Adam
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.
Adam is a 12-year-old boy with autism. His father told the Royal Commission the mainstream school Adam was attending refused to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate his disability. The school also repeatedly suspended Adam, more often than is allowed under the legislation.
When Adam had problems, the school would call his dad to pick him up. This happened dozens of times a year. If he failed to do so, the school called the police.
Adam’s dad believes the school wanted to get his son off the roll, but it needed a police charge in order to have a good reason. It tried for months.
Adam had just turned 13 when he was arrested by the police at school. He was charged with ‘threatening life’, which his dad said was ‘ridiculous’.
At the police station, officers formally interviewed Adam without representation and with no parental support. No-one had told his parents he had been arrested.
The charges were dropped. Adam’s defence lawyer said it was the weakest and most inappropriate case he had seen.
The department of education ordered Adam to attend a special school. Adam’s parents fought to allow him to go to a mainstream school and made an application through the District Court, but were unsuccessful.
Adam’s parents moved him to a private school where he is doing well.
‘My son left the public education system. We now pay $8,000 a year in private schooling.’
They are angry about how their son and their family has been treated.
‘It is too easy for [the department] to just trot out its records to malign students with a disability … they will not make reasonable adjustments and hide behind “threats of violence” which give an excuse to ignore making adjustments because they can just say it’s all about safety.’
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.