Army of Autism Awareness Angels - Autism support officers

[72Toria]

Children are the future of SA. Children with ASD would be more likely to reach their full potential if they had significantly more support at school. When a child reaches their full potential they are more likely to NOT be a 'burden' on the welfare system when they are an adult. Autism Support Officers in schools could provide this essential support.

[bec830]

I love this idea !!!! I have 2 children with ASD 1 is currently in a mainstream school and i have contact with his teacher every single day so if there is any issue i can sort it straight away my other child is about to start kindy in janurary which is very scary as he has it worse than my other child so hopefully we can get this great idea into our schools asap

[shellygold5968]

My son has come through the SA school system and due to us biting the bullet and putting him into the Catholic system and paying the larger school fees, he has come through his schooling quite well. But looking at what happens in the schools around us and what is happening even in the Catholic system now, I worry for the future of our kids. Schools receive disability funding for each child they have with disabilities, I don't believe that schools are using this money in the way its intended.

[CrazyMuma1]

I have 2 children with Autism under school age and already i am pertrified for their expereince in the education depatment, My babies deserve the assistance to access the same oppertunites as other children to reach their full potenital and supported in an environent that can provide for their speacial needs. Autism support Officers in schools would mean that my children would have this oppertunity, that they could be recognised for the beautiful, talented people they really are.

[mrslee73]

My sons public primary school failed us miserably. was a a devastating time for us.. we were very lucky that we found the perfect school for us, that happened to be private. so we put ourselves under the financial pressure to make sure he had an understanding and safe environment to learn in. an Autism support officer would have been magical, and a lot more useful than an SSO who has no clue

[MrUdderchaos]

I dont agree with the "special school not suiting ASD students" Theres a massive variation in ASD kid's educational requirements. What works depends on the individual.

The problems we see.

1. Low numbers of special school places making it very difficult to actually get in even if you qualify. having autism doesnt get you in, its needs based

2. Not enough funding for SSO time

3. ASD units exist in adelaide but take only very small numbers of children. This came from the last state election.

[villi2121]

I have an amazing 14yo boy with Autism who appears in this video with his sister who adores him & accepts him for who he is. He has been through so many schools & then homeschooled for 2 years because the school system failed him. We did have angels (schl supp offic) along the way & I am forever grateful. Having an Autism Support Officer would be beneficial for all...teachers, other students and our children who have Autism would have the opportunity to be the best they can be. Vilma Jurkovic

[katzinaru]

lol

[TheTan32]

My 7yr old son is in this video. He struggles with school everyday. He is an intelligent child and loves maths. He struggles with his surroundings like other students noise, touch and smell. He is in a mainstream private school and receives little to no support. A support officer would allow him to reach his full potential. How sad it is that he is not given the chance to become the person he can me because his sensory needs are not understood.

[kjdj3j]

My 11 y/o son is in grade 6. He has pretty much been bullied since kindy, thats 7 1/2 yrs of his short life!

He is 3 years behind academically & receives 1 hr of SSO time per week!!! He suffers from physical conditions such as Migraines, Reflux, Excema, Swollen Glands, Throat infections, Fevers & Panic Attacks that doctors have put down to stress. He spends as much time home as he is too scared to go to school & yet I am told there are no problems with bullying at school.

How is that fair?

[amazingmonkies]

Hi guys.

Although I think Autism Schools have thier place for some kids, not all kids with an ASD are suited to this type of school. I do however think you hit the nail on the head with the Autism Support Officer. I should know as I am living proof that this works. I am the Integration Manager at a mainstream primary school. My sole role is to be the mother hen for my little chicks, many of whom have Autism. We even have a home base within our primary school.

[kjdj3j]

My 17y/o ASD son is in his final year of school. this is the1st year he has fit in & been accepted by his peers & teachers. The 1st year that he hasnt been bullied. The 1st year he isnt "that kid". The 1st year he has friends. The 1st year he hasnt been beaten up. The 1st year he hasnt been suspended. The 1st year he hasnt been afraid to go to school.

How fair is it that it has taken 14 years to have his first year of real school

[fiorachristou]

@kjdj3j That is so sad and totally unacceptable. I can only imagine the trauma he has had to deal with. It angers me to the point that I become irrational when I hear stories like this. Politicians, and in particular the Minister fir education Jay Weatherill need to realise though that these are not "stories" but real lives, real emotions and real needs. My prayers are with you xxx

[MrUdderchaos]

@fiorachristou Minister Jay Weathill is the same minister that raised state funding to reduce AutismSA 2 year wait for diagnosis back in 2006 to what it is now. He has also been recently visiting special needs schools speaking with principals/governing councils and students (not just in Adelaide either)

[kjdj3j]

Each time I see my son in this video I think to myself, he is just a kid, like all of these gorgeous kids. Please just let him be a kid, he deserves a chance like everyone

[Harleycoop1]

My nephew Luka turns 5 in December and it hurts to know how worried my sister is about putting him in a mainstream school. To know a support officer was there would ease all our minds. These beautiful children deserve every chance to live a fulfilling life and school is such a massive part of every child's development.

