Online Candlelight and Stones Vigil for 13-year-old Autistic Max Benson

Along with the K-12 Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity curriculum already taught (at least in Canadian public schools), cerebral diversity could also be taught. Through this the incidence of vicious bullying against, for example, students with an autism spectrum disorder might be reduced.

When all teachers are fully educated on ASD, there could be an inclusion in standard high school curriculum of a child development course, albeit not overly complicated, which in part would teach about the often-debilitating condition.

It would explain to students how, among other aspects of the condition, ASD people, including higher functioning autistics, are often deemed willfully ‘difficult’ and socially incongruent, when such behavior is really not a choice for them.

Furthermore, when around their neurotypical peers, people with ASD typically feel compelled to “camouflage” or “mask”, terms used to describe their attempts at appearing to naturally fit in when around their neurotypical peers, an effort known to cause their already high anxiety and/or depression levels to worsen. And, of course, this exacerbation is reflected in the disproportionately high rate of suicide among ASD people.

If nothing else, such child-development science curriculum would offer students an idea/clue as to whether they’re emotionally/mentally compatible with the immense responsibility and strains of parenthood, especially with such special-needs children.

There could also be childrearing/parenting instruction in regards to children born with ASD. Low-functioning autism is already readily recognized and treated, but higher-functioning ASD cases are basically left to fend for themselves.