Annette and Travis Allan hope the State Government comes good on a promise for a new autism school in the West so that seven-year-old Corey has a better chance for an education. 74685 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Laura Wakely
COREY Allan is probably one of the few kids around the world to dislike putting up the Christmas tree.
As a seven-year-old with Asperger’s, having a new object in his usually tree-less living room is stressful and makes the St Albans’ resident anxious.
Crowds, getting dressed and having lunch without chocolate milk also trigger his anxiety.
Mum Annette said she and dad Travis had always “had a feeling” that her son might have an autism spectrum disorder, but it wasn’t until June this year that he was diagnosed.
Corey had been struggling at school up to the point that the sight of his school uniform would make him vomit and he would beg his parents not to send him to school.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t intelligent enough – Annette describes him as a “computer whiz” – but that the teachers at Corey’s primary school refused to accept his Asperger’s or try to assist him in the classroom.
“We don’t understand why he’s slipped under the radar,” Annette said.
“Everything’s got to be in a routine, time he doesn’t understand, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, he doesn’t understand.
“But no one wanted to help him with any of it. He’s been put in the too hard basket.”
Annette offered to volunteer as Corey’s aide, but the school declined, so she tried to help wherever she could – unpacking his bag at the start of the day and helping him set up.
But she was told she was “smothering” her child and that she had to “let him go”.
Eventually, doctors said Corey was under too much stress and was unable to attend school.
For almost seven months, Annette and Travis tried to negotiate with the school to find a way for Corey to receive an education and get the support he needed but to no avail.
Luckily, Annette and Travis were able to get Corey a spot at the Western Autistic School where he can continue his education – at least until 2012, because the school only caters up to Grade 3 students.
The parents are hoping the Government can come good on their promise to build a P-12 school in the West before that date because they don’t want to have to fight for Corey to get an education.
“I want people to know that mainstream schools don’t always help,” Annette said.
“All the other kids have the right to stay to Year 12, but autistic kids get moved around and that’s one thing they can’t manage, they can’t manage change.”
