The Autistic Society and Its Classrooms

Abstract

Autistic means a subject has limited affect or may be without affect altogether. Though traditionally individuals are described as autistic, the authors find it increasingly apparent that American society is becoming autistic as a whole, as citizens are desensitized to needs of neighbors near and far, losing the commensurate loyalty of being in community. This essay suggests that classrooms must be on the front line of challenging the effects of an increasingly autistic society.

Lillian Benavente-McEnery is Associate Professor in Language, Literacy, and Library Science at the University of Houston–Clear Lake and co-director of the Teaching Learning Enhancement Center on campus. She is also Director of the UH-CL Center for Educational Programs Reading Center.

Paul A. Wagner, Director of the Project in Professional Ethics, holds joint appointments in the School of Education and the School of Humanities and Human Sciences at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Wagner is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston–Victoria.