I wasn’t surprised to read Australian Senator Pauline Hanson’s comments supporting the segregation of autistic students yesterday,
“I think that we have more autistic children, yet we are not providing the special classrooms or the schools for these autistic children.
“It is no good saying that we have to allow these kids to feel good about themselves and that we do not want to upset them and make them feel hurt.
“I understand that, but we have to be realistic at times and consider the impact this is having on other children in the classroom.”
I wasn’t surprised because I have heard exactly those words from friends and acquaintances. People who in theory support human rights, and have publicly and privately supported my work in disability rights. People who I know to be good people and good parents.
Sadly, when it comes down to their own child in their classroom, the same people tell me they are frustrated that their child isn’t getting the attention they want them to have. They are frustrated that the teacher seems to be spending more time on Mary or Johnny, the autistic kid, the disabled kid, the ADHD kid, the kid with challenging behaviours. In theory they support inclusion. In practice, they are complaining about Mary and Johnny, and wanting them gone from their classrooms and schools.
When I hear this, coming from people I know, it angers me. I am a parent of three autistic children. My children could be those very children they want out of their children’s classrooms.
I wonder, why isn’t information reaching parents about the clear benefits of children growing up and going to school with students with disabilities?