Ashburner said there was an urgent need for “substantial systemic reform to ensure that schools are inclusive and sufficiently supportive”.
The survey’s findings showed that specialised school options were more likely to be preferred by parents of autistic children who were older and in the later stages of schooling, and those who had conditions that impacted on learning or mental health.
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The results show 59 per cent of parents of children yet to start school preferred mainstream, compared to 51 per cent of those with primary-school-aged children and 42 per cent of those with secondary-school-aged children.
Only about 8 per cent of parents want an autism-specific school and fewer than 5 per cent want home schooling or distance education.
Special schools, which often require children to have an IQ of less than 70, are wanted by less than 2.5 per cent of parents.
The findings come as the existence of specialist schools has come under attack from the federal disability discrimination commissioner, Rosemary Kayess.
The commissioners from the 2023 Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability were split on the issue of specialist schools, with three calling for an end to segregation by 2051 and three calling for such schools to be maintained.
Frances Scodellaro, CEO of Autism Queensland, said parents “wanted their children to feel welcome, understood, to receive the right support, to have real choice and to have flexible options that meet their needs”.
She said a growing number were homeschooling their children “because they felt they had no choice”.
“They felt their child had been excluded in a mainstream school and didn’t feel they could go there safely,” Ms Scodellaro said.
Victorian mother and disability advocate Shantelle Marks is homeschooling her three children, all of whom have differing levels of autism, after trying a range of different education options.
“Parents of children with autism will often want and hope their children will be able to go to mainstream schools,” she said.
“Specialist schools are really only for those with high needs. But it’s difficult because you don’t want your child to be eaten alive.”
Ms Marks said children with autism were often misunderstood by teachers.
“They get suspended because they have a meltdown, left without an aide, they can’t go on excursions and you get phone calls all the time to come and pick them up,” she said. “It’s a mess.”
How do I choose the right school for my child with autism?
Experts from Autism Awareness offer this advice.
Choosing the right school for your child can be overwhelming, particularly if your child is on the autism spectrum.
Just as no two children have the same needs, abilities and learning styles, every school will approach supporting an autistic child differently. By understanding the school options available to your family, you’ll feel more empowered when deciding on a school for your child.
State schools
State-based schools, also known as public or government schools, are a popular choice for autism families, as government education policy regulates their disability services. Within the public school system, there are subcategories, such as selective schools, each offering different programs and environments that may be more suited to the needs of a child with autism.
State-based schools might not charge tuition fees, but parents are usually responsible for covering the costs of uniforms, supplies, and additional activities like camps and excursions. Students are typically required to attend the state-based school in their local area, called enrolment zones; however, exceptions can be made for students with disabilities.
Opportunity classes and selective schools
Opportunity classes and selective schools are designed for students showing high academic potential, offering an educational environment that caters to their advanced learning needs. Opportunity classes are available for year 5 and year 6 primary students within mainstream state-based schools, while selective high schools cater to students from years 7 to 12.
These settings provide a more advanced curriculum at a faster pace and with greater depth, aimed at academically challenging students who are working above their age level. This approach benefits academic achievement and supports students’ emotional wellbeing by allowing them to learn among peers with similar abilities. However, the competitive atmosphere and rigorous academic expectations might not suit every autistic student’s social and emotional needs, potentially leading to stress.
Private schools
Private or independent schools operate outside government administration and have more freedom in tailoring their curriculum beyond the core subjects of maths, English and science. This flexibility can help staff adapt learning activities to an autistic child’s strengths and interests. However, the cost of attending a private school can be significant, with fees sometimes reaching into the tens of thousands, excluding the cost of uniforms and school supplies. While enrolment zones are generally not a requirement for private schools, some schools implement them to manage student numbers.
Religious/faith-based schools
Like private schools, religious schools are independent of government administration and are usually affiliated with a church or religious community. These schools incorporate religious education into their curriculum and usually charge school fees alongside government funding. For families that value both religious and academic education, these schools can provide a blend of both.
Special needs schools
Special needs schools (also referred to as ‘special schools’) cater specifically to students with disabilities such as autism. They can be publicly or privately funded and aim to provide a supportive and accommodating learning environment tailored to a student’s abilities, support needs and developmental goals. Admission to these schools requires a diagnosed disability.
Special schools are equipped with specialised staff and resources to meet individual learning needs, which can create a safer and more understanding learning environment for students with disability. However, there are far fewer special schools than mainstream schools, meaning students and families may have to travel great distances to attend.
Homeschooling
Homeschooling is an alternative education option for families, which can sometimes be more suitable in the short or long term than traditional schooling.
Parents/carers who intend to homeschool their child must register with their state or territory education department. This department will then assess a family’s homeschool eligibility to ensure that parents/carers can educate their child or children. This assessment process will usually consider the support needs of the child being homeschooled.
Once the relevant department determines a student is eligible for homeschooling, it will provide information and resources that families can use to create a curriculum for their child or children to begin learning at home. Parents/carers are effectively their child’s only teacher, responsible for designing and delivering their child’s curriculum, but some regions offer support and resources to assist parents in this process.
Homeschooling allows for a highly personalised learning experience tailored to a child’s interests and pace of learning. While homeschooling offers a lot of flexibility, it also requires a significant time and resource commitment from parents.
Distance education
Distance education is another alternative option where the standard school curriculum is delivered online, allowing students to log in and complete their schoolwork at a time and pace that suits them. Distance education is staffed by year co-ordinators and teachers who are available by phone and online to help your child work through the materials. However, parents/carers are still the primary supervisors of their child’s work and progress. Distance education often suits children who may find traditional school settings challenging due to social, sensory or communication difficulties.
Online schooling
Online schooling provides students with a structured education delivered entirely online by qualified teachers from registered schools. Unlike homeschooling or distance education, online schooling involves a set curriculum and live, teacher-led lessons that follow a regular school schedule. Students are formally enrolled in an online school, and attendance and participation requirements are monitored. This option is ideal for families seeking a formal education experience at home, with the added flexibility of accessing classes and learning resources online. Online schooling often includes interactive lessons, group discussions, and assignments submitted digitally, making it a good fit for students who thrive with routine and teacher guidance.
Making the right choice
Finding the right school for a child with autism is a very personal decision that depends on the child’s needs, the family’s values and other practical considerations, too (e.g., the distance of the school from home).
To make this big decision, families should research and visit potential schools before committing to enrolling their children. Observe the school environment and community, considering whether your child and family might be a good fit. Most importantly, be prepared to ask questions about the school’s previous experience supporting autistic children and how staff would accommodate your child’s needs and learning style.
Remember, the goal is to find a supportive school environment where your child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By carefully considering the education options available, families can make an informed choice that will support their child’s learning and development, ideally for many years to come.
Do you have an autistic child experiencing problems in the education system? Share your story with us at education@news.com.au
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