Brilliant; thanks for sharing this information. So many things here are similar to my young grandsons experience when at mainstream school. Such great info and strategies to try; can’t thank you enough
Hi Sue, thank you for your comment. I find acceptance based support is so profound and helps so many autistic children I support who struggle with anxiety 😊
I hope this approach can be more widely shared with educators and professionals. The worst part is how these 'professionals' will often be quick to blame a parent (who is often autistic and has a natural understanding of their child) whilst they implement generalised strategies (usually from a Neurotypical perspective), then just as quick to leave that parent picking up all of the pieces when their child is no longer able to attend and sometimes unable to even leave their bedroom as a result of the trauma the school/strategies caused. If a child with serious breathing difficulties was forced to do cross country every week, despite an ambulance needing to be called on each occasion, people would find this abusive. Yet an autistic child can be forced to attend a school, despite their attendance resulting in a meltdown each day (usually with other difficulties emerging/increasing such as them being unable to complete self-care, eating difficulties, abscessed teeth from anxiety-related grinding, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm etc) and multiple staff and/or their parent needing to be called to deescalate on each occasion. For inclusion to ever be successful, I believe each school needs a board of neurodivergent adults (a parent-professional collaboration) to specifically advise and support the needs of neurodivergent children. Currently the potential for harm (and the lack of consequences for those who do cause harm) is far too high.
You are a breath of fresh air. Thank you so much.
Thanks!
Thanks! I am so pleased you like the video :)
Thank you!
Brilliant; thanks for sharing this information. So many things here are similar to my young grandsons experience when at mainstream school. Such great info and strategies to try; can’t thank you enough
Hi Sue, thank you for your comment. I find acceptance based support is so profound and helps so many autistic children I support who struggle with anxiety 😊
I hope this approach can be more widely shared with educators and professionals. The worst part is how these 'professionals' will often be quick to blame a parent (who is often autistic and has a natural understanding of their child) whilst they implement generalised strategies (usually from a Neurotypical perspective), then just as quick to leave that parent picking up all of the pieces when their child is no longer able to attend and sometimes unable to even leave their bedroom as a result of the trauma the school/strategies caused. If a child with serious breathing difficulties was forced to do cross country every week, despite an ambulance needing to be called on each occasion, people would find this abusive. Yet an autistic child can be forced to attend a school, despite their attendance resulting in a meltdown each day (usually with other difficulties emerging/increasing such as them being unable to complete self-care, eating difficulties, abscessed teeth from anxiety-related grinding, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm etc) and multiple staff and/or their parent needing to be called to deescalate on each occasion. For inclusion to ever be successful, I believe each school needs a board of neurodivergent adults (a parent-professional collaboration) to specifically advise and support the needs of neurodivergent children. Currently the potential for harm (and the lack of consequences for those who do cause harm) is far too high.
Hi Charlize, thanks for your kind words, and for watching the video :)