Do Schools discriminate against autistic children?

[stripes 10]

My child has a diagnosis of high functioning autism; my child has above average intelligence yet struggles with social situations. In everyday social situations a stranger may label my child as ‘naughty’. However I would not expect such a label from a teacher, in order for children with a disability to be integrated into mainstream school's surely the first step is having a teacher with some knowledge of the disability – otherwise how can the needs of the child be met.

 

The school my child attends have stated that they do not know much about ASD, that ASD behaviour is learnt and that children will grow out of it. Staff at the school has said they don’t understand why my child is not behaving like a ‘normal’ child. This illustrates that the teacher does not have appropriate knowledge of my child's disability and that during the term has not taken the initiative to find out more.

 

It must be acknowledged that ASD is a serious lifelong development disability which cannot be grown out of and that children do not learn to be autistic as the unnamed school have suggested.

 

The purpose of this post is not to slate teacher as there are lots of good teachers in Sheffield the purpose of this post is to acknowledge that there are some teachers out there who should not be teachers. There is the assumption that teachers are always right and know what they are doing (Most probably do!!). But my child’s teacher does not and I’m sure there are more incompetent teachers about too, where children’s needs are not being met.

 

Is my situation isolated or does anyone have a child with ASD, or any disability where you feel your child’s needs are not being met? Or does anyone have any positive stories? I would like to hear from anyone who can relate to my situation.

[Halibut 12]

I think it would be unfair to dismiss your child's teacher as incompetent on the basis that they have a limited understanding of ASD; perhaps it makes sense for you to do a bit of education yourself and show the teacher some of the research and information which would help explain your child's 'naughty' behaviour?

[Evei 10]

Do they have a statement?

 

The school should have a IEP for the student which gives the teacher and other staff strategies that have been identified to help manage learning and behaviour for the student.

Practical strategies like having instructions written down as well as verbal instructions, ensuring the student has understood the task and helping them start or not placing them in certain situations that are known to cause a reaction are all easily implemented and are common stategies for high functioning autistic children.

 

Maybe it is worth having a meeting with them and asking what outside support is also available to assess the childs needs, that will help the teacher and the child and suggesting strategies that you use could be helpful.

[espadrille 10]

My child has a diagnosis of high functioning autism; my child has above average intelligence yet struggles with social situations. In everyday social situations a stranger may label my child as ‘naughty’. However I would not expect such a label from a teacher, in order for children with a disability to be integrated into mainstream school's surely the first step is having a teacher with some knowledge of the disability – otherwise how can the needs of the child be met.

 

The school my child attends have stated that they do not know much about ASD, that ASD behaviour is learnt and that children will grow out of it. Staff at the school has said they don’t understand why my child is not behaving like a ‘normal’ child. This illustrates that the teacher does not have appropriate knowledge of my child's disability and that during the term has not taken the initiative to find out more.

 

It must be acknowledged that ASD is a serious lifelong development disability which cannot be grown out of and that children do not learn to be autistic as the unnamed school have suggested.

 

The purpose of this post is not to slate teacher as there are lots of good teachers in Sheffield the purpose of this post is to acknowledge that there are some teachers out there who should not be teachers. There is the assumption that teachers are always right and know what they are doing (Most probably do!!). But my child’s teacher does not and I’m sure there are more incompetent teachers about too, where children’s needs are not being met.

 

Is my situation isolated or does anyone have a child with ASD, or any disability where you feel your child’s needs are not being met? Or does anyone have any positive stories? I would like to hear from anyone who can relate to my situation.

 

oh my goodness. Did they really say that??

You really need to get in touch with the school governors as from what you say in your post it appears they have little or no understanding of how to support your child.

Have you spoken to the SENCO?

[Fone Alone 10]

Does he have a statement of special needs? It sounds like he needs to be assessed which they can come and do in his classroom so they can see what support he needs in school and the teachers will be told how to help provide this.

[zoboz111 10]

It was my sons school who contacted Rygate and after sometime Rygate informed me my son has autism and adhd. Even though the school was aware of this and my son recieved help within the school from outside organisations. There was a couple of times like a mix up at dinner time where my son wanted an item to eat and due to his lack of social skills, he was given something he didn't like. Then because he wouldn't eat his dinner the headteacher and five dinner ladies told him he couldn't play until he had eaten it, he couldn't tell them why and what had happened and just broke down crying. I was told about this by anothier child and went straight to the school and asked for people to be aware of why he didn't say what was wrong. Now a year on he still sits on a table with a special needs teacher understands who him and help him with the simple task of dinner time in a social setting.

 

I have spent a fair amount of time visiting the school talking to teachers about my son. The trouble is every child with autism is different so it maybe helpful to spend abit of time with the people in the school who work with your child so they can hear from you what behaviour you would class as naughty and things you wouldn't agree with in your home. Also talk about triggers, the things that start negative behaviours. My son doesn't like noise so during really noisey activities at school the teacher knows what to look for if my son is distressed and how to help him and not make the situation worse. The key is to work togeather. If you don't feel comfortable doing this there is organisations out there that can help you, i think one is called partnerships for parents. People are sometimes to quick to pull out of schools and this can sometimes cause more distress.

