The mother of a child with autism spectrum disorder is “unfortunately not surprised” by New Brunswick’s child and youth advocate’s harsh criticism of schools that exclude too many students with disabilities or mental health issues.
In his report entitled An abandonment policy (New window)published on Thursday, the defender Kelly Lamrock attacks so-called part-day plans.
Students are kept at school for a limited number of hours and assigned to home the rest of the time, often without the proper educational resources.
Kelly Lamrock, advocate for children and youth in New Brunswick, will present her report “A Policy of Abandonment” on school exclusion of students with disabilities or mental disorders on May 30, 2024 in Fredericton.
Photo: Radio Canada
A northern New Brunswick mother agreed to testify about the situation her son experienced. To protect her child’s confidentiality and not expose her to retaliation, Radio-Canada allowed Acadie to speak to this woman on condition of anonymity.
This mother claims that many parents have similar experiences to hers, similar to those reported by the Defender team Kelly Lamrock in his research.
Left to their own devices
The New Brunswicker explained that her son had certain behavior problems in class at the beginning of primary school. H30, and sometimes even earlier”,”text ‘We had to pick him up before noon. On paper, because in reality we often had to pick him up at 10:30 am, and sometimes even earlier”}}”>We had to pick him up before noon. On paper, because in reality we often had to pick him up at 10:30 am, and sometimes even earlier.
she says. It all depended on how his day went.
The school has an evaluation system for this crises
on a scale of 1 to 5. Five: We have to go get him, (the school) has no control over him. They’re not equipped, they’re not equipped, they can’t handle it
the mother explains.
10 to 15minutes. It was just about all we had to go get him”,”text”:We had to go get him. In the middle of a crisis, in the state he was in. We had 10 to 15 minutes. It was pretty much all we had we had to go get him”}}”>We had to go get him. In the middle of a crisis, in the state he was in. We had 10 to 15 minutes. It was pretty much all we had to go get him.
says the mother.
She says that she could count on her employer’s understanding and, for example, could shift her lunch times several times a week due to school, but that this is not the case for all parents.
At home, the mother said that was her and her partner complete
left to their fate. We don’t know what to do, we don’t know where to go.
Lack of resources and stability
The speakers at school are not equipped as they deserve, the mother regrets.
While his son did much better at daycare with an educator who knew him, worked there stably and had developed a good method of approaching him, those involved at school were constantly changing.

This mother decries the lack of resources and staff stability in schools, a key to helping children with special needs.
Photo: Radio Canada
There is no stability. The child often has to adapt to different people. I understand that it is reality, but when you have a child who is on the (autism) spectrum, some adapt better than others.
she says. If you change assistants three times in three months, that’s difficult. There is no relationship of trust, nothing is recorded.
A better inclusion model is possible
The New Brunswicker understands that in the name of integrating all children, the education system wants to keep each of them in a regular classroom. However, she thinks there are better solutions.
2024? This is what I’m wondering. Education can be done anywhere. Inclusion can wear many hats”,”text ‘Is this the only place we can get an education in 2024? This is what I’m wondering. Education can be done anywhere. The recording can wear multiple hats”}}”>Is this the only place where we can get education in 2024? This is what I’m wondering. Education can be done anywhere. Inclusion can wear many hats
explains the mother.
I understand that we want to involve the child in the classroom. On paper it looks good. We currently do not have the resources to realize our ambitions. What we do, we (send) it home if we don’t have the resources on site
she remembers.

The mother believes that we should come up with a new model to ensure that children with special needs receive an education worthy of the name.
Photo: Getty Images/iStock/DONGSEON KIM
She believes that a regional and specialized center, bringing together tools and resources, could be a solution, she believes
For young people, we respect their right to be recorded. He may not be included in the typical school environment (…), he will still have a form of inclusion because he will be with other children, other students who experience his reality, who understand it.
Everyone was a loser
The mother believes this would be a win-win model, as opposed to a harm-to-all approach, which was her experience.
If my son was angry (…), threw chairs because things really didn’t go well, who will help?
she asks. To no one, because we absolutely want him to be in a classroom getting an education.
It didn’t do him any good. It was a disservice to the school staff. It didn’t do the other students any good either.
she decides. They don’t deserve to put up with my son’s mood swings. They also deserve good quality education.
According to the Louis-Philippe report Trozzo