What is Mainstreaming?
Mainstreaming may sound unfamiliar to a lot of parents, but it is no head-scratcher to most educators. Mainstreaming refers to the act of integrating autistic students into classrooms mainly occupied by neurotypical individuals.
Mainstreaming has a longer history than many would imagine. It is true that mainstreaming only started gaining traction in the U.S. following the establishment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. However, the notion of mainstreaming itself had seen some educational recognition even before then.
Rationale for Mainstreaming
“The right to education is a basic human right” — that is a notion that we all respect and understand. However, in a civilized and modernized world, that, by itself, is far from enough. This is where mainstreaming comes in.
Mainstreaming is adopted in schools because:
- Mainstreaming gives autistic students access to the same education opportunities as their neurotypical counterparts.
- Mainstreaming encourages closer interactions between autistic students and neurotypical students. Both parties can effectively expand their social circles.
- Mainstreaming provides a platform for autistic students to observe the behavioral patterns of their neurotypical peers. This allows ASD individuals to better integrate in a neurotypical-dominant society.
- Mainstreaming connects neurotypical students and neuroatypical students through shared experiences. This allows neurotypical individuals to better develop social qualities like compassion and empathy.
- Mainstreaming provides autistic students with the “least restrictive environment” for learning, as explained by federal guidelines in the U.S.
Benefits of Mainstreaming
Mainstreaming is not the complete abandonment of special education. In fact, schools that practice mainstreaming may attempt various teaching methods that are not commonly observed in neurotypical classrooms. With careful implementation, mainstreaming can offer a multitude of benefits for both neuroatypical students and neurotypical students.
Some of the benefits of mainstreaming include:
- Boost in Confidence
Autistic students often suffer from a lack of academic confidence due to their alternative learning style. This, in turn, demotivates them from putting their best foot forward in education. Mainstreaming could be an effective solution for this troubling issue.
A research conducted in 2018 affirmed that students with special learning needs find greater confidence when placed in a mainstreamed classroom. That being said, teachers and students must first create an inclusive environment before introducing ASD students into the classroom. Autistic students should find recognition in a mainstreamed classroom, not humiliation.
No one can excel in a subject that they have little confidence in. While there is no shame in embracing special education, mainstreaming could be a lifesaver for ASD students looking for reassurance.
- Better Societal Integration
No man is an island. Autistic students carelessly placed in self-contained classrooms are not just barred from education equity, but also from opportunities for socialization. Mainstreamed classrooms, on the other hand, tend to offer a more inclusive environment for students to practice their social skills.
Mainstreamed classrooms are dioramas of a functioning society. In real life, individuals, neuroatypical and neurotypical, interact with one another on a daily basis. Frequent communication with their neurotypical peers in a school setting would set autistic students up for communicative success in society.
The truth is, autistic children are not always averse to interactions. Some individuals with ASD are perfectly expressive when given the chance and time to navigate their own preference for communication. Mainstreaming might just be the catalyst that they need.
- Destigmatization of ASD
The benefits of mainstreaming often go beyond the classroom. Despite the recent surge in autism awareness, individuals with ASD still find themselves held down by stereotypes. Mainstreaming is effective in dismantling these stigmas by promoting interaction between neurotypical students and neuroatypical students.
A literature review in 2016 studied the efficacy of mainstreaming and determined that mainstreaming propels destigmatization on a societal level. In a mainstreamed classroom, neurotypical students work with their neuroatypical peers to complete various assignments and projects. These authentic, genuine interactions work wonders in slashing the stereotypes around autism.
A lack of lived experience makes everyone, neuroatypical or neurotypical, an easy prey to harmful, inaccurate portrayals of autism. Mainstreamed classrooms serve to fill that gap and ensure that individuals with ASD can live a stigma-free life both inside and outside of school.
Challenges of Mainstreaming
As helpful as mainstreaming is for autistic children, its execution poses certain challenges. Usually, these barriers stem from a lack of autism awareness or resources. We hope that with growing ASD awareness, autistic children will soon be able to prevail against these hurdles.
Some of the challenges of mainstreaming include:
- Suboptimal Classroom Design
Most individuals with autism are prone to sensory overloads. That means loud noises can trigger responses like repetitive behaviors and speech.
Unfortunately, not all classrooms are built with the intention of blocking out noises from outside. Research shows that when placed in these suboptimal classroom environments, autistic students are more likely to engage in repetitive behaviors.
Schools with insufficient resources may have to place students with ASD in such settings when attempting to mainstream.
- Difficulty in Assessment
Assessment is a vital part of any curriculum. However, many autistic children do not express themselves in the same way as neurotypical children do. Ideally, children with autism should be assessed both formally and informally. Educators must also use their own judgement in deciding how they can best gauge the actual aptitude of students with autism.
On top of that, there are merits to spontaneous assessments, be it formal or informal. Official assessments periodically conducted by special education specialists sometimes fall short in this regard.
Ultimately, autistic students, just like their neurotypical peers, need to be assessed regularly for their strengths and weaknesses. Assessments that are ill-suited for ASD students can prove to be significant impediments to growth.
- Unexpected Disturbances
Some autistic individuals find comfort and refuge in stability. According to the National Autistic Society, following a routine can aid those with autism in managing their emotions. While most educators are adept in classroom management, unexpected disturbances can take place.
Students, neurotypical or neuroatypical, can experience sudden bursts of energy. These spontaneous incidents often involve vigorous physical movements and loud noises, like jumping, clapping and hollering. This phenomenon is especially common in younger children, who have yet to learn how to contain their emotions.
Situations like these are not always foreseeable. And even if these disruptions are handled promptly, they can still trigger adverse responses in individuals with ASD. This culminates in hindered efficacy in learning for autistic children.
Is Mainstreaming Right for My Autistic Child?
Remember, every autistic child is a separate and unique individual. Two children, both with ASD, can vary greatly in performance when placed in the same inclusive classroom.
It is also important to understand that mainstreaming does not have to be done in an all-or-nothing manner. There are different models of mainstreaming that ASD students can try out. Moving an autistic student who finds an inclusive classroom too “aggressive” can sometimes be beneficial to their academic progress.
Also consider consulting SEN specialists and IEP/IPP teams to learn more about the implications of mainstreaming. These professionals are trained to provide comprehensive education for children with ASD.
Autism Resources
Do you want to be the hands that shelter autistic children? Do you want to be the voice that calls for inclusion? Knowledge is the precursor to change. One of the key missions of Autism Today is to provide the world with valuable autism resources.
This is why we created Exceptional Resources.
Life is hectic, but the world of autism is vast. Parents and educators of ASD individuals should not have to visit a hundred different sites to get what they need. On Exceptional Resources, you will find everything you need to take care of those with autism.
Check out Exceptional Resources today and help yourself to autism resources of premium quality.
