The first year of exams has arrived , and we are into the fourth month of preparation , I say , we , because I consider ourselves to be a team if you like . It has been a long road to get to this stage and I think for my son it feels like just the beginning .
When I think of all the support he has received over the years ,all the different people who have been so involved in his development , I feel somewhat humbled . I am truly amazed at his progress , from the day I was told of his diagnosis to today , he has gone above and beyond mine and many others expectations .
I hope he has had time to catch his breath , I hope that I am able to facilitate that .
Because this is the first year of many , and I don't mind admitting I am feeling the pressure , if as he hopes , he goes on to further education in college or university , it is conceivable that the next 5 or 6 years of his life will be focused around exams . A daunting prospect for any one , for a person with autism it will be a challenge indeed .
I like many other parents feel that the pressure put on children in their first year of exams ( and they are still children ) is too great , almost as if the schools have another agenda , like they have to fill quotas to secure funding . Which is unfair on the pupils .
Even more unfair on the children with autism , as I have mentioned before ' inclusion ' has only been in existence for 15 or so years in the schools in this country , and as such the systems in place are as I see it open for tweaking . Educators I feel should be mindful of the fact that , with autism emotions can be amplified and intensified , I would wager that the majority of 'High Functioning ' autistic pupils are for the most part like icebergs . when it comes to their attitude to exams , we only see 10% of what is actually going on .
But why do our children , autistic or otherwise , have to be put on the treadmill so soon . What is wrong with maybe inspiring the children to do well , rather than pressuring them to do well .The outcome is the same , and with the former I would think their enthusiasm for learning would last long into old age.
