This week I received a very interesting question about forcing an autistic child to participate in art class. I'd love to hear your take on it.

Mary


Q:
I'm new to this. I was shadowing a 11 yr severely autistic
student for the second time, the teacher was using fruit in
art class. The student didn't want to participate. He kept
shaking his head no, and turning around. I didn't see the
point of forcing him to partake in the lesson. I said, why
force, this is for fun. The teacher said, "He never wants
to do anything." She then proceeded to force him. He was so
sad, shaking his head, saying no. I shadowed him before, and
he cooperated with me.
My take on it is, why couldn't he just sit there. I now
students have to learn daily routines, and it's great for
them to participate, but sometimes it's just more important,
to let the child be happy. Am I wrong?

A:
 One of the women I most respect with regard to education of students on the Autism spectrum is Paula Kluth. She maintains that autistic behavior is human behavior. The issues that bother a child with Autism, bother many of us to a lesser extent. The difference is... we have the social skills to make light of our OCD or our interest in collecting spoons or whatever.

 Here's how I see the situation you observed. The Autistic student may have had an issue with fruit in general. The color yellow may grate on his eyes the same way fingernails on a chalk board can grate on our ears. Just looking at the texture of the skin of a pear may gross him out in the same way that watching someone throw up may cause a neurotypical. Apples may remind him that he has to take medicine in a spoonful of applesauce every morning or maybe kids throw fallen apples at him on his way to school.

 What's my point?

 If the Autistic student is balking at the choice of objects for a still life, what's the harm in setting up a separate still life?

 Perhaps the class is working with charcoal... something I don't like to have on my hands... and he is reluctant to get his hands dirty... isn't the concept to learn to love art and to create something out of nothing? Give the kid a pencil or a pen to do the drawing.

 Or you know what? This student may need to use the restroom very badly. He can't "go" in between classes because other kids make fun of him in there. It sounds like he's included in the classroom, so he doesn't have an aide to help him.

 The bottom line is this... we absolutely need to treat Autistic behavior as human behavior. Whatever was troubling this young man was real. His needs are real, and no matter how we wish he were like the other kids in the class (trust me... his mother wishes this more than anyone else), he was born differently.

 Let's treat him with respect.