What is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects how individuals perceive the world around them and communicate with others. This disability is a spectrum, and each autistic person is unique. Some require constant 24-hour care and assistance, while others are able to live entirely independently. In children, this condition can be diagnosed before the age of one. Signs of autism become more prevalent around the time a child reaches two to three years of age. Pediatricians detect autism by evaluating the child, observing him or her in a controlled environment and asking the parents questions. Some possible signs and treatments for autism in young children are listed below.
Signs
- llInability to maintain eye contact
- llInflexible behavior, low tolerance of changes in routine
- llRepeating certain words, phrases, or vocalizations
- llRepetitive movements such as fidgeting with objects, hand movements, or body rocking
- llIrritability, such as temper tantrums, lashing out, and physical aggression
- llDelayed language, movement, or learning skills
- llProblems with understanding others' emotions
Treatments
- llSpeech and Language Therapy: Helps autistic children comprehend both verbal and nonverbal communication through individual intervention
- llSocial Skills Training: SST can be done in either individual or group settings. The goal is to teach basic practices such as making eye contact and recognizing others' emotions
- llOccupational Therapy: An occupational therapist works with autistic children to develop important motor skills in daily tasks such as handwriting
- llMedication: Some medications such as risperidone and aripiprazole are used to treat autism-related irritability in children
How does this cause autistic children to be disproportionately mistreated?
Rigid Adherence to Rules
Most autistic children have trouble with breaking rules and routines. Children are taught to avoid talking back to adults, follow instructions, and accept consequences. Those with autism however, lack the ability to realize those rules do not apply in every situation. So, when a child on the autistic spectrum is physically harmed or taken advantage of by an adult, they might not see this as abuse.
Incapable of Stopping Abuse
In addition to their young age, children with autism often do not understand when or how to say "no". Again, most are not able to differentiate between discipline or physical abuse, a friendly hug or sexual assault. They have not been taught the distinction and therefore do nothing to stop it.
Problems with Behavior
Autistic children are also more likely to be abused because their behavior can be negatively perceived by others. They are unable to regulate their behavior or recognize emotional cues when someone is angry. This may result in physical or sexual abuse, whether at home, school, or in public.
Difficulty Articulating Emotions
Finally, when this abuse takes place, autistic children often are not able to effectively communicate what happened to them. Many children with autism are either nonverbal or lack the ability to understand and articulate their emotions. This prevents them from both stopping the abuse and getting help.
Autistic children are vulnerable to two main types of abuse:
Physical Abuse: This type of abuse can be accidental or on purpose. It may be a result of an inexperienced caregiver trying to calm the child down or a frustrated guardian or peer who lashes out against the child. This abuse can come from:
- llParents or guardians who may be frustrated or have violent tendencies
- llTeachers at school who may be frustrated or inexperienced in caring for autistic children
- llPeers with or without autism who may physically harm their classmates in anger
- llStrangers
Sexual Abuse: Predators target children who cannot call for help or report what happened to them. For this reason, autistic children are much more likely to be sexually abused than other non-autistic youth. This abuse can come from:
- llParents or guardians
- llTeachers at school
- llPeers with autism who may not understand boundaries
- llStrangers
Mistreatment at School
Elementary School
Police received multiple reports of physical abuse at the hands of a teacher at Almeda Elementary on November 18, 2022. One of the special education teachers at the school allegedly stepped on and pinched several autistic and special needs children when they acted out. For a while, this abuse went unchecked because the children were either nonverbal or struggled to communicate what happened. The teacher was eventually fired from her position after a colleague saw her with her foot on a child.
High School
In August of 2022, a parent of a 14-year-old autistic child reported an event of sexual assault to Rock Island High School staff. She told the staff that her child was left alone with a group of students, and, without a teacher, she was sexually abused. The parent requested the school to report the incident to the police, but they did nothing until she contacted the police herself. The parent is now suing the school for not protecting her child, and it is unknown whether the abusers have been punished.
Special Needs Facility
The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, known as a treatment facility for special needs children in Canton, Massachusetts is known for physically abusing its students. Half of the residents, many of them children with autism, receive electric shocks as punishment. This is presented as a last-ditch effort for parents with out-of-control, special needs children. Despite these unorthodox methods, the school is still open today. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has yet to step in and end this practice.
Mistreatment at Home
Physical Abuse
After her parents kicked her out of the house, an autistic girl was found eight hours later by Fulton, Missouri officials. She told them she got into an argument with her parents and her frustrated father dragged her out of the house by her braids. Police investigators found her torn-out braids on the floor of her home and later arrested the parents for child abuse and neglect.
Sexual Abuse
On November 12, 2010 in Moline, Illinois, the parents of an autistic child found a man in the bedroom of their four- and six-year-old children. When he saw the parents, he fled out through the window. After the man was caught, he confessed that he targeted the child after he saw him board the bus one day because he realized he was autistic. Despite being a sex offender, he was sentenced to a mere 30 months in prison and released under supervision in 2015.
Neglect
In Sanford, Florida, the father of an autistic boy reported him missing to law enforcement after the child's mother heard an outside door open and close. The boy was later found in the pond outside the house and pronounced dead. According to officials, the parents seemed to be high on marijuana. They were later convicted of child neglect and manslaughter for leaving their child with autism alone and unsupervised.
How does this affect children with autism?
Experiencing trauma due to abuse negatively affects children with autism more than those without the disorder. Children may have increased anxiety and sensitivity, heightened insomnia, and even develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing significant traumatic events such as these. In fact, their autism-related symptoms may worsen and living with their disability may become more challenging. The effects of this last a lifetime. Autistic children need people to advocate for them when they can't advocate for themselves.
Take action now!
You can make a difference in the lives of autistic children. Visit the page titled "Advocacy" to find out how you can contribute your time or money to this important cause.
