The following is reposted, in its entirety, from OCPearl’s blog.  If you have a comment, or just like what you read, make sure to tell them.

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Did you know …

  • Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys
  • Autism prevalence figures are growing
  • More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
  • Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
  • Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade
  • Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
  • Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
  • There is no medical detection or cure for autism

(from Autism Speaks)

“In the United States, a child is diagnosed with autism every 21 minutes–a rate that is growing faster than that of any other developmental disorder…” ecshool news

To date, Orange County Schools have not addressed the challenges that these statistics will pose for schools, teachers, students, and families in our community. Rather, they have buried their heads in the sand, choosing to adopt a philosophy much like this one: If we make special provisions for one or more autistic children, then we will have a whole wave of people moving here and bringing all of their special needs children to this county. Let’s go to court with taxpayer money, hoping that most families will not be able to afford using their own money to fight us.  Let’s ignore the challenges facing us.

The OMM v. Orange County Board of Education case has challenged the lack of forward thinking and educational policy that this county refuses to adopt to deal with the daily challenges of providing quality education for all of its students.  So far, the court’s voice has been loud and clear, and still the county has buried its head in the sand, looking to bad legal advice which fills the coffers of lawyers rather than devoting taxpayer monies to developing sound educational philosophy that would solve the OMM case and actually make us a leader, forward-thinking, in developing an equal and quality education for every student.

Those who are reluctant to change the face of present policy, budget expenditures, and the “normal” classroom — wake up.  The future is here . . . and holding on to that traditional way of doing business in education is much like holding on to the sexist, racist stereotypes of the “good old days.”   We know there are those who live in that comfort zone, but the rest of us need to face the future with acceptance and education.

We challenge each of you to understand autism and the challenges that these students and families face in the traditional education system.

Are we going to be pulled screaming and kicking into the 21st century, ignoring the facts and fighting the future that faces us?  and paying lawyers?

Are we going to elect a school board that continues to hope the autistic children in our county “go away” or “stay invisible” ?

Or are we going to elect a school board that is DEVOTED to  providing an equal and quality education for all students, including this growing population?

We need a school board that sees and understands the future, not one that continues to look backward, continuing to move our schools and students backwards — because that is what has happened since the last election.

Know a family that deals with autism? Know a teacher who struggles with knowing how to provide a quality educational day in the life of an autistic child? Know a friend who has a friend who knows a family or a teacher, or a child?  Yes, you do.

Today, on World Autism Awareness Day, let’s focus on our community — our neighbors and our schools — and begin the task of moving away from “special education” and focus on an equal and quality education for our very diverse population.

Could we actually be an impetus for change?  Could we quit fighting a family who has struggled to bring awareness to the problem and work together?  It would be nice.

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