A charity says a secret recording of a teacher ranting at a young boy with autism must have been “deeply distressing” for the child and his family.
The National Autistic Society (NAS) voiced concerns after Lisa-Marie Quinn’s recording of her son Aodhan’s treatment at St Teresa’s Primary School went viral.
Shirelle Stewart of the NAS: a young boy with autism subjected to a teacher’s rant must have found it “deeply distressing”
Shirelle Stewart, director of communications at the NAS in Northern Ireland, said it’s important that schools “understand autism”.
Quinn, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, posted the recording lasting 3 minutes and 20 seconds to YouTube and Facebook.
Teacher yelling
The clip features a teacher yelling at Aodhan to put his shoes back on and telling him to “grow up”. Aodhan, who is now six, was five years old at the time. The clip has achieved more than 200,000 viewings.
Also, Quinn says her son was locked in a classroom at breaktime with a second teacher, who ignored his distress.
Listeners can hear him trying to attract the attention of this teacher. He pleads, “Why don’t you know I’m here?”
Stewart said: “It must have been deeply distressing for Aodhan and his family. We know how hard life can be for autistic people and their families, especially when they feel they are not being understood or getting the support they need.”
Secret recording: Lisa-Marie Quinn and Aodhan, who wore a secret recording device to school
Emotional abuse
On Facebook Quinn said her son’s treatment at the Belfast school amounts to emotional abuse.
Quinn says she approached the school several times over her son’s distress, before sending him in with a recording device.
She says the teacher heard yelling remains at the school, while the staff member who locked Aodhan in the room went on sick leave before retiring.
Northern Ireland’s Education Authority has said it is working with the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools on the complaint.
To listen to the clip click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjDxzfdiOEU.
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Published: 1 July 2017
