This is my little boy Malyn, he is 11 years old and has Autism, communication difficulties and sensory issues. Malyn and our family have come a long way through the education system since he was little - firstly attending a special education early years unit aged 3, progressing on to a Special needs school where he overcame huge hurdles to further his speech and communicate with the World around him, and us as a family - it wasn’t until he was 5yrs old that he could say the word ‘Mummy’.
Aged 7 he had improved so greatly that he was able to join the mainstream primary school his older brother also attended - this is where he truly flourished, the children there have all embraced him, and shown a level of friendship and care that always made my heart burst when I witnessed it - it was a small, caring community school which has gone above and beyond to nurture Malyn, if he hadn’t had those children and staff around him these last 4 yrs he wouldn’t have achieved all that he has to be part of our World and local community today.
Despite all this, his recent application for acceptance to attend the same High School as his brother and friends has been rejected - on the basis of his level of mental capacity to achieve academically, rather than the emotional and mental well-being of continuing to stay supported by his friends and brother.
I have been told by certain ‘professionals’ involved in his application and transition that as the High School applied for is renowned for its ‘high achievers’ then perhaps I should be looking at schools with units in them where ‘these children can go’. Malyn has a voice, and wants to go to the same school as his brother and friends. He has rights, for me his emotional and mental well-being far outweighs acedemic achievement. Yes, it wouldn’t be easy, the school would have to ‘think outside the box’ and tailor his curriculum and timetable to his abilities and needs. I keep asking myself, if he was in a wheelchair would they have rejected him? I would like to think not, they would tailor his activities in lessons to his needs - so why are they allowed to discriminate and reject a child who has an impairment of the brain?
We have another review meeting coming up this week and the appeal hoops to jump through, and we would love it if you could help Malyn by being a voice for him, to speak up for the rights of disabled children who can’t speak up for themselves, and fight for Autistic children to be embraced by our community for ALL of their school life, the right to have friends, the right to be included NOT excluded.
All of our children this past year have experienced the emotional trauma of being separated from their friends and school community, felt isolated and alone, in putting your name and support to this petition you can be part of fighting for Malyns right to not be excluded from his community and friends, a year of isolation has been enough for all of our children, but being prevented from progressing into High School with his brother and friends will only result in yet more, potentially life long isolation for Malyn from the community that has so far nurtured him so tenderly.
Please be part of our appeal today, by voicing your support for Malyns basic human rights to Inclusion, friendship, community care, education and acceptance. thank you! x
