Amryn and Cy
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.
Amryn is autistic.
Her father Cy told the Royal Commission she is ‘the happiest person you are ever likely to meet’.
Amryn has been attending primary school for a couple of years.
She is included and well supported and participates fully in the curriculum. She has access to a quite space whenever she needs to retreat.
Last year, Cy enrolled Amryn and her sibling in out-of-school-hours care (OSHC). He was open about Amryn’s needs and reasonable adjustments. He requested Amryn’s mum attend initial sessions to help her settle in and that Amryn have access to a quiet space.
The OSHC coordinator asked to meet the family, who arrived for what they thought would be a short informal meeting.
Amryn’s sibling joined the students outside. Amryn, ‘not her usual joyful self’ because of the unexpected change to her afternoon routine, stayed with her parents.
The coordinator described a typical afternoon in OSHC, then listed things that could result in them terminating Amryn’s enrolment.
This included taking off her shoes or needing help to toilet.
Cy explained Amryn happily wore shoes at school, and toileted independently.
The coordinator stressed that OSHC staff would not bring her from her classroom to the OSHC building. Cy had arranged for the teaching assistant to walk Amryn to the building.
A staff member at the meeting noticed Amryn was becoming unsettled and suggested they open a room for Amryn to use as a quiet space.
‘This was refused straight away by the coordinator as unreasonable.’
Amryn asked to leave and walked to the door. Cy followed her and brought her back to the table. The coordinator later interpreted this as ‘running away’ and her father ‘having to chase after her to stop her escaping’.
A few weeks later, the coordinator advised Cy they were accepting Amryn sibling’s enrolment but not Amryn. She said this was based on ‘the interview’.
‘There is no reference to an interview as part of the enrolment process in OSHC policies.’
Cy tried to contact the OSHC coordinator but she was unavailable.
‘We are attempting to engage OSHC in discussions as to how we can work together to support children such as [Amryn] … and help them to not be in breach of anti-discrimination legislation. So far, we been brushed off and told that they “didn’t mean to be discriminatory”, but no further consideration will be given to the matter at this stage.’
Cy is unwilling to accept the decision but is unsure how to proceed.
‘We are blessed to be in a position where we have the education, abilities and resources to be able to challenge discrimination against our family. Many, many families do not and are resigned to accepting discrimination on a daily basis.’
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.