The Summer Hols are upon us. We're visual scheduled and diarised up to the hilt, the wine cupboard is fully stocked. The grandparents have been enlisted. The extra pair of hands booked. I have given myself a generous one and a half hour slot on a Wednesday morning minus kids (kind childminder friend offered). The best laid plans and all that...What could possibly go wrong....?!
I have various posts in my drafts folder which need finishing and will do so in due course. For now though, I'd just like your reactions to the photo below. It happened a couple of weeks ago and is still playing on my mind. This label was attached to J's belt on his return from his school outing to Legoland. There was a contact number on the other side.
J is 6. We haven't yet explained autism to him. He can read. What does this say to him?
8 comments:
Thanks for your emails/FB comments. The general consensus is that this label is far more helpful to the teachers than to J. Several people have also commented that it is never EVER a school's right to inform a child that they have autism without the parents' consent. Hmmm - please keep the comments coming.....
Crikey, I wouldn't be happy about finding that label. We have a little dog tag for times we are in very busy places that reads special needs, if lost contact ....
However,it's not the same as it's its not a negative label as I tell his sister "special needs are are special people that need special help from us" (he can't read it anyway) so it's really there for safety reasons. I definately think that they should have consulted you before doing this and if he behaviour was likely to be very inappropriate he ought to have had a member of staff there to deal with Joe public not getting it.
Have scaned through bits of you blog and it makes a good read.
Good to chat today.
Tamra
The school should've known better. it's NOT okay to reveal a diagnosis to a child. I'm shocked that they did that.
School definitely should not have done this without your consent. Time for a few strong words!
Hey, I swear I left a comment here a couple of days back!!
Hmph (Blogger hates me).
Yi, yi, yi, this is sooooo wrong on every level. I can't believe this practise goes on in this day and age, it beggars belief.
a) Your son is meant to be safe in their guardianship AT ALL TIMES. If they fear they can't responsibly supervise him on trips, they should not contemplate taking him on any.
b) Even discounting the above, why disclose anything on there above his name and whom to contact if he is lost? It should be self evident he is vulnerable, 'nuff already said!
I think most parents of kids like ours would be equally as aghast as you were, to find such a glaringly inappropriate label publicly forced on our child to wear - it is wholly unnecessary and totally invasive upon his dignity.
I can only imagine the hurt this must have caused you, it's hard enough trying to educate the outside world how to understand Jude's needs, but it beggars belief to think that the very people entrusted with his care, are evidently so completely ignorant of his basic right to respect and privacy!
Did the school actually tell your son he is Autistic?? How did they inform him? I would expect that to be left to parents.
My son has used this label with his school on a number of occasions - I don't have a problem with people knowing he is Autistic. I think anyone can tell he is a little different when they meet him, and I'd rather that they could know what it is that makes him different and hopefully have more understanding - especially if he were separated from his group/class when out and about on a school trip and needed help. The words to describe unusual behaviours could have been better chosen though.
I question what a 6 year old can understand from reading the word 'Autism' My son was exposed to the words 'Autism' and'ASD' long before we explained what it actually meant in relation to him personally. He thought his teacher from the 'ASD team' came in to help children wwho wore glasses!
Thanks for your comments. We're fresh back from holiday and that draft folder is still sadly neglected!
Clare - I do not have any problem with people knowing that J has autism. My point is that this card - which is hugely out of date but is an NAS issue - is not meant to be attached to children like a leper's sign around his neck. It is meant to be discreetly handed out to onlookers if the proverbial is hitting the fan and people "need" an explanation.
As Shrinky says, there are many layers of wrong in this and I'm writing a separate post about the public's views of autism in public - but the lack of empathy, respect and understanding of this staggers me.
I am proud of my son. I do not think that I owe an explanation of his behaviour to people on the whole unless it has directly affected someone (they can think what they like and would still do so regardless of a label round his neck). I will tell him that he has autism when he is ready to understand that in my own time. I will never ever treat him like a lesser human being though - one who needs a sign with flashing lights to signal his differences..... Keeping him safe is one thing, apologising for his autism is another thing altogether....
You go, girl! ((hugs))
Post a Comment