Getting in touch
Mhairi is nearly 16 and loves Art and Drama. She’s autistic and goes to a mainstream secondary school. The school said she couldn’t come back for 6th year because of her behaviour in class and that she had also missed a lot of school. Her mum got in touch with My Rights, My Say to get her help.
Meeting someone who listens
An advocacy worker from My Rights, My Say came to Mhairi’s house, where she felt most comfortable. After a few visits, Mhairi shared that school made her very anxious. Her advocacy worker explained that Mhairi had a right to support at school and could stay in school until she was 18 if she wanted.
What Mhairi needs support with
Mhairi shared that at school, she struggled with crowds, sitting next to others, remembering homework, and noisy break times. She felt like some teachers didn’t understand her autism. This made her feel sad and anxious, which led to her missing school and acting out.
Mhairi thought that a calm room she could go to when feeling stressed, and a time-out card to show teachers when she needed a break would be a good idea. She also wanted all her teachers to know she is autistic, so they could support her better.
Sharing Mhairi’s views
With Mhairi’s permission, her advocacy worker spoke to the school and arranged a meeting about Mhairi. Mhairi chose not to go to the meeting but trusted her advocacy worker to share her views.
The advoacy worker met with the deputy head teacher, the head of year and pastoral care teacher and asked for the changes Mhairi wanted. The school agreed and said Mhairi could come back with the right support.
How things changed
Mhairi went back to school. Her teachers were more understanding, and she was able to stay in class longer. She feels more confident now and hopes to go to college one day.