Textbook Makes Autistic People ‘Sound Like Toddlers’

The UK education system is, in many respects, ‘not fit for purpose’, as it just gears children ready to gain examination results and obtain pieces of paper, which are only there to prove they can pass exams.

In no way does the UK education system get children ready for life outwith the education system.

Now it appears that some text books are also ‘not fit for purpose’ where will it all end.

For the mentioned text books are not only, ‘not fit for purpose’ but are exceedingly insulting to persons with Autism.

The education system is in dire need of being re-educated and without further delay.

Another aspect of life in the UK which is in dire need of change.

Same Difference

A publisher has said it will conduct an “immediate review” into an A Level textbook accused of being “deeply offensive to autistic people”.

Pearson’s A Level Psychology Revision Guide says children who have “tantrums” due to routine changes may be autistic.

The National Autistic Society called it “misleading” and has urged the publisher to correct the book.

It said: “A meltdown is not a tantrum. It is an intense response to an overwhelming situation.”

The revision guide, aimed at but not approved by the AQA exam board, says some autistic children “like to stick to the same routine, and little changes may trigger tantrums”.

But George, who is autistic and studying A level psychology says: “It makes us sound like toddlers.”

He says: “If that’s how they describe meltdowns what other inaccuracies are there going to be? Calling it ‘tantrum’ feels condescending.”

His concerns are echoed by Tom Purser, Head…

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Autism in children: ‘Many families face council discrimination’ – BBC News

Dozens of English councils discriminate against children with autism, legal experts say.

Source: Autism in children: ‘Many families face council discrimination’ – BBC News

As An Autistic Woman, I Relate To Anne Hegerty’s I’m A Celebrity Struggles | HuffPost UK

Anne Hegerty, most well-known as The Governess from The Chase, has been praised for opening up about being autistic on this season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

Despite getting stuck in on the first day of challenges, after the first trial the quizzer appeared visibly distressed, sobbing after her team failed. Watching Hegerty be comforted by her teammates, who all seemed to be managing the situation well, I instantly related.

Although some members of the public have already criticised Hegerty for what they perceive to be an overreaction to the situation, I recognised as a fellow autistic person how Hegerty might be struggling with the environment – the signs that an autism meltdown might be occurring.

Autism is a developmental disability existing on a spectrum. Every person experiences it differently, but it broadly affects our behaviour, social interactions, communication and the way the we receive sensory input. Sometimes, when overstimulated, autistic people can experience a meltdown, which is an intense reaction to overwhelming environments, a way of coping when the brain is overloaded by distressing stimuli.

The outward signs of an autistic meltdown – which commonly include crying, screaming, shouting, lashing out, kicking, breaking things – can be difficult to differentiate from the tantrums prevalent in reality TV, but are wholly different in nature. They are not about seeking attention, or sympathy, but about dealing with overwhelming emotions.

In a show like I’m A Celebrity, where temper tantrums are a ploy notoriously used to gain the audience’s attention, it will be hard for any autistic contestants like Hegerty not to come under fire when she goes into meltdown, particularly as the public may not recognise the autistic element coming into play.

According to the National Autistic Society, 99.5% of people in the UK have heard of autism, meaning that awareness is at an all-time high. Despite this, only 16% of autistic people and their families think that the public understand autism in a meaningful way.

Source: As An Autistic Woman, I Relate To Anne Hegerty’s I’m A Celebrity Struggles | HuffPost UK

World Autism Awareness Week: Video highlights difficulties autistic people face on public transport | DisabledGo News and Blog

Travelling on public transport can be pretty stressful at the best of times.

However, for someone who is autistic, venturing on their everyday commute and facing the unknown can be an incredibly overwhelming experience.

The National Autistic Society has released a video called Diverted that shows a young autistic woman trying to remain calm while on a train surrounded by other people.

The video illustrates how things such as loud noises, flashing lights and accidental knocks with fellow passengers can trigger emotive responses from an autistic individual.

It’s been released as part of the National Autistic Society’s “Too Much Information” campaign to mark World Autism Awareness Week, which is taking place this year from March 26 until April 2.

The person cast in the lead role of the video is Saskia Lupin, a 21-year-old aspiring actor from Brighton.

Lupin is autistic and personally finds travelling on public transport extremely tough.

“I struggle a lot with the unexpected changes that can take place: they make me feel anxious, they make me panic, they make me angry but overall I feel confused, like I can’t do anything and all sense of rationality is lost,” she wrote for the Huffington Post.

