For example, many children with autism are visual learners. Teachers will use pictures, charts and visual representations when teaching. Materials developed for children with learning disabilities who are visual learners are often helpful. Mainstreaming refers to teaching children with special needs in regular classes with other children. Teaching autistic children without the benefit of a specially-trained teacher and classroom tailored for such teaching was first attempted as a matter of necessity in small school systems with too few autistics to make it practical to set up specialized facilities.
Theory has it that separating autistics from a normal environment just exacerbates their problem.
Arguments for mainstreaming include better role models for autistic children, and increased opportunities for social interaction, and higher expectations by teachers. Arguments against include more opportunity for intense social skills training, more control over structure and routine, crucial factors in the education, training, and everyday lives of many autistic children. Sign some schools teach autistic children sign language if they are not developing speech. Also, some autistic children seem to pay attention to hands more than they do other people's faces. The facilitator typically provides resistance to the arm and finger, leaving it to the autistic to push their hand and finger towards the right key.