Wesley, those words are taken out of context, because you haven't included the reasons why I said that. I don't want an argument with you. I said what I said above because I really do think it's is severely damaging and so often terrifying for many autistic children to have to endure mainstream schools, for the reasons I stated above.
I would LOVE to feel that children without autism understood children with it, but so often I'm afraid they don't. They haven't a clue. So, they are mean, cruel and bullying towards them. Hell, how can the children understand when the adults don't! And so often even teachers and carers haven't a clue!

I know.

It's why Ben ended up on the outside of his windowsill, age 10, wanting to end his life because he couldn't take the bullying any longer. I told Kimmy to take Ben out of school that same day. She did. He was at home with her for a while, but that was dangerous too, as he was still suffering the fallout of school and all the horrors he'd had to endure whilst there, so he was aggressive towards her. Sure, he lashed out, because he was bullied...and he lashed out bigtime at school, because his fear grew ever stronger, understandably. She did the rounds, went to every school in the area. None of them wanted to take him really. They all said they didn't have the staff or the funding or faclilities to cope...Meanwhile, she was left to cope entirely on her own, with a 10 year old child she was frightened of.

Then, her father-in-law stepped forward and said he'd pay for Ben to go to a private school, one that only took children with severe dyslexia and autism. One of the few in this country. So, Kimmy started her 2 hour round trip, twice a day, to get him there, knowing how lucky she was to be able to do this, as Ben's grandfather is a wealthy vet. No way could she have afforded to do it herself. Within weeks the change in Ben was huge.   The headmaster understood autism from the inside out...but he made no allowances for shitty behaviour and the children knew this, got to learn it fast. He expected loyalty and hard work from them, and gave it back ten fold, through his staff and his teaching regime. Yes, Ben still acted up now and then, but he got into trouble for it bigtime. He received far more praise than discipline though, and eventually the praising has won. Now, at 16, he is able to come and stay with my young lad, down here, on his own, as I mentioned above, and he was a joy to have around, where once he was a nightmare. He has had no bullying to endure because all the children are on the circle so they don't make fun of each other, or treat each other cruelly. They don't feel 'different', they just 'go to school'

In an ideal world it would be wonderful if mainstream school suited all, but it doesn't and it never will. Some parents need to recognise that wanting their children to go to 'ordinary' school is actually only the best for the parents themselves, not for the children, because they want to feel their children are *able* to go to ordinary school, thus making them like everyone else.

Maybe you missed this video earlier, but it shows what happens to so many autistic children in mainstream school. It was made by the National Autistic Society themselves, so it ain't just me making it up or not understanding the situation, and you can actually listen to some young autistic people themselves telling their own experiences...Heartbreaking and anger making.


'Think Differently'

Given a choice, I bet they'd have wanted a very different young life.
Hardly surprising they're often kicking and lashing out all over the place, or curled up in silent misery, when they are being constantly made to endure even more fear and pain, by people who haven't really got a clue what is happening to them or how it is making them feel, how they even feel in the first place.

There are not enough schools in this country, or the US either I'd imagine, such as the one Ben goes to. They should be state funded, free and available to all autistic children and their parents.

I do not understand why, when this is now something that affects SO many families that both the US and UK Governments are pretending it's not happening. They should be falling over themselves to build schools, train people, get the message into mainstream schools, teach ALL children and ALL adults as much as they can, as fast as they can.
They should also be doing mega amounts of research into the cause of autism and the reasons why it is so hugely on the increase.

And every parent of every autistic child should be given absolute support in every way possible, both emotional and financial, because the cost to the country, and the families, of broken marriages is far, far higher than they would have to pay out to help people in the first place.