To think DD is basically being given detention for being autistic?

[102910h]

Im a new user, I signed up because I didn't know who to ask.

DD is 12 and year 8. She has high functioning ASD but is in mainstream.

As part of her ASD she has organisational issues, struggles to record homework and often forgets books. I and her dad try to help her as much as we can with this but she still gets detentions every week.

She's been crying a lot lately because she doesn't want to be lumped in with the 'naughty kids' and she feels that she is being if that makes sense.

I contacted the SENCO and they said they can try to help with organisation but so far the strategies they've tried haven't worked out (planner, she loses it, forgets to write in it etc)

AIBU to think that she is basically being given detention because she has autism? Should the school be doing more to help?

Yes they should. My eldest had most of his homework stopped and never got detentions for not doing the bits he did have.

Does the school have a online homework portal that can be logged into? Could SENCO perhaps assign an LSA to obtain a copy of DDs homework from teaching staff? i have students that really struggle with planners and organisation and try to liaise with SENCO to ensure they can access homework outside of school. Having said that it is difficult to find time and staff shortages particularly with learning support is a massive issue. Could you loaded with DD tutor?

*Liase

I give up with auto predict!

My son is the same age also with austim. All his homework is put on an app that I can see and he only has to do the core subjects, he can do more if he wants.
Teachers also check that he has understood the homework, plus the core ones know that sometimes he does it but leaves it in his back so will check with him during the lesson.

She shouldn't suffer or be punished because they don't have the staff to provide the support she needs and deserves. That's their fault not hers.

It's unacceptable. I wouldn't tolerate it.

They need to try some more strategies then. There’s lots they could be doing and she shouldn’t be getting detentions for things which are part of her identified additional needs.

All homework to be emailed to you. That is a reasonable adjustment for her disability. I would request that starts now and let the school know how your dd is being effected. Make sure you use the term ‘reasonable adjustment’. I can’t see how they could argue it is unreasonable or not doable.
It will be interesting to see how ma y staff commit the crime of forgetting when emailing you that your dd has been punished for!

YANBU. Clearly the support they have put in place isn't working. I think this kind of thing is the reason why people withASD end up with such low self esteem. If you're repeatedly asked to something you're not able to do and punished for not doing it you're not going to feel great about yourself.

Would she be allowed to take photos of homework? Some schools allow that

We have similar issues with Ds, I have to micromanage him to make sure he has all his stuff. They get a line for any misdemeanour including forgetting equipment. If they get 5 lines they get a detention. School say reasonable adjustments are made for Sen. He gets so anxious about everything. We have to check over and over if he has his stuff. He got a line last week and it jus
T made him angry because he didn’t understand what he had done wrong.
I feel your pain.

Where I work we write the hwk in planners of students who need it (loads of reasons for this- slow writer, organisational skills etc) and we upload it onto a homework website. I don’t think it’s acceptable that the onus is on her to get it written down at all.

You need to point out to the school that punishing your daughter for the effects of her disability is disability discrimination, particularly when they aren't making the necessary reasonable adjustments to help her. If they say they don't have the resources to do so, that is clear evidence that she needs an EHCP, which will bring extra resources if it is properly drafted. If she already has an EHCP, it may need to be amended to include proper support and provision that she is not to be punished for issues such as this.

Schools that operate zero tolerance discipline policies that discriminate against pupils with disabilities are riding for a big fall. I read the other day that lawyers in the field are looking to bring some test cases.

You need to start making noises, that's what I've had to do. Mine was being punished for being autistic and I kicked up a stink about it. Get a meeting organised with senco, tutor, learning support etc and ask what other strategies could be tried, ask who in the LA could come in to observe and advise and keep a record in hard copy of all the detentions, I have them sent via the post so I can keep them in a file.

Sympathies.

Some people here have suggested really good strategies that the school could and should be trying.

I would add a weekly methodology session; it doesn't have to be with someone who specialises in kids with ASD/SEN but could be any teacher that she gets on well with, whom maybe you would have to pay (like you would pay a private tutor) but the payoff could be massive. It would involve sitting down with your daughter once a week and going through the homework diary/online homework portal etc with her, talking through what needs to be done (what can she remember needs to be done, what else is there that she and the teacher/specialist can look up/check together etc), developing your daughter's prioritisation and organisational skills (what needs to be done first? when are you going to do it? etc) and essentially developing a 'homework schedule' in this way that can be added to. ASD kids sometimes respond well to having a schedule/list of tasks to complete. The sessions can also be used to talk through any problems she feels she is having in school with the staff member used as a go-between to liaise with any teachers involved - plus, the staff member is there to encourage your daughter to find strategies to deal with these problems independently. It's a service I used to run in my previous school for kids with ADHD, dyslexia etc in a school with practically non-existent SEN provision, and the kids seemed to do better because of the sessions (if that doesn't sound too arrogant).

My son has some similar issues. I have a copy of timetable . Each night we go through what books are needed for the next day.

Re homework . My Ds got in a mess that he would think he hadn’t got homework as it wasn’t due in for 2 weeks so would say no . Each evening when he gets in he tells me what homework he has . He makes an effort to do it that night ( dependant on how long it takes ) goes into his homework folder that he carries all the time so long as homework is done when it’s asked for he has it done .

His tutor has also emailed all tutors to explain he might need help or prompts to write down homework.

In my Ds’s school I have found Tutor far more useful than Senco.

You've got some excellent advice here. My experience with my DC's school was that they needed constant reminders and they agree strategies and then need chasing before they implemented them.

Of course this shouldn't be necessary but it often is. You may find you need to be all over them. And don't presume because the SENCO has agreed something it will actually be communicated to the teaching staff. 🤔

You need to work with the school. Go back to basics. There are some great organisational tools outhere for asd. Like colour coding subjects in a file, tick lists to ensure she has the books she needs, in box and out box for homework, planners on walls. You may need to go futher and do step by step list of steps on how do do homework.

School need to make reasonable adjustments. Each teacher should be making sure she has her hw written down or having her he emailed to her.

If she has a phone you can get apps to set reminders and help her organise. Also ask the school if she can photograph the homework if the teacher is writing it on the board as she can get it written down due to processing

Can she /you put notice on her door with a tick-list of all the things she needs for the day?

Manycrisps really? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get specialist provision for ASD? Would you say the same to someone in a wheelchair? They're not allowed extra time to get to lessons and have to do pe?

Organise with the school that she only does the core homeworks and the teacher has to write it in her planner, plus no sanctions for lack thereof if she keeps losing her planner. Don’t they have Showmyhomework or similar?

manycrisps
Luckily I don’t know any teachers who view children in this way. We treat children as individuals and we are there to help them all shine and achieve. The OPs daughter is being let down by the systems in her school which can be easily rectified.

^ wins prize for most ignorant and insensitive comment