I absolutely love my job, the autistic children I get the privilege
to meet and get to know are incredible. I’ve said it before but it needs saying
regularly; they are brave, resilient, and beautifully natured. This makes it
all the more frustrating, overwhelming and upsetting when it comes to doing the
hardest part of my job….. Fighting for their rights, fighting for what they
need and more importantly fighting for what they deserve. This part of my job
leaves me with days of anxiety and overwhelm.
What needs to be made clear is that autistic people aren’t going
anywhere, in fact quite the opposite, autistic people grow up to have autistic
children……. Yes we literally are increasing in number…. Some refer to this as an
autism epidemic!!! Well that’s bloody charming isn’t it! In fact it’s disgustingly
insulting. What are we some form of disease that is a threat to human kind? NO,
we are a community of good, strong hearted people, people who drive change,
people who invent and create amazing things. We are the best Drs, nurses,
scientists, teachers, animal conservationists, eco warriors, parents, advocates
…. The list is endless.
So prevalence is increasing, I already see at least two
autistic children in each class of 30…..a much higher number than recorded. So
why, oh why, can’t we change the school environment to meet need?
What ‘the powers that be’ need to know is that autistic
children are the (to quote Jo Billington) ‘canaries in the mine’. They are the
sensitive ones that are feeling the pressure of mainstream class sizes,
increased educational expectations, behaviour policies, over stimulation, school uniform policies……….but actually aren’t
ALL children starting to show signs of this?
YES! Mental health problems
in children are on the rise! Making a school ‘autism friendly’ isn’t making a
school ‘neurotypical child un-friendly’ in fact quit the opposite…. It’s making
a school child friendly. Autism friendly strategies are actually all gold
standard best practise for all children! What child wouldn’t benefit from
smaller classes, more outside learning, more experiential learning, more moving
while learning, more emphasis on emotional literacy and self-care?
School life does not
reflect adult life!
A common argument I hear against reasonable adjustments is
‘they have to get used to it’, ‘we have to prepare him for the real world/adult
life’.
Well that’s a crock of rubbish!! In what job would you be
told you can’t use the loo except during designated breaks! In what job would
you be made to sit on a hard floor squished up next to a colleague and sing
songs? Why would a person who works best with their hands and while moving opt
for a job sat still and quiet? The adult world is a much better place for
autistic people. In fact mainly due to autistic people….. We can now order food
online and avoid supermarkets altogether, we can work from home, we can take
breaks when we need them, we can socialise with people when and how we chose
to! Sometimes not face to face, sometimes not with those our own age.
What are the repercussions?
Well if you are a parent of a child who’s needs are unmet
you will know all too well the impact L
however if you don’t then you should.
I’m going to outline this simply and bluntly; the children I
work with who haven’t had needs met in education and/or been subjected to an
environment that is inappropriate suffer the following;
Self-harm
Trauma
Low self esteem
Feelings of failure
Depression
Anxiety disorders
Suicidal ideation
Suicide attempts
Agoraphobia
Mis-trust of any adult outside of the home
Separation anxiety
Environmental mutism
Tics
Many children are unable to return to school. Even the
mention of school can produce a trauma response (fight/flight). A child becomes
a ‘school refuser’ which in itself it’s damaging and incorrect, as the child is
simply in self-preservation/survival mode at this stage and so are UNABLE to
attend not refusing. It can be likened to a child ‘refusing’ to jump into shark
infested waters! Or the term I often use from a parents perspective ‘it feels
like you are sending the lamb to slaughter’ (I’m not great with subtle words!) My
experience of this comes from children of all ages, already showing these
symptoms from as young as 4years old.
What needs to change?
Surprise surprise I have a few ideas about this!!! I will
simply list them!
More funding to provide;
ALL school staff training in autism, PACE & trauma. Up
to date progressive thinking Dr Luke Beardon style training! Including MDSA’s.
Smaller numbers of students per class
More staff who have been invested in through training and
care.
More pastoral support
More SENCo time
More specialist input, such as educational psychologist,
occupational therapist and speech and language support in mainstream schools. A
holistic approach.
Environmental changes;
Less ‘overstimulating’ classroom settings and layouts
Moving while learning
Flexible/positive behaviour policies (or just scrap them!)
Flexible approaches to uniform
Flexible approaches to teaching
More animals, nature and outside!
Curriculum changes;
Experiential learning
Functional learning
Child lead learning
Emotional/mental health/self-care education
Less attainment/progress pressure (for teachers and
students)
The list could go on. I truly believe that if this was how
mainstream education looked, we would be seeing less children needing EHCP’s,
less children needing specialist placements and less children needing to access
mental health services. And most importantly; less children suffering,
I know this is possible, I work with and know there are some
amazing schools, SENCo’s and teachers that make this happen or try to make this
happen for their students. I know many amazing people’s hands are tied by
funding restraints, policies and ‘the powers that be’. The rigidity and
inflexibility is damaging.
I don’t know!!! I am not great at big battles and making big
change! I make small changes for small people! Well I would like to think
sometimes bigger changes for children and their families. But this is BIG. I
talk with many about opening a school like this, I already have a team of staff
who want to work in a school like this!
I wish I had as many viable solutions as I do issues with
the system.
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