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From the desk of Arvind Kumar
They won't talk or eat with autistic kids.
Autistic Kids learn bad behavior from them, and they don't know how to control themselves and may use it in wrong time.
While inclusive schools are often praised for enhancing a child's social environment, we must address a challenge: behavioral mimicry.
As someone on the spectrum, I observed a recurring issue. A child with mild autism may have excellent academic potential but struggle with emotional regulation. In a mainstream setting, they often pick up habits through observation. However, there is a difference in how these habits are processed. Neurotypical children are often socially flexible; they can distinguish between naughty behavior and appropriate conduct, knowing when and where to stop.
Neurodivergent children may lack this social filter. They might copy a peer's aggressive gesture or bad habit without understanding the context or the social consequences. This leads to situations where a child might spit or use inappropriate gestures at home, simply because they saw it at school and lacked the social channeling to realize it was wrong.
If a traditional special school isn't your preference, consider a structured individualized program. My recommendations include:
Arvind lives with his mother, Radha in Chennai and guides children to recalibrate at Gurukul, an Autism Support centre