The Arlington School District is proposing to cut seven staff positions from the District's successful Autism program for middle and high school students. The $271,000 in cuts would hurt our children by making it harder for them to participate in regular classrooms with their peers who are not in special education.  Arlington's middle and high school Autism program is successful because the 58 students who currently participate receive social skills instruction from teachers who understand Autism and Asperger's, and direct support from assistants in regular mainstream classrooms.  All students, with or without disabilities, benefit from increased attention and the expertise of the staff.  Cutting more than half of the assistants would undermine the program.  With the number of children being diagnosed with Autism rising, we need to expand, not cut, successful programs. Here is a report put together by parents about the program and its success.