Arron and Philippa
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
After an incident at school, the principal told 13-year-old Arron he wanted to expel him because ‘he was worried about the public image of the school’.
Instead he suspended Arron, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, for five days.
Arron’s mum, Philippa, told the Royal Commission her son ‘was confused, didn't understand, and had nothing explained to him in a way that he would understand’.
Philippa was baffled by the decision to suspend Arron because in the past the school had worked with the family ‘using communication and appropriate consequences’.
Prior to the suspension Arron was on a modified timetable. He would spend the mornings one-on-one with an education support officer, followed by a few lessons in the mainstream classroom. In the afternoon he would spend time in the special education unit. Philippa said this had been working well.
Additionally, Philippa engaged a behaviour support specialist to develop a behaviour management plan. Arron started taking medication which ‘helped immensely with his behaviours’.
But since returning from the suspension, Arron ‘has been separated from his peers, with different recess and lunch times and put in the flexible learning unit on his own’.
Philippa said this ‘massive change to routine’ has increased Arron’s anxiety and is affecting his mental health. He has regressed academically and his behaviours have escalated.
‘It seems the school has gone from working with us, to just suddenly placing unrealistic demands on [Arron], saying he is bright enough and old enough to know better. It feels like they expect us to flick a switch and all the behaviours and challenges associated with his lifelong disabilities will disappear.’
The school did not communicate the changes to Arron ‘in an autism friendly manner’. They told him ‘all the students and teachers are scared of him’.
As a result Arron ‘feels devalued, worthless’. He has expressed suicidal thoughts.
‘All children need friends,’ Philippa says. She does not believe separating Arron from his peers is the solution.
Philippa made numerous complaints to the school to no avail.
She says the school has stereotyped her son as ‘violent and dangerous’ and told her ‘he will not cope when he gets older and will end up in jail’.
‘I know my son has many positives and strengths, he is brilliant with computers, and always compassionate and helpful with the other special needs kids.’ The school’s negativity has ‘broken us and placed enormous stress of the family unit’.
Philippa believes staff and students need better education about autism and how to accommodate people with autism in the classroom.
She says the unrealistic expectations and demands on children and their families ‘to fit in and be perfect’ needs to stop.
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.