ASD son told he can’t attend camp.

[Pineapple5678]

My son who is 11 has a diagnosis of ASD.
He attends a club at school which is run by teachers and school staff although set up as a private business.
The idea of the club is a bit like cubs/scouts complete challenges charity work environmental end of the year get a certificate.
A camp is happening next month My son has been told he cannot attend due to his inability to follow the leaders instructions and they have to think of all of the children’s safety. This camp has been paid for and I have purchased equipment needed.
A general warning was given to all children regarding behaviour in March and we were spoken about my sons behaviour last month and they said an improvement was needed. There has only been one session since which at the end of I wasn’t spoken to and my son said he felt it went well.
Yesterday I receive a letter saying he cannot attend.
Can they do this ? His inability to follow instruction is directly due to his ASD and processing.

perhaps they don't read the news much: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43519296

They are only obliged to make "reasonable adjustments" to ensure access. If they can justify why they cannot make adjustments so your son can attend, or why those adjustments would be unreasonable, then they can exclude him.

However, they should have consulted with you, discussed possible adjustments and alternative arrangements, and come up with the best possible plan. If his inability to follow instructions would put him or other children at risk, regardless of the cause being his ASD, then it is not safe for him to go.

However, if they are using "health and safety" as an excuse not to make adjustments, then this is not OK.

FWIW, when I was last in the lake district, we met a youth group made up entirely of clearly disabled chidlren and teens on an island in the middle of a lake. So it is very much possible to risk assess even quite challenging out-door trips for multiple different diabilities. Your son's behaviour would have to be very challenging to manage and his own risk awareness be very limited for excluding him to be the answe.