Parents of Autistic Child Are Expecting Too Much

Re “Latino Group Bridges the Barriers of Autism,” July 8:

Jose Hernandez is quoted as saying, “But the only answers they give you are in English.” The story goes on to say that the Hernandezes “had to do their own research.” I don’t understand the Hernandezes’ point, or yours. Is there some reason that they should be given information in another language? Why did Gloria Hernandez have to go to Mexico City to research autism, since you said in your article that they speak English? Even if they didn’t, do you really believe she had to quit her job and go to Mexico City to find information about autism?

My sister-in-law is from Japan, yet she doesn’t assume that she will be given information in Japanese. My brother-in-law is Portuguese; again, he doesn’t expect to find information in anything but English. And I have friends from Colombia; they can’t believe that people who speak Spanish deserve to be treated any differently from any other immigrant. Why do you?

Lynn E. Powers

Laguna Beach

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I applaud the Hernandez parents for creating a much-needed support group for Latino families of autistic children. But I am a one-on-one special education aide in a school district, and my applause stopped at the revelation that the Hernandezes and Grupo Angeles teach parents how to demand “their rights” from school districts.

Making school districts pay for programs for special-needs children, such as one-on-one aides, special services and equipment, is not going to have the long-range effect that all parents want: for their child to function normally. Putting an autistic child in a regular classroom will never transform that child into being just like the other kids in the class.

Instead, the long-range effects of the demands on the schools from those parents of special-needs children are that other children lose out. Children who don’t qualify as “special needs” students but who could truly be helped to progress and succeed in such basic skills as reading or math do not get the money needed because the districts are stretched to meet the demands of the ever-increasing special-education population.

Why can’t Johnny read? Because aides spend five and six hours each day with special-needs kids who sit in a regular classroom even though they cannot do the work, and who may learn to read the words or to add two plus two, but who will never comprehend what they’ve read or put their math skills to use.

Congratulations to the Hernandezes and other parents like them and their group for helping to further drain an already grossly over-stretched school system. Taxpayers should know the real truth about where the money is spent in their local schools, and why their kids do not get a good basic education anymore.

N. Good

Newport Beach