Help needed! I may be going to do a talk in a secondary school!

[HecateGoddessOfTheNight]

I am not quite sure how it's happened

My dad is doing some work in a secondary school. One of their pupils, who happens to have autism, was beaten up in the playground

The school want to raise autism awareness.

My dad pointed them in my direction.

I thought they might want some general information, advice on maybe organisations and stuff like that.

Just got back in and my husband tells me the head phoned. He seems to be wanting me to go in and hold some sort of bloody assembly!

So. What would you want other children to know or to understand?
Do you have any resources you could link to that I could use?
Anything?
Actually, preferably details of a speaker I could send instead!

I completely forgot to phone him I will call him tomorrow and let you know what he says.

Hi
I would go for the hidden disabilities route. ie, would you bully someone in a wheelchair, would you bully someone who has downs syndrome. Kids genuinly don't realise that someone who is odd and quirky has a disability. I would make it very personal and talk about your chilldren't autistic day. Talk about lights, feelings, scratchy labels, all of that. If you send me a message I can send you a presentation I did for teachers at our school (the one I teach at) based on All Cat's Have Asperger's Syndrome. ripped a bit from the book but amusing slides, etc.

pmed you, flyingmum.

Head got back to me this evening. He does want me to participate in the assemblies.

plural.

Keep the links and presentations coming darling wonderful fabulous people

change of plan. They phoned again this morning. They are going to do lesson instead.

smaller groups, more interaction, more discussion.

I am much happier with this!

I am going in tomorrow to talk to the teacher who will be doing it, and giving them some ideas and insight.

Well, as far as I can. I don't claim to be the world's authority on autism.

A much better idea. Please let us know how you get on.

that sounds less daunting. and a good chance for the kids to ask genuine questions too if it's a less formal setting.

hiya.

Well, I had the meeting. The teacher LOVED all your my ideas and is going to turn everything I gave him into what he feels will be a really great lesson. They don't need me for the lessons

But I did say that change starts with the staff, so they should deliver the lesson to the staff too. Which he loved. And he is going to push the head to include it during an inset day. Which he does want me to go to and be part of.

I said I would be happy to, but he must understand I am not an expert on autism. I am an expert on my two children and their autism, and have done a lot of reading etc in order to understand them.

So, I'll be trundling along to an inset day, to educate the educators

Well done Hectate. Hope it all goes well

That's great, Hecate. You've given me the courage to volunteer to train children's services workers for the local council

Keep us posted!