Many autistic adults shudder when recalling school memories.
But why do autistic people suffer so much at school?
Historically, it’s been framed that a) school is above reproach, and b) there’s always something wrong with the child who doesn’t manage, and not the environment.
Some are starting to question that.
A thread 🧵
⬇️
#School #Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #EBSA #ABSA #PDA
@KatyElphinstone This is very thoughtful and you are 100% on all counts. :)
Speaking only from my family’s experience (no data here 😜)…
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. So
In the school environment, the quiet kids and the “high-masking” kids fly under the radar — until social or academic demands increase, and then they suddenly don’t. (This applies not just to autism.)
From a systems point of view, the kids who are squeakier wheels earlier (visible autistic traits) are “easier” as school systems identify them sooner. There are processes for unwanted (to the school) behavior. (These are often not good processes, helpful to the child, but they are processes! 🤦♂️)
Super-maskers are “harder” cases (systemically) as they appear great (meeting behavioral expectations) until suddenly they are stimming or eloping or melting down etc “out of nowhere”. The system flails.
I say “they” but am speaking just for my family and friends’ lived experience and not generalizing to all autistic people everywhere. 😅
@junklight @KatyElphinstone I am sorry! 😅
Part 2 of my rant is:
The more compliant (masking) the child, the less likely they are to get some sort of intervention (could be “help” but not always), and the more likely they are to be blamed for their own undesirable (to the school) feelings and behaviors, then treated with disciplinary measures because they are perceived as suddenly “choosing” to be non -compliant: disruptive, “scary,” “weird”. I know many kids personally who are “high-maskers” (would like a better term for this!) who suddenly can’t do it anymore and the teachers and other kids get freaked out, understandably, as the rapid shift in behavior is confusing and unexpected.
This theory just jelled now; feel free to tell me I’m wrong or block me as I’ve probably offended someone whose experience doesn’t align with mine etc 😅
This tallies with my experience. I mask and cope well until (according to those around me) I don't. That
Is the point I crash and people think I am exaggerating because whatever tipped me over the edge doesn't look that bad to them.
The straw that broke the camels back.
When I flip, it does always seem to be over the tiniest thing. But it's all accumulative.
K.J. Elphinstone
Scott Murray 
Matilda
Petra