By MELISSA MEEHAN
A NARRE WARREN South mother says she has been forced to home-school her severely autistic son because the system is letting them down.
Rachael Woolley, a mother of five children – two with special needs, said the special school her twin boys attended was not properly equipped to meet the needs of her son Jake.
Ms Woolley claims that she had no choice but to pull Jake out of Marnabek School in Cranbourne, because they could not provide him with the education she expected.
His twin brother Cooper has a milder form of autism, and remains at the school.
Marnebek is a government special school offering educational and social programs to students aged between five and 18 years of age. All students have been assessed as having a mild, moderate or profound intellectual disability.
Marnebek principal Karen Dauncey said the school catered for students with severe disabilities and challenging behaviours, and was committed to giving all students the very best educational and developmental opportunities.
“Jake has always been – and will continue to be- welcome at our school. It is a decision for parents as to where they choose to send their children to school,” Ms Dauncey said.
“A typical class of early years students has less than 10 students with a full-time teacher, a full-time teacher assistant and also members of our therapy team including a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a music therapist. “Every student has an individualised learning program, specifically tailored to meet the student’s needs.”
While Ms Woolley says she has had no problems with the education Cooper has received, she has been disappointed with the school’s treatment of Jake.
She concedes Jake has some difficult behavioural issues, but maintains the school should have qualified staff and measures in place to deal with his needs.
“Jake was put in a classroom with all the children who were special, but he was the only one with special needs,” Ms Woolley said.
“They could all write and speak – things Jake just can’t do. They just didn’t know how to deal with him.”
Ms Woolley said Jake’s challenging behaviours, including taking his clothes off and anxiety attacks were treated more like he was a naughty child rather than symptoms of his disability.
“I got a call from the school one day saying Jake was in the toilet and wouldn’t come out,” she said.
“So when I get there they hadn’t tried anything, not even a heavy blanket or using pressure points.
“Anyone with experience for autistic children knows they react to things like that.”
When Ms Woolley raised the issues with the school, she said the principal said it might be more beneficial to send Jake to a mainstream school where he could have a one-on-one carer, something Principal Ms Dauncey strongly denies.
“I was just shocked, this school is supposed to be equipped to deal with kids like Jake – to say he might be better off at a mainstream school amazes me,” Ms Woolley said.
