Advice please :autistic child is not allowed to colour in lessons

[Dispairrepair]

Any advice please, my dd is autistic, highly intelligent but can't cope with exams and has started college.
She can't self regulate and talks a lot. One of her coping mechanisms is colouring in and I've been assured in the past by tas and teachers that she is OK with this and can still concentrate but, becomes distracted anyway and will need occasional reminding to keep on task.

She says her new teachers repeatedly ask her to stop colouring?

Is this expected now she is in college or should we expect them to accommodate this need? She finds sitting in one place hard and she fidgets.

@noblegiraffe. You may well say" email them then now it's fine "
But from past experience I know if they have told her to stop repeatedly and I ask them now to stop asking they will likely see that as a direct challenge to their authority and they won't think it's fine.

It's a new college, you don't have past experience of asking the new college.

There's a zillion jobs that don't involve sitting still and listening to someone talk..

I think you need to approach it calmly and early.

Just email politely.

If they react badly you can deal with that, but they might respond well.

It won't be me they react badly too, that's the problem.

I understand your fear, but I think it's unhelpful to your DD not to try to resolve this.

Advocate for your daughter and just tell them - stop over thinking it. If they push back, then deal with that then.

Um, colour in in meetings, because she's a grown up who is capable of multi-tasking? Explain it's a reasonable adjustment?

Absolutely approach them. It's great your daughter has a way to regulate and she should be allowed to use this.

True, I am scarred from years of battling sheer ignorance in the education system. However her last two years at secondary school where an absolute joy. They had a special unit attached and specialist teachers as well.

I guess I had let my guard down especially as this college came so highly recommended. We were not sure if it would be too much for her, she's very bright but also faces so many obstacles.
On the path I have been on with my dd and the world of autism it's very common need to fiddle etc

Have you emailed the college before?

If not, then you need to. I don't see why you wouldn't?

It's very early days in the year, teachers are getting to know students and classes. Without any prior information I'd challenge your DD in a lesson, because I can't have everyone colouring. However once the info came through I'd let her crack on. You can't bitch and moan about something you aren't willing to take any action over.

@Hercisback.. Her ehcp is a novel.

But there's no guarantee her class teachers have seen it yet. That's the point.

Does DD’s EHCP specifically mention colouring in?

I've got a brand new year 12 class. 50% of them are new to the school.

I might know that a student has autism, IF that information has been passed on. When students change schools, information doesn't always get to the people it needs to.

I'd rather get an email now than weeks down the line.

I think the college staff are right to point out that she can't just do as she likes.I agree college isn't mandatory.

I received an email today informing me one of my class has an EHCP and outlining strategies because the information is in the process of being uploaded for all the new students.

It is more likely that the teachers are unaware than that they’ve seen her info and have decided to ignore it.

@MrsHamlet

This is college, there are 10 in the class.

I will wait another week incase the ehcp information hasn't come through. They definitely know she has autism.

Oh OP I feel for you so much. I work in education and it can be hard to remember that each child is somebody's whole world, especially when they are engaging in annoying/ difficult behaviour. You seem afraid that they will "take it out" on your daughter if you are seen to be "that mother". But honestly, handled correctly and promptly, I would prefer to know this now than continually correct her for weeks/ months, and then find out a fairly vital piece of information. An email along the following lines, and sent soon, can only help:
Dear Head of SEN,
Many thanks for helping Daughter to get settled in to College. She has spoken very positively about xyz.
I think this may not have been mentioned in the handover in Month, but Daughter finds it helpful/ necessary to colour in order to cope with change/ stress/ anxiety provoking situations. It appears that this has caused issues in class. We are keen to ensure that this coping strategy causes the minimum of disruption to her teachers. We are happy to provide any materials that will make this quiet and unobtrusive.
Please let me know how we can best proceed so that Daughter's transition to College can continue smoothly. My contact details are email and phone number- if you would like to meet to discuss this or anything else, I am available on...

It might not be mandatory but that doesn't mean OP's daughter shouldn't go

My year 12 has 11.

I still wish the school that child y had come from had told us they're extremely anxious. They didn't.

It's made the start of the year harder for me and for her.

@Viviennemary

With respect this comment sounds like something from the dark ages.
She's not doing as she likes, she is self soothing and using this as a harmless stragety to help her cope in the classroom.

Not only in a presently unfamiliar classroom but also one with new classmates and teachers.

Gosh, I bet that had never crossed OP's mind before you mentioned it!

Only 20% of autistic people are in employment, despite many autistic people being highly able and often highly qualified. Yes, sensory processing differences and the need for simple reasonable adjustments is a huge factor in that disgraceful statistic. Thankfully the culture is gradually improving, and workplaces are beginning to understand that if they apply a little flexibility and intelligence they don't have to exclude autistic workers. There are autistic people in high-level jobs doing valuable work, who do need to doodle or fidget during meetings with the understanding of their colleagues and employers. It requires the neurotypical majority to be open to new ideas and a bit of extra education, which is always an uphill struggle, but it is very slowly improving.

Why can’t she colour in work meetings? Lots of people doodle as pps have said, and I don’t see why colouring would be different. When I’m in teams meetings I sit with my son’s poppit sometimes (can’t be seen though).