The number of children with autism spiked by almost 10 percent in District 75, the city’s program for children with the most serious special education needs, according to Department of Education data obtained by WNYC/Schoolbook.
As of December, 2012, there were 7,374 children diagnosed with autism in District 75 compared to 6,712 in December 2011.
“Mirroring national trends, the number of students with autism in New York City’s public schools –- including District 75 -– has increased,” said DOE spokesman Marcus Liem. “We have a variety of programs and services available in our District 75 and community schools to ensure that the needs of students at all levels of the autism spectrum are met so they can achieve their fullest potential.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 out of 50 school-age children age had autism last year, almost double the percentage from five years earlier.
Joseph Williams, the father of a boy with autism and president of the Citywide Council for District 75 parents, said he had seen a big change in autism awareness. “Doctors are more aware of what to look for,” he said.
Advocates of children with special needs have also wondered if the city is deterring more children with special needs, including autism, from seeking placements in publicly funded private schools through more aggressive legal strategies. But officials denied that, and said the city has been providing more services in District 75 as well as professional development and its other schools.
Not all students with autism spectrum disorder are in District 75 programs, which typically have very small classes and highly specialized staffers. Some higher functioning students attend their local schools with support such as a classroom aide. There are also local schools that have special programs for children with autism, enabling them to mix with their general education peers.
The Department of Education is in the midst of reforming its special education services so that more students can be served in their local schools. Officials say it’s still too soon to know what effect the shift towards inclusion is having on the District 75 population. According to the city, there were 20,657 students in District 75 in December, 2012, compared to 20,381 in December, 2011.
Fewer Emotionally Disturbed Students in District 75
Other data for District 75 shows a nearly 13 percent decrease in children classified as emotionally disturbed.
Officials said there could be numerous explanations, including the ability of the school system to serve more of them inside regular classes. Department of Education officials say more professional development has been provided to staffers in community schools as part of the special education reform.
But there have been suggestions that there is also pressure on administrators to refer fewer children to District 75, partly because of its higher costs. Some educators and children’s advocates said they're concerned that students with emotional disturbances, in particular, are increasingly showing up in local schools, where teachers may not be able to meet their needs.
“The floodgates to District 75 are starting to close,” said one District 75 principal who declined to be identified.
Department of Education officials, however, said it’s too soon to draw any conclusions during the first year of widespread special education reform which affects mostly children entering kindergarten or middle school.
They also said they did not expect this first year of reforms to have much impact at all on District 75, because many of its students have severe disabilities that would make it difficult for them to attend mainstream classes.
“Mirroring national trends, the number of students with autism in New York City’s public schools –- including District 75 -– has increased,” said DOE spokesman Marcus Liem. “We have a variety of programs and services available in our District 75 and community schools to ensure that the needs of students at all levels of the autism spectrum are met so they can achieve their fullest potential.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 out of 50 school-age children age had autism last year, almost double the percentage from five years earlier.
Joseph Williams, the father of a boy with autism and president of the Citywide Council for District 75 parents, said he had seen a big change in autism awareness. “Doctors are more aware of what to look for,” he said.
Advocates of children with special needs have also wondered if the city is deterring more children with special needs, including autism, from seeking placements in publicly funded private schools through more aggressive legal strategies. But officials denied that, and said the city has been providing more services in District 75 as well as professional development and its other schools.
Not all students with autism spectrum disorder are in District 75 programs, which typically have very small classes and highly specialized staffers. Some higher functioning students attend their local schools with support such as a classroom aide. There are also local schools that have special programs for children with autism, enabling them to mix with their general education peers.
The Department of Education is in the midst of reforming its special education services so that more students can be served in their local schools. Officials say it’s still too soon to know what effect the shift towards inclusion is having on the District 75 population. According to the city, there were 20,657 students in District 75 in December, 2012, compared to 20,381 in December, 2011.
Fewer Emotionally Disturbed Students in District 75
Other data for District 75 shows a nearly 13 percent decrease in children classified as emotionally disturbed.
Officials said there could be numerous explanations, including the ability of the school system to serve more of them inside regular classes. Department of Education officials say more professional development has been provided to staffers in community schools as part of the special education reform.
But there have been suggestions that there is also pressure on administrators to refer fewer children to District 75, partly because of its higher costs. Some educators and children’s advocates said they're concerned that students with emotional disturbances, in particular, are increasingly showing up in local schools, where teachers may not be able to meet their needs.
“The floodgates to District 75 are starting to close,” said one District 75 principal who declined to be identified.
Department of Education officials, however, said it’s too soon to draw any conclusions during the first year of widespread special education reform which affects mostly children entering kindergarten or middle school.
They also said they did not expect this first year of reforms to have much impact at all on District 75, because many of its students have severe disabilities that would make it difficult for them to attend mainstream classes.
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