My Role As A Parent With A Child With

Autism
Transcript of my speech for the staff at our
presentation (fictional).
Good morning everyone,
For those of you who dont know me my name is Leta
Smith, I am the parent of John Smith. I am also in my
final year of a teaching degree so I am not totally green
to the curriculum, government policies, or working in a
classroom nor am I by any standard an expert on
Autism.
I have been asked here today by your principal, Mrs
Dwyer and my sons teacher, Miss Howard, to help
contribute to this presentation on Autism for you all. I
will mainly talk about my life with John and what it is
like for me as a parent. Towards the end of my talk I will
try to tell you how it might feel for him.
You should all hopefully by now, have an idea on what
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from watching the,
what is Autism page of this presentation.
I would like to begin by referring to a reading I recently
read at University about a book chapter called Schools,
systems and Students with Diverse Needs, written by
Robert Conway. Conway says, Catering for diversity
requires a considered response to overcome barriers to
change. These barriers include personal, barriers from
teachers, students, and parents, organisational barriers
resulting from school management and physical
constraints, and external barriers. Conway, (2005).

The sheer fact that we are all here looking at this

presentation means we are already beginning to break
down any barriers. Barriers, I believe are caused when
people dont understand or are afraid of something, in
this case change or commitment or even our own
personal beliefs. We are all here now to learn about the
many facets of Autism and how we can best cater for
our students and children. Conway also goes on to
write that the best way to cater for student diversity is
through a whole school approach. That means teachers
talking with parents and students, students talking to
teachers, principals talking with communities, students,
health care professionals, everyone is involved. This is
what is needed today to bring together our future
leaders, no matter what the circumstances may be.
This brings to mind the saying It takes a village to
raise a child. Well in my mind and in a whole school
approach that is definitely true.
Firstly,please dont be afraid if someone like my son is
going to be in your class, youre probably going to learn
as much from him as he will from you. If you believe we
never stop learning and that learning is circular you will
gain a lot from the experience.
I do not know if any of you are familiar with the
Salamanca Statement. The Salamanca Statement was
a world conference held in Spain in 1994 it is a
framework for action on special needs education. The
main gist of this conference was that special needs
children should not be segregated from main stream
schooling. It goes on to state that all children should be
provided equal educational opportunities and that

additional support and assistance should be provided to

children if and when it is required. The statement
continues to say that we as a society should also look
to employing more teachers with disabilities.
Salamanca Statement (1994). This allows the students
to interact with adults with disabilities who have
achieved success. This creates great role models and
allows children without disabilities to be exposed to
what people with disabilities can achieve. We learn to
see the person and not the disability at an early age.
We focus on who they are and what they do and not
their disability and what they cant do, because we are
exposed to such diversity. The Salamanca Statement is
however, not legally binding unlike the Federal
Discrimination Law.
The Federal Discrimination law makes it illegal to
discriminate against anyone with a disability. The
Disability Discrimination Act makes it illegal to
discriminate in many areas of life one of which being
education. It is illegal to discriminate against a disabled
person or their carer. Disability Act (2009). This means
that a child who has Autism and their family have the
right to the same education, free from bias or
harassment as a typically developing child and their
family have. I have linked the web site here as this law
is so involved that we couldnt possibly cover all the
facets in the time we have.
www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/legal/federal-discrimination-law-2011

I have found there are many laws, papers and

conventions about discrimination of people with
disability. The truth is, as I see it as a parent;

sometimes in life you can use these laws and

statements to better your situation for your child. Laws
make people accountable and set acceptable, equality
for all people. For example if your childs (EAP)
Education Adjustment Plan has expired the school is in
breach of the law. This can be used as incentive to
continually update and maintain professional
standards.

I will now firstly outline some legal and ethical rights as

I see them as a parent.

Secondly, I will look at the UN Convention on the rights

of the child and how they affect us in the education
setting.
Article 23 states that children have the right to special
education and care if they have a disability.
What is disability discrimination?
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/know-yourrights-disability-discrimination
Disability discrimination is when a person with a
disability is treated less favorably than a person without
the disability in the same or similar circumstances.

People who are relatives, friends and carers of people

with a disability are also protected by the Disability
Discrimination Act.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommendations from a parent:
1. Firstly please do not be afraid if you are told you have a child with
autism starting next week in your class.
2. Greet the family with a smile, if possible try and set up a meeting with
them a couple of days before school starts, preferably in your classroom.
3. Read books, watch you tube clips, ask questions, educate yourself.
4. Swap email addresses with the parents straight away.
5. If you are comfortable with it, ask or invite the parent to the classroom to
help where possible.
6. Have a printed copy of your class schedule at the ready and give it to the
parents.
7. Presume nothing. I have been to schools where adults and children alike
have herd that your child has Autism and decided for them selves that
he/she will be an under achiever and not very bright or unable to contribute
much. After they have met my child they realise he is actually very
pleasant, generous, bright in some areas and completely confused in
others, but a complete joy to work with.
8. Don't be afraid to ask me questions, or assume I don't understand I know
my child better than anyone.
9. Do not judge.
10. Keep schedules the same. If you are planning an excursion let us know
a couple of weeks in advance, sometimes change will cause anxiety.
11. Allow for diversity, for example my child can type amazingly but has
trouble writing hand written letters. If he isn't writing the story how you have
directed him try letting him type it.
12. Try your best to keep eye contact with him.
13. Set reachable goals, then expect them to be met, Do not settle for
second best, push my child like you would any other, expect a high
standard of work and that is what you will get.
14. Do not be to proud or afraid to ask for help I have had to many times.
15. Last but not least have fun with it, when it is fun that is when the true
learning experiences happen. Leta Anne Smith

Please go in here and complete your recommendations and change it

into your colour, cheers Leta hope you are all moving along well and
that all I have done so far has helped.