Autism

[Bullitt]

I did a little "field experience" (teacher shadowing) last semester through my school's education department and where I went was an alternative school for kids with severe ADD/ADHD, publicly funded. I was told there that some of the kids "have a form of autism" that has very similar symptoms to kids with bad ADHD. I'm wondering if the schools could be using kids who have been diagnosed as "potentially having" that form of autism to boost their numbers in hopes of getting more funding?

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by warch

Could be its just diagnosed more, but perhaps its something else, or a combo. I've heard of speculated connections (rather convincing) to the preservatives used in some older childhood vaccinations. I think we talked about it here a while back...I'll look for the link. It could be the reporter is just lumping some other developmental delays into a quick label of "autism", small town paper and all. ?

I think the schools do use the 'Autism' label for all developmental delays.

Originally Posted by Bullitt

I'm wondering if the schools could be using kids who have been diagnosed as "potentially having" that form of autism to boost their numbers in hopes of getting more funding?

I've wondered that myself. I have wondered if it just isn't this fast paced world we live in. Some kids need extra time and quiet spaces. Maybe these kids where always there but in times past they were either ignored or faded into the background?