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Written evidence from Carolyn Canavan

While I’m disinclined to submit another submission again… needs must

1. See a day through my eyes: once we have got the attention of whoever: doctors, educators, social workers, red Indian chiefs… we share our inner fears, hopes and expectations and they sit there and reassure us but, after months of waiting on tenterhooks, we go back and are met with ignorance, as they reach for the WHO ICD10 or the DSMA 5, whichever is to hand: no consistency re diagnoses. It takes over a year, at best, some of my colleagues (parents - they would put doctors lawyers and RICs to shame with their knowledge) have had to wait over 8 years for a diagnosis, by which time it’s too late to implement appropriate interventions (not that many UK … erm… any in the UK know what to do… when faced with an Autism diagnosis).

2. Consequently our children end up in mainstream schools and there lies the problem: successive governments place more value on attainment (grades) than the wellbeing of pupils; so autistic pupils are shovelled off into BESD/PR units and parents withdraw them from ‘schools’ to home educate but many can’t and NT pupils’ mental health is compromised by the schools’ need to perform and be paid for it.

3. How much is thirty pieces of silver worth these days?

Let me tell you: obfuscation, filibustering and downright lies from the mouths of ‘professionals’ at every level.

4. We have written surveys, reports and testified on Autism Boards and what happens - NOTHING!
    
5. I think it is about time you step up to the mark. Stop asking us for evidence - look around you. We’re in prisons; mental health units and many parents cost you a fortune in social care and benefits because you WILL not see what we and our children can do.

6. Cary Canavan

BEd

         Parent

Ex-teacher

Ex-teaching assistant

MEd (autism) University of Birmingham
Author

Cynic

June 2018