The World Through Their Eyes

Hello Everyone!

We've all heard it. "Why don't you try looking at the world through your brother/sister's eyes? You have no idea how hard it is for them."

The thing is, the people who say this usually don't know someone with Autism personally. These people usually don't take into account how hard it is for the family of those Autistic children. But this time is different.

Bill has just started at a new school.

The other day I decided to take him out for lunch. We sat down at the restaurant, and had a proper conversation. I haven't had a real conversation with Bill in about 2 years.

He told me he finds school hard. He doesn't understand why sometimes he has to put his hand up, but other times he can just call out. If he calls out, he gets in trouble for disturbing the class, but if he puts his hand up he gets in trouble for slowing the class down when he could have just yelled out.

He doesn't understand why he can't just go to the bathroom or get a drink when he needs to. Some teachers make their students wait behind their chairs to be seated, but in other classes if he stays standing he gets yelled at. With some teachers you can walk up to their desk and ask for help, but with others you need to wait for them to come to you.

The reason as to why Autism occurs in people is still unclear, and this makes it very difficult to track the thoughts of Autistic children. I personally don't know why Bill struggles with these things. I never have, but the more I think about it the more I wonder why I don't.

It would be confusing for the policy to speak in class to change every period. It would be difficult to understand why a person who is in control of themselves can't leave class to go to the bathroom when they need to.

Of course, some people don't understand this the way they should. In a Canberra School, a metal cage was used to "calm down" (detain) and Autistic child.

The powder-blue 2mx2mx2m cage was commissioned by the principal and cost the school $5195. The child was locked in the cage on one occassion before the school was ordered to remove it. More information on this case can be found here http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-09/photo-of-cage-used-to-restrain-boy-autism-at-canberra-school/6762404 .

Can you imagine being placed in a metal cage for not understanding how to communicate or use social skills? The "calming cage"is just a metaphor for saying that Autistic children should be caged like wild animals.

If you think you are having trouble handling your sibling, be glad that they get to go to a school environment where they are nurtured and looked after, and not treated like an active volcano, reading for an eruption of anger or sadness at the drop of a hat.

I hope you have a wonderful day (: .

Love,

E.