Taking him out of school sept 2023

Sharing Our Journey

I’ve decided to share our journey because it might help someone else out there, and right now, my life revolves around helping my son with autism.

Life at Home

At the moment, we are at home with no school and no real support or help for Johnny.

Johnny’s Progress

Johnny is 12 now. He was nonverbal at an early age, but he’s come so far since then. With the right school placement and the help he deserves, he could have progressed even further.

Early Intervention and PECS

I remember asking his first early intervention teacher if he’d ever talk, and was told he had a 40% chance by using PECS (picture cards).

Johnny’s Love for Talking

Now, I can’t get him to stop talking! He’s such a clever boy.

Struggles with the School System

He used to really enjoy the school experience, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case in recent years. The harder Johnny found the school setting, the less help was available. We kept hearing, “We don’t have the supports” or “We don’t have the facilities!”

Unanswered Questions

Why are children being pushed into situations that are clearly too challenging for them?

Why are children sitting at home in Ireland right now because there are no suitable placements?

And who is accountable?

Double Standards

If I chose to keep a mainstream child at home, I’d have Tusla and the courts to answer to!

Private Conversations About Public Issues

I’m tired of having private conversations about public, everyday important issues concerning our children.

Deciding to Homeschool

In September of 2023, after years of stress with schools and watching my son regress, I had no choice but to teach him at home.

Challenges with Home Tuition

We were told we could get home tuition, but because of his age, we could only get about 5 hours per week. Finding a suitable teacher was impossible.

Taking Matters into My Own Hands

After wasting more time on this process, I decided I needed to do it myself. The only person losing out with all these hopeless adult bureaucracy solutions was Johnny!

A Mother’s Unique Bond

Nobody knows my son like I do. Nobody can communicate with my son like I can. And nobody can love my son or see him for who he truly is like I, his mother, can.

Advice for Other Parents

What I’m trying to say is, don’t keep waiting on people who don’t know your child like you do to give you all the advice you need.

Understanding Your Child

Every child is different, but nobody will ever understand them like a parent does.

The Journey is Worth It

It’s not an easy journey, but it’s worth doing your own research and finding what’s best for your child.

Learning at Home

Johnny may not engage in school, but he enjoys learning at home. So, I’ll keep building on that any way I can until he is ready for the world.