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#ADHD & #Autism in the Classroom – an #ActuallyAutistic Teacher’s Perspective (Part 1) 
This is the most raw/painful thread I’ve written. But it needs to be discussed. Bc our education system is broken at a fundamental level.
Our kids are paying the price. 1/
This is the most raw/painful thread I’ve written. But it needs to be discussed. Bc our education system is broken at a fundamental level.
Our kids are paying the price. 1/
In 5yrs of teaching I attended a lot of inservices & workshops. Not one ever discussed #disability, mental health or any type of #neurodivergence. I was not trained to understand anything under that umbrella.
And what I was “told” was so appalling I’m nauseous in hindsight. 2/
And what I was “told” was so appalling I’m nauseous in hindsight. 2/
I taught kids w IEP/504 plans. I had ZERO training on either. Just handed a list of accommodations & told “It’s mostly for when they take tests.”
The IEP kids were sent out any time they needed accommodations (ostracized). The 504 kids just got extra time. That's about it. 3/
The IEP kids were sent out any time they needed accommodations (ostracized). The 504 kids just got extra time. That's about it. 3/
504 was almost always #ADHD. When I first started teaching, ADHD was described to me as “the disruptive boys who can’t sit still. They’ll drive you up the wall haha” (direct quote).
Every single 504 kid I’ve ever taught was male. And I can only think of 2 who were POC. 4/
Every single 504 kid I’ve ever taught was male. And I can only think of 2 who were POC. 4/
On the flipside almost every kid w an IEP was Black. And "IEP" was code for slow, learning disability & much worse.
Most teachers are kind. Some can be incredibly vicious. What gets said in the breakroom while they’re ranting are things no-one should ever say about a child. 5/
Most teachers are kind. Some can be incredibly vicious. What gets said in the breakroom while they’re ranting are things no-one should ever say about a child. 5/
#ADHD looked like what I’d been led to expect. Disorganized, scatterbrained, lazy, disruptive.
I was not taught to think of accommodations as a RIGHT. Teachers instead treat 504 plans as a headache. An inconvenience.
I was brainwashed to see a nuisance. Not a child. 6/
I was not taught to think of accommodations as a RIGHT. Teachers instead treat 504 plans as a headache. An inconvenience.
I was brainwashed to see a nuisance. Not a child. 6/
As far as my understanding of #Autism (at the time) it's just as discriminatory. There's a lot to discuss but I'd like to focus on one kid in particular from my 1st year.
He's so vivid in my memory. A Black 6th grader “diagnosed” w learning disabilities & emotional problems. 7/
He's so vivid in my memory. A Black 6th grader “diagnosed” w learning disabilities & emotional problems. 7/
This kid had uncontrollable fits of rage. Threw a chair at me. Other times shut down. Never looked me in the eyes/face. Flapped his hands so hard against the table they would bruise. Spontaneous vocalizations.
And he was off-the-charts smart w very particular subjects. 8/
And he was off-the-charts smart w very particular subjects. 8/
On Day 1 that kiddo was described to me as a “menace.” He was called a lot of other uglier things. His heads-up card from his 5th grade teacher was a hate manifesto.
In hindsight, that kid was SCREAMING #Autism.
No-one saw it. Not even me, an #ActuallyAutistic adult. 9/
In hindsight, that kid was SCREAMING #Autism.
No-one saw it. Not even me, an #ActuallyAutistic adult. 9/
That kid was fighting a mountain of systemic racism & inequality. The deck was stacked against him.
Admin, guidance counselor & teachers (and ME) riddled w bias. Most had written him off.
And I was too damaged from my own #Autistic trauma to recognize it in someone else. 10/
Admin, guidance counselor & teachers (and ME) riddled w bias. Most had written him off.
And I was too damaged from my own #Autistic trauma to recognize it in someone else. 10/
We ALL failed that kid.
And every other un/mis-diagnosed child who is criticized, shamed or saddled w damaging or wrong labels. Too many are just flat-out invisible.
I know bc I’ve been there. I WAS that undiagnosed kid who nearly died just trying to survive my “education.” 11/
And every other un/mis-diagnosed child who is criticized, shamed or saddled w damaging or wrong labels. Too many are just flat-out invisible.
I know bc I’ve been there. I WAS that undiagnosed kid who nearly died just trying to survive my “education.” 11/
And the “diagnosed” kids? They don’t fare much better. Our society is drowning in stereotypes, tropes & misinformation.
The damage to these kids is catastrophic.
And it creates unqualified teachers like ME who perpetuate that trauma.
The system is broken. 12/12
The damage to these kids is catastrophic.
And it creates unqualified teachers like ME who perpetuate that trauma.
The system is broken. 12/12
Afterthought: That undiagnosed #Autistic kiddo? Was a rough year w him, not gonna lie. But I loved him.On the last day of school he hugged me. That kiddo wrapped his arms around my waist & bear hugged me until I couldn’t breathe.
It still makes me cry. 13/13
Rereading this & just want to clarify. No-one's called me out on it yet but in all fairness someone should have lol.When I said "learning disability" as "worse" I meant that people use it as if it's an insult. Turn it into a weapon of hate. That's NOT my belief.
