The Real Reason for Building Autism Schools
May 2, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
County officials in Deptford Township, New Jersey, are heralding the opening of the new Bankbridge Development Center, which will be located on the campus of Gloucester County College and educate about 200 autistic students and students with other disabilities from preschool to the age of 21. It will cost $13 million to build the school.
And is the reason given for opening the new school to provide the best possible education for the students to reach their full potential?
Not exactly.
Writes Matthew Ralph in the Gloucester County Times,
County officials have estimated that the school will save county taxpayers about $1 million annually in tuition costs now incurred for educating the county’s autistic children in private schools.
Somehow I don’t think that “saving taxpayers money” is the best–is any–criterion for building any school.
No, the best reason is to build a community of excellence where students, teachers and administrators get the best out of each other.
Somehow I don’t think that takes $13 million US.
Great idea to have it on a Community College campus though. The students will get valuable experience in relating to children and adults with autism. And other disabilities of course.
In actuality, anyone who visited the BDC would be amazed at the thought that has gone into the design of the facility. It is almost as though Temple Grandin herself consulted. Any child on the autism spectrum would be lucky to attend there.
The fact that is was built on the campus to which elementary students will eventually transfer is pure genious, since this will obvious make for a much easier transition.
The fact that facilities to “adequately handle” the students, such as rooms where more disruptive students can be taken to help them calm down will prove priceless.
The fact that this wonderful facility cost only $13M to construct and get operating is nothing short of a miracle.
And the fact that it will also save money in the long run is a blessing to all taxpayers in the county, even those who are not familiar with autism nor concerned with the treatment of these often misunderstood students.
Let’s keep our eyes on the ball, shall we? Saving money is absolutely a reason to construct a school. In this case, it has allowed a wonderful improvement in the lives of those affect by this horrible spectrum of disorders.