So I wanted to write a piece for Autistics Speaking Day. I wrote this blog post that was well over 2100 words, and spoke to the idea of making sure that if a child is different, don't be their first bully. It went far deeper into things than I really feel comfortable talking about in public (not so much about my parents, who despite their faults are/were generally okay, but more about the absolutely hellish experience I had in elementary school – kindergarden through 6th grade. It spoke about involuntary restraint, seclusion, bullying (just about as much by the adults and the system as the kids), acting out violently, and wandering.)
I decided instead to publish this. I drew a helpful map of my old elementary school for non-typical children like I was, so they can easily navigate their days like I was able to. It's not really comprehensive, but it's a start.
(Needless to say, I know exactly what to be hyper vigilant for as my child goes through school. And I know that my child's school nowadays has acceptable procedures for handling many of the issues I dealt with as a kid.)
That's…. a pretty depressing map.
Yeah. I'm not saying the entire experience was hell but when one of the people picking on you is one of your teacher's sons you learn that sometimes self advocacy is really just beating the kid in the face with a snowboot in the middle of the classroom since the grownups won't intervene, knowing your parents will have your back because you asked them the day before what to do when the teacher won't help. "Fight Back!"