ABSTRACT
The question of when to begin teaching treatment with autistic children relates to two issues: the age at which a firm diagnosis of the condition can be made, and the local educational authority’s policy on age of school entry. Some teachers of autistic children believe that before integration is attempted a child should have competence in academic skills, language and social skills at about the same level as those children with whom he will spend his time in school. The circular about autistic children issued by the Department of Education and Science suggested as a guideline, one adult to deal with three children. The aid of young people as Youth Employment Officers, Colleges of Further Education, and Church and other youth club leaders and organisers will have to be enlisted. There are slightly more autistic children than there are blind and partially sighted children and slightly less than the number of deaf children.
