Development

I prefer to say, "Mautis has autism" instead of "Mautis is autistic". 
Autism should not label or define him, yes it is apart of who he is but it is not who he is.

But of course Mautis is a little different than most kids his age.  He is in his early years of elementary school at a local public school that I continue to find myself impressed with.  Mautis has a full time aide and is fully included in the general education classroom as a special needs student.  The school personnel and community have proved themselves friendly and supportive.

As a mother I want the best for my child.  As a mother with a child that has autism, I find myself always looking out for the best in which my child can receive and in turn give back.  I became aware of a need that his school could implement called The Peer Buddy Program.  Aside from peers being aware, understanding, appropriately communicating, including and respecting other peers with differences from themselves, this particular program promotes academic and social support by peers:

(a) helping them acquire skills needed to succeed in the general education environment and 

(b) adapting the environment to be more welcoming and accommodating to individual differences and needs.

This was implemented at the elementary school as a low maintenance program where basic training is involved and interestingly the school anti-bullying policy was modified after this program became implanted.  

Mautis is a very bright child and does well on his schoolwork, he just has trouble producing and receiving communication.  His full time aide helps Mautis remain on a consistent schedule and and adhere to a structured environment.  Often she has to remind him of appropriate classroom behavior but so do other children his age need similar behavioral reminders.

Since Mautis is physically similar to his peers and does not present any physical special needs, often times people who are unaware that he has autism mistake him for a child that should communicate and respond as someone his age should.  This is why I have an information card with Mautis in case there is ever a severe misunderstanding with someone that is not aware of autism or that he has autism. There are various kinds but here is one I've used: