Chamber and committees

Annette Masson submission of 13 September 2021

PE1870/D

It is time that we as parents and Carers are listened to. A whole generation in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and many other areas of Scotland have missed out on education since my petition in 2009 and this cannot be allowed to continue.

Parents should not have to watch their child suffer and their family fall apart before help and support is put in place. Teachers must be taught how to teach Autistic children, not just recognise them.

The Scottish Autism Microsegmentation report shows how money is best spent but it is being ignored. Without accountability councils will continue to ignore Autistic children and try to fit them into the mainstream system. Our children need their needs identified early by trained staff and taught in the way they learn which may not be sitting at a desk. Just being in a class is not inclusion. Let’s get back to basics and make schools and councils accountable without having to go legal and our families being destroyed. Get teachers suitably qualified.