Schools stereotyping autism.

[Beenpo]

Does anyone else find their autistic DCs school stereotypes them? It’s almost as though mine has an autistic child’s checklist and ascribes it to all ASD students.

The reason I post is because I have a 9 year old who is autistic (Asbergers type) and has ADHD. I often find his mainstream school gives him stereotypical autistic traits or blames ‘autism’ in inappropriate situations.

For example, one of my DCs strengths is that they are very flexible and adaptable. They do not mind routine change, if anything we are all a little chaotic in our family (I have ADHD). Today, my DC was upset as something had happened with their friends at school. When the class teacher spoke to me about it, they kept insisting that my DC was upset and reacted in the way they had because ‘Christmas was coming up which is unsettling for autistic people.’ The teacher couldn’t tell me what the actual situation was that had occurred with my DC and their friends, they just kept saying ‘you know your DC’s struggles, it’s that time of year.’

My DC is incredibly happy go lucky,
flexible, adaptable… can’t wait for Christmas and New Year!!

On another occasion they blamed routine change on mufti day for my DCs upset, when actually another child had been mean to them.

Does anyone else find this an issue with their child’s school or other people?

@CroccyWoccy You could be describing my DC. Very adaptable, very flexible, always has been since being a baby. More so than his peers who may whinge or whine or moan in a new environment, for my DC it’s water off a ducks back.

I think the ADHD can mask the ASD and vice versa. My DC presents much more ADHD.

@BadSpellaSpellaSpella ha everyone always asks about maths. I turned around once and asked if he'd be good because he's Asian or autistic...that soon shut that person up.

Sorry for derailing your thread, but what are their ASD traits if you don't mind me asking?

Edit - that was supposed to quote @Beenpo

I think this sterotyping is encouraged by the way a lot of support in schools is provided. For example OTs are in such short supply, the LA sends out an OT toolkit of things to try but without the assessment and training of an OT to guide which bits are appropriate. So you end up with children who need to be lifting heavy things to help one of their senses, being offered a tent in the corner as it was on the list and a different child with different needs got on with it. Its the same with SaLT. They get a toolkit.
And with minimal EP input you get stuff like lack of imagination assumed or expectations of being good at maths or art.

@CroccyWoccy According to the psychologist who diagnosed him, he has quite an atypical presentation. My DC has great imagination, is chatty, likes engaging with people. Not bothered about routine. Not particularly obsessive beyond what’s ‘normal’. The main thing people notice is his inability to keep still, his hyperactivity and generally how busy he is. ASD ‘traits’ were things like:

• happy to play with others but tends to try to steer the play towards his wants and ‘storyline’. My DC will play what others want too though, it just takes some persuasion / negotiation.
• eye contact is good with people he knows but not always great with new people / strangers.
• will turn away mid conversation - distracted!
• uses vocabulary far beyond his years.
• won’t always say hello or goodbye to people (he is VERY distractible, if he’s doing anything other than concentrating on the conversation at hand you’ve lost him!)
• can’t always read emotions correctly, especially the more subtle ones.

I find it very difficult to separate the ASD from the ADHD to be honest.

Thanks for that - sounds a lot like my DS, though he isn't massively physically hyperactive. In fact it's his chatty, engaged, flexible nature which makes him 'unusual' - it's almost as if he would never think to be anxious or shy or concerned about change because he's engaging with the world on a slightly different plain where those things aren't important.

For instance he's often quite oblivious to "social rules" - he'll just march up to a complete stranger and ask them a question.

@CroccyWoccy Yes, sounds like my DC. Not understanding social appropriateness (which would fall under ASD, but also could be ADHD?!)

What I did find interesting, is when taking ADHD medication, both the ADHD and ASD traits all but disappeared. It was almost as though my DCs brain slowed down enough and focussed enough that they were able to engage in conversation better. He wouldn’t march up to people or be inappropriately inquisitive or be silly when someone was talking to him because his brain had slowed down enough that he was able to think his actions through better.

Sounds like they are peas in a pod! My DS is 9 as well. I also have diagnosed ADHD and find it easier to see ADHD traits in him because they are like me.

Beenpo it is interesting that when on medication both the adhd and asd traits disappeared because I know of several people diagnosed with both as adults who were diagnosed with asd after starting adhd medication because their asd traits were so much more obvious to them once the adhd was under control somewhat. Just goes to show that how we all have different ways of presenting, medication can effect us all in different ways.