There is something seriously wrong with the assessment of children and adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorders here in Ireland. If it wasn’t enough that educational provision is slip-shod for the most part and downright non-existent in most secondary schools, we also put the in double jeopardy by relying on assessment instruments that are not fair to them. What do I mean by saying this

? Read on please.

People with autism universally have communication deficits to one degree or another. Even when expressive language is present and seemingly unremarkable there are considerable difficulties with understanding the nuance of language usage, delays in the time required to process spoken language and significant differences in how they understand idioms, humour, sarcasm and social discourse.

The common forms of assessment of intelligence feature the use of assessment tools that rely heavily on language understanding. The use of these tools, such as the Wechsler Scales, results in lower scores when assessing intelligence. These lower scores often make it seem as though the person functions in the range of Mild or Moderate General Learning Disability (scores below an IQ of 70). When these scores are recorded in a written report the people who read them treat them as if they were chipped in granite.

Yet at the same time anyone who has met the child in question or who lives with them knows there is far more intelligence locked inside than is being measured!

The unfortunate result of these inappropriate assessments is that the children then become ineligible for those classes created to cater to their education. The child is now seen as having an “intellectual disability” that is the primary problem and is said to belong to those services which cater for people with primary intellectual disability. (Let us remember that the proper and official terminology is General Learning Disability). Denied access to classes at secondary or primary school for children with autism they find themselves in a limbo of confusion and are often denied any educational service whatever while the situation is resolved, which, by the way, it usually isn’t.

When are we going to stop this nonsense? fWhy are we creating “special classes” for people with autism and denying up to 85% of the spectrum population entry to these classes” Does anyone care!