No, they don't grow out of autism and aspergers but it's a spectrum, with some people suffering more severely than others. As they get older, I think a lot of aspergers children learn some coping strategies.
I was interested in this comment from the article:
Until our employers, educational institutions, governments and communities fully understand this, we will continue to fail to provide them with appropriate educational and employment opportunities.
When it comes to educational opportunities, I agree children need their best chance. I think the government is trying to go some way to supply this. There are some schools that are for Austistic children. But most seem to be in mainstream schools with aides some of the time.
I remember listening to a psychologist who came out to our school who said that many of these children struggle with full time education and things such as handwriting and would be better going home at lunch time (talking young primary here) and using a laptop most of the time. I found children with aspergers worked well in class as long as things were ordered, fairly quiet and followed a routine. Changing the routine just stressed them out.
I am not sure the current trends in education are going to help such children.
For instance, the newest 'great idea' is that children no longer have their own chair/spot at a table. In fact, a classroom won't have enough chairs and tables for everyone as the teacher is 'supposed to' have a teaching group always with her on the floor. Why the bureaucrats can't see that a teacher could have a small teaching group working with her-at a table-is beyond me. Far more appropriate in the higher primary grades, in my opinion.
And what about lunch time/art time etc. I think it is nice for a child to have access to a table and chair, it shouldn't be a bun fight.
I used to find my aspergers children liked their own identified space.That's becoming rarer and rarer in all the new school designs.
Moving on to employment opportunities. Employers will only employ people for jobs they need doing. I can't see that changing.
There are already a lot of hidden barriers to employment. For instance, I think age is a big one. Maybe with the move towards more jobs that can be done at least partially at home, there will be more scope for people with various disabilities but realistically, it is always going to be a bit harder for them.
