Dive Brief:
- The New York City Department of Education launched its ASD Nest program in 2003 in collaboration with the New York University Nest Support Project to improve academic outcomes among students with autism spectrum disorders.
- WNYC reports even students who were strong academically were significantly less likely to graduate from high school, go to college and find success in the workforce.
- ASD Nest has helped improve these numbers in New York City with a co-teaching model where two teachers serve students with mixed abilities in general education classrooms and provide intensive behavioral support along with help on social skills.
Dive Insight:
With the right supports, students with autism spectrum disorders can be very successful in school, work and life. The need for schools to figure out how to provide these supports is increasingly important as the share of students with autism grows. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called autism the fastest-growing developmental disability in 2008. In 2014, the CDC put the prevalence of autism in the U.S. at one in 68 births, with boys being even more likely to be on the spectrum.
Like all services for students with disabilities, placing students in the least restrictive environment is the law. When students can function in general education classrooms, that’s where they should be. Ignoring this statute can come with severe consequences. The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the State of Georgia for its state-run program for students with disabilities. The program allegedly segregates students into separate classrooms and schools unnecessarily.