Aussie MP slammed for comments about autistic kids
Australian One Nation leader Pauline Hanson defended her assertion that autistic children should be educated in "special" classrooms. What's your view?
Hanson told the Senate on Wednesday that disabled and autistic children should be taught in separate classrooms where they could be "given special attention" because Australia couldn't "afford to hold our kids back".
“We have to be realistic at times and consider the impact that is having on other children in that classroom," she said.
Autism Awareness Australia has slammed Senator Hanson’s comments as “appalling, archaic and cruel”.
“@PaulineHansonOz is a disgrace. Dangerous, hurtful and archaic thinking,” Chief executive Nicole Rogerson tweeted.
“This is one of the most disgusting things a member of Parliament could say.”
On Facebook, Hanson complained her comments had been “taken out of context”, and encouraged followers to read her speech in its entirety.
While many parents of autistic children and teachers have supported Hanson's comments, she has also received negative backlash. A Labour MP who has an autistic child has ripped into Hanson over her suggestion that children with autism spectrum disorder be removed from mainstream classrooms. Emma Husar has demanded Hanson apologise to "every single autistic child in this country".
In South Africa, many parents of autistic children struggle to afford the high fees of private special needs schools and those who do obtain a bursary have to travel vast distances to get their children to school and back.
Last year, Gauteng saw 18 new schools open for children with autism.
"This is so that these children that suffer from autism cannot be left alone," Lesufi told the National Council of Provinces as Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga tabled her budget vote.
The Autism Academy website states: 'Autistic children are more difficult to teach than learning disabled children due to Autistic children having problems with social skills. Autistic children are also sensitive children. Exposure to teasing and bullying in “normal” school can cause already stress prone children to have more meltdowns than normal.'
What's your view on the matter?