Wednesday, January 20, 2010

School Days


Shortly after we arrived home with Belle, it was time for Button to start "big school". At this stage he had a "working diagnosis" of autism - basically enough to get him some services, but not all. I enrolled him in our local school, a relatively big, all boys primary. He had and SNA (Special Needs Assistant) in the class with him and was given 5 hours of resource teaching a week.

His first day was absolutely nerve wracking for me. When I met his teacher for the first time, I immediately got the vibe that we were not going to be singing from the same hymn sheet! She was very strict and intimidating, and didn't listen to me at all when I briefly ran through the issues Button had, especially his auditory sensitivity and behaviour.

On picking him up she told me he had not been "too bad", but that he wouldn't do what she asked him! Well, what did she expect? I explained again, that he worked very well for reinforcement, and that all she needed to do was to find something he liked (at this point he loved shape sorters, so anything shape related would engage him!) and tell him "First work, then...."

Her response was "Knowledge should be it's own reward"!

We were very fortunate that his resource teacher was a lovely, calm and capable lady. She took him for the last hour of every day, and he achieved more for her than he ever did for his teacher.
As the days went on, Button's behaviour got worse and worse. His SNA had her hair pulled often, he screamed and screeched his way through the day and threw and ripped his work.

Button's OT and Psychologist had both been in to see the teacher and explain the way to get the best from him. it was important that his behaviour got no reward, and that he knew that he had to finish the task, no matter what he did. I learned later that when he acted up, his SNA would take him out to the yard to have a run around! Teacher also was fond of blowing a WHISTLE at her class of 4 and 5 year olds to keep them in line! Auditory sensitivity obviously didn't mean much to her!

His teacher told me on many occasions that she didn't think Button had autism - that his problems were "behavioural". So she didn't implement any of the strategies suggested to her. I have to say at this point, that I collected Button every day from the Resource room, so rarely spoke to the teacher, and was therefore unaware of how bad the situation was. In hindsight I should have taken him out of there after week 2!

In the Spring of 2007, Button's diagnosis was confirmed, so we could finally look at getting him into a more suitable educational placement. We had heard great things about an Outreach Class in a school about 20 minutes drive away, and were delighted when he was offered a place there. Mr Taz and I went to see the class and were immediately bowled over by the teacher. She was exactly what Button needed, calm, firm and lots of fun! The school Principal was passionate about his little class of ASD kids - he had gone on training courses himself and was so enthusiastic it was infectious. I could imagine Button being very happy there. All we had to do was to get through the rest of the school year.

13 comments:

  1. OMG I can't believe she used a whistle on the 4-5 year olds! And knowledge is it's own reward?? WTF planet was she on. So glad you found a placement for him in a better and more suitable environment xx

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  2. A WHISTLE!! Did she think she was on a football pitch?? I am stunned!! Mainstream seems to be such a battle, for both parents and children. TG he got into Outreach, looking forward to hearing about that:) Jen

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  3. oh god, this is a subject after my own heart at the moment and the thought of mainstream is kinda filling me with dread... a whistle for 4-5 year olds!! I had a conversation with the principal of my older kids' school the other day, they have never had any children there with ASD or any other severe disabilities (his words not mine) they nearly had a child with downs sydrome but they decided to place her elsehwere apparently..

    So the idea of our local mainstream school is flying out the window very very quick. Looking forward to the next part Tara.

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  4. i know where i would have put that whistle. Poor button, thank god for the resource teacher.

    I cant wait to hear more about the new school xxx

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  5. What kind of medieval age is that teacher living in? A whistle? My daughter doesn't have special needs but I wouldn't tolerate her teacher with a whistle. Children are not dogs! You don't whistle for them to come back!!!

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  6. How dare she use a whistle to keep them in check, sweet jesus they are only four or five, she obviously thought it was a military camp she was running and not a class of Junior Infants!! Like Mandie said I know where her whistle should go lol. So glad you got a placement for Button in a good school. xxx

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  7. What a wagon!!! Thank God Button is in a good outreach....when it suits a kid, it works really well . Great post hun xxx

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  8. hitler comes to mind! my god, how was she still allowed near children. isnt it such a relief when u know u have them in a place they can settle.
    i love ur story so much

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  9. So glad you finally got him a suitable place and a way from the camp commandant!.

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  10. Sorry I am late to comment but I am so glad to find that there was a great outcome. The one to blow the whistle and to boldly dare to say that Button didn't have autism that it was purely behavioral was certainly out of place!!!! So happy to know that she is OUT of the picture!

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  11. Oh, argh, and my breaking heart. I have taken a solemn vow to never knowingly graduate a student into the world of special ed if I can possibly foresee this kind of wrong!! What an ill-written sentence but you KNOW what I mean. I am so happy for the good descriptions of a good person. One that your child deserves! Thank you for sharing.

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  12. I didn't get to read the above post yet, but will, I promise!

    I just had to comment on what you wrote me about potty training and #2. I actually went to Walmart last week and bought 3 packs of boy briefs because you are too right! Life is way too short to be washing poopy underwear!

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  13. Yet another story Tazzy about ill informed mainstream school teachers. Horrendous. I can only hope that the current training of Teachers prepares them more for teaching children with Autism and other conditions.. From talking to young teachers I know I think they do.....well, they certainly seem more open to working with parents. xx Jazzy

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