Would you have your autism spectrum kid go on a high school trip overseas?

[Data10]

@sbinaz

1 of the kids attending, from my layman’s eyes at least, is clearly on spectrum. He had a lot of questions surrounding whether they’d get any alone time on the trip (pretty much the answer is no, unless you’re in bed in the evening, and students are expected to engage w/each other and w/others they’re with, not have your nose in your phone or on a tablet the entire time). This particular student was in ODD’s chemistry class last year…she commented to me on the way home yesterday evening that last year in class, he would pace and walk laps around the classroom, one time even climbing over her while she was in her chair because the classroom was a bit cramped this one day and he couldn’t get by.

You might want to review the DSM criteria for ASD at https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/Screening%20Tools/DSM-5(ASD.Guidelines)Feb2013.pdf . ASD defining criteria doesn’t have much resemblance to the behaviors you describe.

In any case, there is a wide variation of persons within the ASD grouping, particularly now that it has been merged with Asperger’s. Some persons in this grouping are high functioning and can function as well as the typical non-ASD student on an overseas trip. Others are low enough functioning that it would not be appropriate to be in a standard HS classroom. There is not a simple answer to the title question. It depends on the particular ASD kid and details of the trip.