Autistic programs/ Teachers Aids experiences good or bad?

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Hey everyone,

I have some news. My mother is now working as an aide in an autism room for kindergardeners. She has plenty of expereince being the mother of such an aspertastic person !

She came home today and seemed somewhat distressed by the program that was in place for the autistic kindergardeners. It was a half day thing, but she apparently thought that the teachers had the autistic kids focus on "independence" to the neglect of any kind of fun or playful interaction. Also tell me what you think of this: They were doing arts and crafts, and one of the kids cut his paper wrong, and he asked for a new paper. The teacher refused, sending him into a meltdown, and according to my mom, afterwards spoke harshly to him. I know that he should learn to sort of "deal with what he gets" but it hardly seems right to have him cry and scream over it. I know independence is important, but so few kindergardenrs are thinking about it anyway. And isn't interaction and play important as well?

I don't mean to speak ill of autistic "helpers" as a group at all. I owe much to them. But I have noticed more in the past, that some of them can sort of have a "nurse ratchet" approach to their charges. Not terribly abusive like the nurse in "One flew over the cuckoos nest" but just sort of negative, not really seeing the charges as people worthy of interest in their own individual way, but just as some problem, that they will try and help, sort of like just weird kids, who they have to deal with. And certainly not all are like that.

Idk, sometimes it seems that they just take the path of least resistance and use "independence" as a justification. I once was on an autistic "social outing" in the summer in middle school ( they actually have those) I didn't think it much fun. We went out to a mall. I remember asking an assistant I forget exactly, but something to the effect of, me doing something to keep others company, or ask to see where their going. And she said something about " its about independence". Idk..... It doesn't make much sense because it happened 8 or 9 years ago...

can anyone relate to what Im saying? Or have expereinces of their own?

Sorry this has segued back and forth so much

Any ideas?