Both sides of the argument are just as ignorant. The range and symptoms of autism are as varied as any disability. There are many mid to high functioning sufferers that can participate and benefit from mainstream schooling, just as there are many that cannot.

Autism sufferers require many hours of specialist attention to enable them to function in a normal environment, and they need exposure to a normal environment to function in society. Some high functioning sufferers benefit from mainstreaming, but less able students suffer from insufficient specialist attention.

The other issue is the rights of the other 25 students to study without constant disruption and the insistence of parents of lower-functioning kids with impulse control problems is neither fair to their kids or the rest of the class.

The issue here has little to do with autism. Its more about the pathetic regressive left media again trying to demonise, misrepresent and spew hatred on Hanson. Knowing they have rotton egg all over their face with Trump they have a day off to find their next most hated target. Must be Tony's day today. Oh no I was wrong its Margaret Court!

It was selective understanding on what Pauline said.
When she used the words "these people" the politicians had the
opportunity to take two meanings; either the children or the activists.
They chose the children. Why ? Because it gave them a political hammer.
In fact if you take it in context you would realise that she could
only have meant the activists.
When I heard it I understood what was meant.
Pauline will I hope learn the lesson from this, assume the politicians
that oppose her are stupid as indeed they are and spell it out in great detail.

<<Both sides of the argument are just as ignorant.>>

I 100% agree. As a person with five medical conditions, all which have affected me a lot (including with education), I have found a lot of people (including parents, relatives and others) have no idea what they are talking about. There main concern is an emotional connection which is understandable, but it is not informed. I know this myself!

In a lot of cases, these people are not directly impacted by the health condition (that being they simply do not have it) or they do not have any formal qualifications to fully understand the impacts or issues on the health condition on the individual.

<<Autism sufferers require many hours of specialist attention to enable them to function in a normal environment, and they need exposure to a normal environment to function in society. Some high functioning sufferers benefit from mainstreaming, but less able students suffer from insufficient specialist attention.>>

I agree with most of that, except for what would be considered a normal environment. This can vary of course. I had to go through over five years of medication trials, spend a lot of time in hospital during that period and face many ambulance calls from others, just so I could be where I am today, being able to live independently.

<<The other issue is the rights of the other 25 students to study without constant disruption and the insistence of parents of lower-functioning kids with impulse control problems is neither fair to their kids or the rest of the class.>>

Yes I 100% agree with that element. That is where some 'stepping back' is needed and the emotion is taken out of the issue. The only sad thing is I wish Pauline Hanson was able to put out verbal comments a lot more specifically and clearly as per Shadow Minister has - and there might be able to be some positive progression on this matter.

I would doubt that though, with anything said involving Pauline Hanson for a whole range of reasons.

I wonder how many people are diagnosed as being autistic, when a not too interested doctor has no idea, so labels the kid autistic.

I am somewhat dyslectic. It took the development of a number of techniques to overcome this, but it did not stop me gaining math & physics honours, BSc, or becoming a fighter pilot, with the high level of physics & aerodynamics required in military pilot training.

This was not diagnosed in the 50s but probably would be today. With a lot of this stuff medicos are jumping to labels far too quickly. Many with a minor problem belong in mainstream, & will grow out of the problem, but the truly disruptive do not.

Autism can be a problem in mainstream classes. That's why teachers need support during class time by people qualified to assist them.

Dealing with autism has been thrown into the teacher's lot alongside other things they must deal with in the name of "inclusivity", but there is very little support to go in with it, just training. All the training in the world does not alter an impossible situation.

Pauline's her own worst enemy. She should have come out talking about proper teacher support rather than segregation, which can be done ad hoc on any given day if the right people are incorporated into schools where needed.

Di Natale, SHY and the idealistic holier than thou crew have feasted on Pauline fulsomely. They're very good at it, but the problem remains.