Parents wouldn't have to fight constantly for basic access to education - a constitutionally enshrined right.

Emotion based school refusal could be greatly reduced. Parents trapped by this (myself included) could work more + need less support from the state through Carers supports

11/11.

Now there are without doubt kids who DO need specialist schools/classes to access education + they should get that.

But the number who would need them could be much smaller if the overall way we teach kids works better for ND kids and neurotypical kids.

10/11

The no. kids with different needs (mostly ND) is rising & the current system is already failing 1000's kids, so I have no confidence the 1000's extra ND friendly spaces needed are ever going to materialize.

9/

And so my son feels othered + stupid + not good enough (his words) because his neurodiversity forces him to stand out + fail *by the school metrics*.

The impact on his self esteem is massive + has knock on effects on other services NOW + IN FUTURE e.g. mental health + disability.

8/x

There's so much that adds up + it's different for every kid.

Please do add more examples here if you want 👇

7/x

- Toilets. He has written off secondary school after seeing the state of the boys toilets on a day visit. He simply won't be able to access toilets (primary school has been just about ok).

- Catholicism. Opted out ND kids are wholly failed (a thread for another day!)

6/x

- His v.literal, black/white way of understanding can leave him confused by broad statements which he needs to explore to figure out (which isn't feasible in large classes)

- IF he gets through a full day, he simply can't carry on at home and do HOMEWORK. It needs to go in the 🗑️ as a concept.

5/x

- He can't follow directions given from the top of the class to a large group

- He is distracted by everything around him from the posters on walls to his friends getting on w/their work

- He struggles with handwriting + presentation (neatness in copies) but is a PRO on a computer. Way ahead.

4/x

My autistic ADHDer is smart as a button in many areas but simply unable to access learning in his school.

He has missed 68% of school so far this year (6th class).

When he does go in, he hates it + DOES. NOT. LEARN.

- The day is too long.

- He can't sit still (even w/movement breaks).

3/x

A FULL SHAKE UP of how all our kids are taught is needed. Many, *not all*, autistic/ND kids are being disabled BY a school environment that can't be just tweaked to become accessible to them. Whereas a new approach to learning, designed with kids of all neurotypes, COULD work for way more.

2/x

And just to be clear, you do not need to dress up the word rapist. "Conor McGregor is a rapist" works just fine.