[charlie9865 10]

Children with autism do adjust better then you think depends on situations and like you say what their trigger is.

My son has done way better now he changed schools he has autistic tendencies

And I found my son who is also under ryegate, and senco and on action plus at school

Interacts and gets on better with kids younger then him but is timid round kids his own age.

 

If he is Discriminated by anyone it's other kids, how cruel some can be

I go to a group through ryegate for kids with autism

He can't read what your facial expressions mean so you could be joking to him about something but he cries and over reacts as he don't realise it's a joke unless you tell him.

 

And I have also made many friends now with other mums who kids have autism

 

My closest friend is Danielle she is a single mum and does amazing with her daughter

Who is 11

I go out once a week with the mums (my friends)

Who kids have autism for mummy time.

 

 

My son is very routine orientated and copes terrible with change without plenty of warning.

The parenting courses I did helped me find a large number of ways to handle my lads behaviour.

Although I am a sufferer of motor neurons, and wheelchair dependent and at times am in so much pain I could scream.

 

I have to just Carry on with my routines.

I'm a mum of three all together to be honest I'm glad my sons school is only small because he gets attention needed.

 

And I get to send him to school with no worries as they stick to a routine at school with him.

Edited June 10, 2011 by charlie9865

[stripes 10]

Thank you all for your replies all have been very helpful  . It is good to know there are people out there who do understand!

 

In reply to Halibut I am very up to date on ASD from attending workshops and doing my own research. I have approached the school with suggestions however these have been dismissed as they prefer their own techniques that are not working.

 

My child does not have a statement at present but there has been a specialist team come in that has laid out an action plan for the school – at the time the school said they would try to keep to it to the team. When I approached the school recently they stated they do not have the time or resources to stick to the plan.

 

I have spoken to the SENCO on several occasions but no progress is being made. I have approached the school again to express my grievance and my next step will be to make a formal complaint to the governing bodies.

 

I do understand that staffs is under a lot of pressure for time and resources however I feel I do need to take this further as it is damaging to my child’s self esteem, and there are small steps the school could be taking to make things easier. One of the suggestions was to use visual aids to help my child understand better – this is not costly yet they have not done it.

 

At the end of the day the school is funded heavily by tax payers’ money to provide a public service therefore they should be held accountable if they are doing their jobs inadequately and hopefully they will improve and provide a better service in the future.

[Lucy-Lastic 10]

This sounds like a very sensible way to approach. If they have an action plan suggested by the specialists but are not following it that is one of the first problems:( Have you also been in contact with Ryegate who will talk with the school about how to meet your son's needs (and may send someone in to see how he is being catered for)? Could you get hold of some of the PECS resources that they could use for a visual timetable for him so they have no excuses for that (there are some free to download on the internet)?

[charlie9865 10]

Thank you all for your replies all have been very helpful  . It is good to know there are people out there who do understand!

 

In reply to Halibut I am very up to date on ASD from attending workshops and doing my own research. I have approached the school with suggestions however these have been dismissed as they prefer their own techniques that are not working.

 

My child does not have a statement at present but there has been a specialist team come in that has laid out an action plan for the school – at the time the school said they would try to keep to it to the team. When I approached the school recently they stated they do not have the time or resources to stick to the plan.

 

I have spoken to the SENCO on several occasions but no progress is being made. I have approached the school again to express my grievance and my next step will be to make a formal complaint to the governing bodies.

 

I do understand that staffs is under a lot of pressure for time and resources however I feel I do need to take this further as it is damaging to my child’s self esteem, and there are small steps the school could be taking to make things easier. One of the suggestions was to use visual aids to help my child understand better – this is not costly yet they have not done it.

 

At the end of the day the school is funded heavily by tax payers’ money to provide a public service therefore they should be held accountable if they are doing their jobs inadequately and hopefully they will improve and provide a better service in the future.

 

Your his mum hun and no matter what no one knows better then you.

My son is doing phonics and they noticed he was still struggling a little with it

Although my son has autistic tendencies he is also dislexic

 

The dyslexia they kept saying was the autism but we paid through the nose for peadeatrition and child psychologist a private clinic to get involved and he proved Corey is a actually dislexic

 

He calls the letter b (B) a d and writes Dog as bog

And he can't seem to take in the difference no matter how much we explaine

So us and school have stuck now with showing him words that begin with B or D in capitals

He just writes these words in Capetians as he does not understand them in lower case forms

 

His dad is dislexic to

[mrseggy 10]

You know what i fear you are fighting a losing battle with this school and as much as i want advice you to scream and shout and fight to get the support and understanding your lad deserves!! i dont actually feel (from your posts) that this is what would be best for your boy.

 

In your shoes (which i have stood in) i would be looking for a new school, if his current school have wasted the time of the experts!! (whta was the point in them asking for help in the first place?) then they are unlikely to get any better tbh. The sheer ignorance of the staff it appalling, putting it mildly!.

[go4it 10]

he proved Corey is a actually dislexic

 

You can't prove dyslexia.