Drawbacks to Being in a Separate School

Drawbacks of having a separate school for children with autism

·         Social skills

·         Peer interaction

There are drawbacks to having children with autism in a separate school rather than in a public school.  The greatest drawback that many parents and teachers notice is the lack of peer interaction with typical peers.  Many of the students in these schools have social goals.  It makes it more difficult to reach social goals when the only other students they have to interact with are also children with autism.  It is beneficial for children with autism to be in the presence of their typical peers as well.  Typical peers are positive models and it can be helpful to have interaction from children their age.  Families that enroll their children in schools for children with autism often make a special effort to find opportunities for their children to interact with typical peers in extra curricular activities or with friends and family.