 

Source: World Autism Awareness Week: Video highlights difficulties autistic people face on public transport | DisabledGo News and Blog

Autism patients: GPs in England urged to keep register | DisabledGo News and Blog

GPs in England are being encouraged to keep a register of patients with autism in order to improve the care they receive. Health chiefs say a register would alert GPs to the specific needs of adults and children with autism and help tailor services for them. The National Autistic Society said it would “help improve the health and wellbeing of autistic people”. But getting a quick diagnosis was still an issue, a child autism charity said. Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. GPs in England already keep a register of patients with learning disabilities, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence thinks patients with autism should be easily identified by healthcare professionals too. NICE says a register – which would be anonymous outside a patient’s surgery – would help staff to adapt their approach to suit patients’ needs. For example, doctors

Source: Autism patients: GPs in England urged to keep register | DisabledGo News and Blog

Jared O’Mara calls for action on bullying and harassment by MPs – Black Triangle Campaign

A newly-elected disabled MP is calling for action to address the bullying and harassment he has witnessed in the House of Commons, in a bid to introduce a new culture of “decorum and professionalism” into parliament.

Jared O’Mara has previously spoken to Disability News Service (DNS) about some of the access barriers he has faced in parliament since he defeated former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to win the Sheffield Hallam seat in June.

Now he is calling on the House of Commons to draw up a policy on bullying and harassment by MPs, and to carry out a regular access audit of the parliamentary estate.

Many disabled people were appalled when O’Mara – who is unable to stand for longer than five or 10 minutes – described earlier this month how he had been unable to attend a couple of debates in the main Commons chamber because there were no seats available.

But he has now told DNS that he wants the parliamentary authorities to introduce an anti-bullying and harassment policy that would prevent the kind of behaviour he has witnessed in the Commons chamber.

He said he had not been bullied or harassed directly, but had been affected by the comments and “jeering” directed against male MPs who have taken advantage of new rules allowing them not to wear ties.

The new rules are believed to have been introduced by the Commons speaker, John Bercow, after O’Mara made it clear he was unable to wear a buttoned shirt and tie because of his impairment.

All male MPs are now allowed to speak in the Commons chamber without wearing a tie, while O’Mara has also been allowed to wear a tee-shirt under a jacket.

But O’Mara said that comments made by the transport minister, John Hayes, who warned that he would refuse to take interventions from any male MPs who were not wearing ties, had made him feel “really upset and uncomfortable”.

He said he had taken these comments as “harassment”, even though they were not directed at him.

A spokesman for Hayes had failed to respond to a request for a comment by noon today (Thursday).

O’Mara said: “There has been other jeering when MPs have been not wearing a tie. It’s Neanderthal and bestial.”

He said he was also disturbed by the general “heckling and shouting” at fellow MPs that takes place in the Commons chamber during debates.

He said: “That comes under that umbrella of bullying and something I would like to take up, so people are more civilised while in the chamber and so they don’t make other people uncomfortable.”

He said that this kind of “very shrill, aggressive, intimidating environment” could cause problems for MPs who have

 

Source: Jared O’Mara calls for action on bullying and harassment by MPs – Black Triangle Campaign

Diary of an imperfect mum: Parenting from a Special Perspective: A blog about Raising my Autistic Son

Ever wondered what it is really like to parent from a special perspective? Parent to a Special Needs Child? Where do you turn for help? What challenges do you face? What has surprised you? What have you learned? Every month I will be featuring one of my brilliant fellow SEND bloggers and sharing their reflections on raising a child with special needs.

Welcome Lynne to Diary of an Imperfect Mum. Lynne blogs over at A blog about Raising my Autistic Son. Lynne is married to Nick and they have four children. Their eldest teenage son is on the autistic spectrum. Family life is hectic and funny – friends often comment that they feel they have been in a sitcom following a visit! Lynne is also a Speech and Language Therapist.

 

Source: Diary of an imperfect mum: Parenting from a Special Perspective: A blog about Raising my Autistic Son

The struggle against autism discrimination – Bexhill Observer

In recent months, Jay Brewerton has been banned from the same fast food outlet twice, refused service in a cafe and asked to leave various shops, all because of her disabled six-year-old son.

Source: The struggle against autism discrimination – Bexhill Observer

National Autistic Society video shows how everyday sounds can be unbearable | Daily Mail Online

People with autism may suffer sensory sensitivity – where their sense are heightened or numbed. A video by the National Autistic Society shows what it is like to experience hypersensitive sound.

Source: National Autistic Society video shows how everyday sounds can be unbearable | Daily Mail Online

Supporting children with autism | Bank Workers Charity

Source: Supporting children with autism | Bank Workers Charity