The reason we jumped ... Mainstream.
This was Leo’s first day of school. I remember feeling excited and terrified all at the same time. With his severe language delay and no awareness of danger, we opted to place him in a support class rather than a mainstream one.
We knew he needed extra support both in the classroom and out on the playground. This outweighed all of our other concerns.
He settled in well, built strong relationships with his teachers and peers. The school was able to provide support out on the playground where he was shadowed by a School Learning Support Officer (SLSO). Within a couple of months his playground support ceased as he was beginning to understand school rules and boundaries. Which was fantastic.
We had no problems the first couple of years apart from him picking up bad language from his peers. It was not unusual due to the area and culture of where the school was located. Apart from that, there was good communication between myself and his teacher at that time.
Due to Leo attending a support unit, and my still needing to drop off my two other children to school we were eligible for the Assisted School Travelling Program (ASTP). He was picked up from home and dropped off to his after school care every day (I was studying full time). Because of this, I never got to talk to his teacher about his progress on a regular basis. Parent teacher interviews were also not offered, so we heavily relied on the ‘Communication Book’ and the school for information.
Year 2 was when he got a new teacher after having the same teacher for two years. We were concerned about this, but Leo pulled through regardless of the changes.
The end of year 2 was when things got really complicated with the school. The communication book was not being utilised as it once was. Notes were getting lost, and our messages were not being replied to in a timely manner, at times not replied to at all. IEP meetings were also held with little notice and no options for working families to attend meetings.
At a end of year meeting, we asked for an IQ test for Leo, as requested by our Paediatrician. We were beginning to look at placing him in a mainstream school as he had improved immensely over the years, and the IQ test would help us make an informed decision
The school notified me then, that they had already completed one. So I requested a copy of the report. I shared the report with Leo’ s OT and Speech therapists in the beginning of this year. It was in this meeting that I found out that the report I was given, was not a full report and that IQ tests required consent.
I was shocked, angry and disappointed. I contacted the school about my concerns making sure to express my concerns without pointing fingers. Two meetings were held and although we weren’t 100% happy with the school’s response to our concerns we had to put our son’s best interest first. So we decided to forgive, forget and start fresh.
Not long afterwards another miscommunication occurred which resulted in one of Leo’s Naplan test being rejected. Like with the IQ test the school did not acknowledge their mistakes. Digging for information about how this could have occurred, we found out the school only gave us 48hours to discuss and apply for support for Leo to sit the NAPLAN test (Disability Adjustments). Instead of offering options for our son, we were notified about NAPLAN with a note to exempt him from the test. No other information about the test itself or what supports children with disabilities are entitled to.
The situation made us question whether the school held our son’s best interest. Are other families experiencing this and not aware that this is happening due to the lack of information? Can we really have him in a school that continually makes such mistakes which heavily impacts our child’s opportunities and academic learning?
With our son’s best interest in mind, we have decided to leave the school.
Our lack of knowledge about these tests heavily contributed to the above outcomes. There was no one place to find the answers I needed. I hope the information and experiences I share can help others on their journey, and encourage others to advocate for children on the Spectrum.
Moving schools will be the biggest challenge Leo has yet to face. I invite you to follow our son’s journey, see for yourself the colourful world of Autism.
I wouldn’t change him for the world, but I’d change the world for him.
