Otto and Irene
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.
Irene’s son Otto goes to a public primary school. He has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and has other psychological and neurological disabilities.
‘Despite his invisible disabilities, he has not received adjustments to his education that allow him to access the curriculum on the same basis as his peers,’ Irene told the Royal Commission. ‘And the damage is really showing.’
Otto has recently talked of harming himself. Irene blames this on his school experience, which ‘traumatises him every day’.
‘He is now at the point where he has to leave the classroom multiple times a day and go somewhere to "cool down", such are his distress levels.’
Irene says that teachers in the public school system do not undergo training or professional development about ADHD or anxiety, and facilities are often inadequate. ‘He needs a smaller classroom, smaller class size, a quiet/safe place for him to go.’
She questions why funds are allocated for schools to fix accessibility issues for kids with a range of disabilities but no funds are spent accommodating kids with ADHD.
‘Absolutely disgusting in my view’, says Irene. ‘Neglect of the highest order.’
Irene says the school counselling program is also inadequate. At Otto’s school there is one part-time counsellor for 1000 students. Otto has never met the counsellor.
‘So we pay for psychiatrist, paediatrician, academic tutor, psychologist and yoga classes out of our own pocket. Over the years we have paid for speech assessments, OT, ADHD coaching … All of this is an attempt to protect our child and support him because he's certainly getting nothing from his education experience!’
Irene considers ADHD to be the ‘hidden/denied/neglected’ disability. She would like ADHD to be recognised and properly supported through changes to disability legislation.
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.