Please help our children with ASD to learn in a supportive environment!

[212MiaMia]

@Harleycoop1 I hope my fight will make things a little easier for Luka - I will be watching out for him....

[MrsGeorginaB]

My sister and her husband had to sell their house and move to Melbourne where they have no family in order to send their son to a public autism specific school. They tried mainstream with no success and refused to put him in a 'special school' as he has no intellectual disability. They did private therapy for six years before making this decision. WE NEED TO LOBBY OUR POLITICIANS PRIOR TO THE NEXT ELECTION TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. WE NEED PUBLIC AUTISM SPECIFIC SCHOOLS SO PARENTS HAVE OPTIONS.

[sack0001]

I just don't understand how the South Australian Government can spend billions of dollars on 2 Pandas that no one goes and sees, when they could of built an amazing ASD school for that money and helped THOUSANDS of ASD children and their famlies!

Stop wasting money South Australia on things that are WANTS not NEEDS!!!

[ebbygirl85]

This is an actual conversation we had with my sons teacher about the fact that all the kids changed over to new yellow chairs but my ASD son wanted to keep his old green one, the teacher "Are you going to change your chair?" my son "no" her to me "is he Cancerian?" me "no he is autistic" her "oh he must be Cancerian, my son was Cancerian and he didn't like change" We NEED support officers in schools to educate those who are supposed to help and teach our kids this sort of ignorance is not on!

[kerrypoulish]

All of our kids deserve the dignity of support, education, love and care... speak to your MPS... make DEET accountable!

[sack0001]

Keep the comments coming great to hear all of your points of view!! And SHARE SHARE SHARE x

Im glad you all like it!!!

I PROMISE it is my mission to help change things for all your families and mine x

[0769106620]

I use to look after them via creche, they can be intellengant sometimes :

)

[0shezza0]

My ASD son is in a mainstream school where he struggles daily with all aspects of school, due to his limited social understanding, and sensory needs. As a result, he has been a target of bullying all of his school life, and is looked upon by others, including staff, as a difficult, child, who should make more effort to fit in. What my son needs, is a person in his school, that knows his needs, and can advocate for him daily. This would benefit the entire school by taking pressure off the teacher

[0769106620]

Done.:)

[anzy60]

My 12 year old daughter is in a "Special School', which is not ideal, as she doesn't have exposure to 'normal' kid behaviour. We had no acceptable options as the Government keeps ignoring the Autism Epidemic. I want my daughter in a mainstream school, and she would benefit greatly, but it can only happen with Autism support officers in the schools. Thank you Autism Angels for your dedication in making others "Autism Aware".

[anzy60]

My 12 year old daughter is in a "Special School', which is not ideal, as she doesn't have exposure to 'normal' kid behaviour. We had no acceptable options as the Government keeps ignoring the Autism Epidemic. I want my daughter in a mainstream school, and she would benefit greatly, but it can only happen with Autism support officers in the schools. Thank you Autism Angels for your dedication in making others "Autism Aware".

[71rebbecca]

While my 7 year old son is learning maths, reading and writing he is also learning what it feels like to be isolated, rejected and bullied. My 4 year old son will be exposed to all of this too in a year as there are no other options for them. This is not good enough, kids with ASD cant be ignored in the hope that they will just go away. Parents wont let this happen. Thanks Brook, Rebbecca Mercier

[AutismAdventures]

there exists no opening in a special school at this point in time and so our only options are a mainstream placement (normal school setting) or homeschooling. There are a limited amount of places in specialist options and very limited centres, and they are in no equipped to deal with the demand, and with the ASD rate rising yearly, this situation dire. This is unacceptable; our children deserve the right to quality and appropriate education! - Tara Brown

[AutismAdventures]

Well done and thank you to 'Army of Autism Awareness Angels' for bringing this horrendous situation to the attention of the community. I am a mother of two ASD boys (who both feature in this clip), and my eldest son is due to start school in term 4 of this year. He has been assessed by DECS and approved for a special school option, a recommendation that we agree with due to the lack of an ASD specific school in South Australia. Unfortunately, and not uncommonly,

[jenniferhead68]

i certainly hope everyone who watches this will "like" such a wonderful clip, how could we not vote. Well done once again Brooke xx