Was I being too sensitive here? Pupil with autism

[Freehotchocolate]

I do supply work and I went to a specialist ASD school for a day, it was my first time there.
I was placed to work with a year 7 boy who was non verbal. The boy would become very distressed in certain areas, presumably due to noise or not wanting to do that activity.
Within an hour he had headbutted me, pinched me hard on the arm and whacked me over the back.
I'm not blaming him for it, I know he was frustrated but I didn't feel comfortable at all.
I've worked in a similar setting before but with a 25 year old male. I wasn't informed this man had challenging behaviour beforehand or I would not have accepted the assignment.
He punched me in the face a couple of times and ran upto a child and bit them.
Anyway going back to the boy, I ended up asking the team leader if it was possible to have another staff member support as I felt uncomfortable.
They did swap me which I appreciated, but a couple of staff were then asking me, "Have you never worked in special needs before?"
I do have a lot of SEN experience but I am just not comfortable with challenging behaviours. Part of me feels ashamed to say that, I'm not blaming the children though.
A female colleague told us how the child had bitten her 3 times and broken her skin but she just got on with it.
All for minimum wage too.
I don't know why I feel like I was useless. I haven't had training in physical behaviours but I just couldn't do it.

There's no way on earth a new TA should have been left with a child with such difficult behaviours, particularly without an understanding of behavioural expectations and management policies. However, judging by the phrasing OP has used, I suspect OP was out of their depth.

I am a SEN TA too,
by the way.

Pulling hair is markedly different to having a cranium smashing into you, and being bitten as described.
There are companies out there who sell protective clothing for people who have to deal with aggressive children and adults- specifically anti bite clothing
It’s horrendous that a vulnerable woman was put in this dangerous position.
@Freehotchocolate
I’d leave without delay.
It sounds a chaotic and ill - run place.
A woman ( Middle aged) I know was. TA to an autistic child and was injured so badly she could never return to work. ( Hospital treatment)

Please look after yourself.

@oakleaffy
I know this, I was just providing one example. My son does the reverse headbut, bites, nips and punches. I wouldnt want him placed with someone without suitable training as I would worry about them. He also wouldn't be able to cope with a new person.

I was a SEN TA. I think the school have let you both down- a child with challenging behaviours like that needs someone who knows them as a one to one, or at the very least a very careful handover. He was never going to manage well in a loud area with a supply TA he doesn’t know.

That said, I do think if you’re not ok with challenging behaviour you’re probably not suited to working with SEN. It is hard to deal with- nobody finds it easy- but that behaviour is communication and finding ways to manage and understand that is part of the role.

Thanks for explaining “ Reverse headbutt”
Glasgow Kisses are infamous .

Seems like the institution that OP is in is very poorly run and chaotic.

Funding cuts are likely to blame.

Any staff member at risk of assault needs protective clothing.

Some of the stories on here are very alarming, of staff being repeatedly assaulted by children and adults.

Who could cope with that level of trauma?

Also- Assume if kids are out of control, they are assaulting other students.

It depends on the situation, but same as any challenging behaviour you need to work out why it's happening in the first instance and then de-escalate it as best you can. It's not the nicest to hear but a lot of times when things get out of hand and workers get hurt it's because they've inadvertently triggered the young person/missed cues to back off/ have done the opposite of what training would recommend you do with the best of intentions. In that particular scenario I had just met the person for the first time and had accidentally both triggered them and missed a cue to back off when I reflected on it later. Thankfully I was able to work out where they were at in the moment, calm them down and reassure them and then get myself to a safer place. That's why staff consistency and training is so key along with really thorough handovers and support for new staff.

All for minimum wage at that.