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I feel like my child's school hides the kids with autism.

Pynx

Hello everyone, I just wanted to get some advice on what I should do about my child's school. There is a specalised class for kids with autism in a main stream primary that my child attends. I feel like all the kids are excluded from activities as far as I can tell. At Christmas there was a big things for all the other kids like nativities etc and we had to tune in on the schools channel on YouTube to have a look. They were encouraging parents to make a big deal and have popcorn and things at home as they weren't allowing parents in school at the time. So after the last day of term we all got together at home and there was not one thing for the kids with autism. I was left in tears because I felt really angry. All the news feeds is about all the neurotypical kids achievements with photos and all the good stuff that goes on in class ..nothing about the kids with autism. They were giving leaflets out at the school gates for after school activities but didn't give us one because my child has autism. The queen's jubilee was another example. Photo ops at the school gates but we were smiled at but not asked to be involved like everyone else. It just feels like the schools website is full of all the amazing things that all the other kids get involved with but the amazing children with autism are not celebrated for achieving anything or partaking in anything. I feel so upset by this and have mentioned it with no real response. I don't want my child to feel that the differences they have stops them doing things others do. I dont know where to get advice or what our rights are. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Parents

  • Oh I managed to delete my reply, it looked like it posted twice but they both went.

    Do you know if the children want to be involved? Christmas in particular can be a really chaotic time with carol concerts and nativities and parties. It can be noisy, bright and very busy in the schools. The school may have found that the autistic children react better to having minimal disruption to their routines. Maybe it would be fairer for them to give the children a choice though, especially at Christmas. Are there confidentiality and safeguarding issues with posting photos of children with the obvious link to the unit? These are things the school should be communicating with you though if you’ve raised concerns

  • in reply to GuybrushThreepwood

    Thanks for the reply. There isn't much communication really so it's hard to know what's going on unless I ask which I do. My little one is none verbal so I don't know what is happening unless I'm told by the teachers. Before this unit opened my child would be involved in nativities etc and it did upset him that he wasn't. He repeats things that he hears and was singing the songs in the Christmas production so why they didn't include him I just don't know. I did bring it up at parents evening but it wasn't fully addressed. I do understand the difficulties surrounding routine changes especially at Christmas. I just feel like there is a lack of inclusion for activities I know my child would enjoy.

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  • in reply to GuybrushThreepwood

    Thanks for the reply. There isn't much communication really so it's hard to know what's going on unless I ask which I do. My little one is none verbal so I don't know what is happening unless I'm told by the teachers. Before this unit opened my child would be involved in nativities etc and it did upset him that he wasn't. He repeats things that he hears and was singing the songs in the Christmas production so why they didn't include him I just don't know. I did bring it up at parents evening but it wasn't fully addressed. I do understand the difficulties surrounding routine changes especially at Christmas. I just feel like there is a lack of inclusion for activities I know my child would enjoy.

Children