Parents step onto a new battleground the day their autistic child enters Ontarios public school system.
If they thought the early years searching for a diagnosis and treatment were difficult, they are in for a shock once their son or daughter enters the classroom.
Programs vary from one school board to another, even from school to school. Some teachers are trained to handle an autistic childs outbursts; most are not.
And if problems arise, parents are bounced like ping-pong balls from one education official to another.
When Kelly Fords son Jackson was in elementary school, she received calls almost every day with him screaming in the office. He received no special education support and school staff didnt know how to calm him.
Not until Jackson was in a supportive program at Torontos Earl Grey Senior Public School did he get the help he needed. Jackson was fully integrated in a regular class; his special education teacher gave lessons in social and life skills, and kept in close contact with the family.
He thrived made the honour roll and was class valedictorian at his Grade 8 graduation.
Then, things fell apart again when Jackson, now 14, started high school in September.
There was no support, no training, not enough staffing, said Ford. He still has no help, she says.
We are in absolute crisis here.
Read more from the original source:
The Autism Project: Students with autism fend for themselves