Hi all,

My 6yr old son has been diagnosed with mild Asperger Syndrome and is in a mainstream school. He is hyperactive and his teacher sometimes has to separate him from the other children as he's quite disruptive. He gets in to trouble quite often because of his behaviour at school (the school do know he has Aspergers).

My gripe is: I received a letter about the school trip to the London Science Museum yesterday and with it was another standard letter informing me that Harry's behaviour was being monitored and if it didn't improve the school would have to think seriously about letting him go on the trip.

Isn't this discrimination? I understand their problem of trying to control a class full of children and having the responsibility of looking after Harry but surely they can't do this. I am quite willing to go along with him and help out but they didn't even suggest it.

Thought I would get some opinions on this before I go into school all guns blazing!

Thanks

GH

Do they have a behavior plan in place for him on his IEP? If they don't, have they said anything about needing one? If they haven't, they need to. They can't exclude him from activities because they can't work with your son. It is their responsibility to make sure every child has an opportunity to be included in school activities. Unless the child has broken a school rule and is being disciplined or is physically unable to participate, than the school needs step up and do its job. I would go in their guns blazing.

Perhaps you should request to the school that you could go with your son to keep an eye on him, or you will get someone to go (if either of those is a possible option). What I'm getting from this situation is the teachers are thinking about the majority of the students, and they are probably contemplating whether or not your son's behavior might make the field trip an unpleasant experience for everyone else in proximity, or how well he could be kept under control when he's not on school grounds. But, nonetheless, unless your child has done something against school policy that would get him off the trip, the school should at least be making an effort to find a way for him to go, even if he needs someone to hold his hand the whole time.

Hello...I understand your frustration and maybe the school should have been more tactful in their response to your son's behavior, however I also understand them not wanting to take the responsibility of bringing your son if he does not pay attention to instructions and presents himself as a disruption for his saftey purposes only...Your school may not have the resources avaiable to give your son the attention that he needs and may fear that he could possibly become a liability on a trip....The correct response for the school should have been to voice their concerns about his saftey and then suggested that perhaps you did attend....If you are able to go on the trip with him then there should be no problem what so ever..If the school still refuses, then this may be discrimination....I would let the school know that you did not appreciate how they handled this matter, but keep the blazing gun stored in the chest :) Just let them know that you do want your son to be treated fairly, his disability should not disenable him from attenting any trips and that you are willing to work with them towards your son's best interest!!!!

Marissa

Your child has special needs. It is the schools responsibility to be able to have the resources to take care of him. They should have a behavior plan in effect for all situations. Your child should not have to be punished because the school isn't doing their job. I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with the others. I would be calm when approaching the the school but make it clear they need to accomodate your son or pay for your son to attend a school that will. I wouldn't tolerate my son being left out of a field trip through no fault of his own.

If I were you, I would offer to go with

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I'm going in to the school today and perhaps I will keep the blazing gun holstered (to begin with anyway). I am able to go along on the trip with Harry and have done so in the past so I was really upset when I was just given a standard letter that is obviously reserved for the very naughtiest children. I'm going to ask that another, less offensive letter be sent to parents whose children have a disability. I'm also going to ask whether they do have a behaviour plan in action for my son.

Thanks again for your replies, it really helps to to know I'm not the only one who feels the school could have dealt with this better.

GH