Educating a child with autism presents the challenge of a lifetime.
After learning that your kid has the diagnosis, you are then informed that he will need a minimum of 25 hours per week of one-on-one, at least initially, with someone experienced in the field, for several years. You are then presented with a choice of therapies, some diametrically opposed, but the basics being speech therapy, applied behavior analysis, occupational therapy (for motor challenges), and play-communication therapy. So you have to research and decide what type of teaching, where, who, how...how much?

The main problem you run into is always the "one-on-one" part.
No matter that you have your neurodevelopmental pediatrician's letter recommending one-on-one, no matter that the majority of the research recommends it for early intervention for autism. Neither public nor private schools are willing to provide that kind of intensity, and I'll bet you know why.

From them, you will hear the EXACT same spiel, from each and every county official and their minions (some of whom are teachers and therapists who defend their choice not to provide your child with the one-on-one he so desperately needs knowing their bosses will defend them in order not to have to be bothered with actually supervising them). Thank God this is not the case for us this year...we had a teacher last year who was not afraid to write on Tommy's IEP, "Able to provide knowledge in one-on-one situations...HINT HINT!!" She knew it had become an inappropriate placement, but if a teacher says so out loud, they get their head chopped off, you know.

Anyway, here is the SPIEL:
" Life is not one-on-one...they have to learn how to respond in a group setting...ABA will not lead to generalization....they need to be exposed to the language of peers...natural environment in a class is the best option."
ACTUAL MEANING:
"We don't want to spend the $$ it will take to bring knowledge and language to your child...we can help you, but not THAT much...my God, what do you expect, lady?" Especially if you principal is Sara White at Ison Springs Elementary.  You will have to call her superiors, present documentation that shows how much your kid needs daily exercise in order not to harm himself, and extra grace as she attempts to bully you out of getting the exercise your kid needs, the qualifications his teachers need (WHAT, a teacher with a specialization who isn't going to affect MY job?  i.e. if your kid can't take the CRCT, he does NOT exist for a selfish as hell principal)

To these officials and their minions I offer this:My son did not choose to be born with the ATTENTION SPAN OF A GNAT AND NO MOTIVATION TO BE LIKE OTHERS....Look with your EYES into a special education class and you will UNDERSTAND IMMEDIATELY (oh sorry, is this too many CAPS?) why he needs this. The cute little girl with Down's is hanging on the teacher's every word and mimicking her...the boy with cerebral palsy is learning his numbers...the retarded boy is laughing with his classmates..now look over at the boy with autism. He is in the corner, rocking slightly, staring at his favorite spot on the wall. He is NOT listening to the teacher, he NOT imitating the other kids...he's just there. It's like he's UNDERGROUND.  But until your boss makes my kids progress just as important as the CRCT test, I guess he's screwed.We did not ask for this disability. Cannot help the fact that we are in a total bubble, especially the early years...We cannot HELP that you have to be 8 INCHES FROM OUR FACE FOR US TO RESPOND....but WE NEED SO MUCH HELP....
We need you to make us respond, because if you give us a choice, we might choose not to. And without intervention, that choice might become permanent.  I simply don't give a damn about your promotion.  In fact, your selfishness and self-promotion is making the world a harder and more difficult place for TRULY special needs kids.  I hope your "raises and promotions" based on the CRCT scores of kids that DON'T HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS make you proud of yourself and your higher salary.  It has certainly not raised our opinion of you.  In fact, why, Ms. White are you not on Wall Street where you belong?

Little by little, with the right help, we will wake up and join you! We will answer you (you have to push!)...we will share our attention with you. Don't let us drift away, go underground. Make us come out into the light and communicate with you. Get the most skilled people you can to help us...because we can do it! After this initial one-on-one, then maybe your dreams for us, to learn in a group, to imitate our peers, to respond to your questions, to really really see you.
Those dreams will come true. Believe, work hard, and don't give up on us....please.