Is autism/AS a learning disability?
This was before I ever learned about AS but I went to talk to a counselor at the community college I was attending at the time. I asked the counselor what accomodations the school would make if I learned that I had a disability in using math. Which I have found out since then that I have Dyscalculia. She was stumped. She offered to provide a tutor to help me in math. I dropped out for good a couple weeks later.
But As by itself as a disability? That's a hard one. A great many Aspies go on to lead (seemingly) normal lives. Or the simply persist despite the hardships. I would think the disabilities that often accompany AS are the real basis for disability determination.
I'm extermely curious to see if AS itself will ever be a basis for disability.
AS is definitely considered a disability by the americans with disabilities act, the department of rehabilitation, special education in preschool, elementary and high schools, social security administration, and medi-cal. No question about it. I've been specializing in autism spectrum disorders since the 70's and we've come a long way. I realize that some Aspies don't want to consider themselves as "disabled" and if they're not, that's great. But what about those that do have issues and need support? Dyscalculia is a definite math learning disability. If you wanted to get special help or be able to take alternate classes that would substitute for your math credits, you could. You'd just have to prove to the school that you have it and have the person who assesses you recommend alternatives. Sometimes they allow you to take statistics and/or computer technology as a substitute for a proven math disability.
AS is not a learning disability. If it was, at least where I live we'd be getting the same or similar support LFA's get.
At worst, Aspergers is a learning delay - and the said delay (best case scenario) only affects social skills. I say that because if the learning environment is correctly constituted, there's no reason why an Aspie can't come through school with flying colours on a report card/sheet.
Worst case scenario - there is a more obvious learning delay. But this isn't directly the fault of being an Aspie. It's the fault of the system that didn't cope with the difference - either by over reacting (sending the child to a special school) or by not reacting at all (leaving the child in a mainstream school without support of any sort).
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