Cork parents concerned about impact of proposed code of conduct on students with autism

One parent at Carrigaline Community Special School said the code 'includes behaviours which are in fact not ‘challenging’ at all. They are behaviours where children are self-regulating, stimming.'

According to national autism charity AsIAm, the codes exhibited a limited awareness of autism, an absence of autistic voices, and often failed to provide reasonable accommodations for students with autism, resulting in exclusionary practices such as reduced timetables, suspensions and in extreme cases the use of physical restraint.

Parents at a special school in Cork have raised concerns over a proposed conduct code they fear will lead to suspensions of students for simply displaying behaviours typical of autistic traits.

Carrigaline Community Special School has asked parents for feedback on a proposed document updating the special school’s policy on appropriate behaviour.