(UK) Barrow: Mother calls for more teacher training after autistic son restrained/arrested

Aug 6, 2018, Mail: Barrow mother calls for greater autism education after son's 'scapegoated' experience http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/walney/Barrow-mother-calls-for-greater-autism-education-after-sons-scapegoated-experience-7abc1b52-5f98-48bd-a2d5-694e9c5b2866-ds A BARROW mother has called for greater education for teachers after her son, who has Aspergers Syndrome, was labelled "disruptive", locked in a room alone and arrested. The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, hopes the experience of her son, who is now 19, leads to a greater awareness of the condition and the needs of children, with a change in national policy urged. She said: "They called him disruptive and they would pin anything they could on him, even if it was another student. "Children with autism often rock on their chairs and make noises when they are not occupied because they can not process emotions properly, but there were incidents where they locked him in a room on his own, pinned him against walls or floors. "There was one occasion where they had him arrested because he panicked and lashed out in fear because a teacher had pinned him down."… "One of the teachers physically hurt him and left a mark, so I took a photo and contacted social services but the school said that there was no evidence and no CCTV. "My son was scapegoated a lot because he is different. There is no support for children with autism at all. … The mother called for an exam on autism for teachers. She said: "Autistic children are maybe a little disruptive by making noises, but there is no knowledge on autism whatsoever round here. "Teachers need to be updated and should do an exam on autism, but any teacher should know that pinning a child down is wrong."