Mother of Autistic boy sues school over hi-vis jacket.

Joanne Logan, a mother of 5 children all of whom are on the autistic spectrum, is suing Cherry Lane Primary school. Joanne Logan claims staff there made her son wear a yellow hi-vis bib because he is autistic.

Responding to Ms Logan last year, headteacher Stephen Whitehouse said:

‘The bib is only for medical emergency so that dinner ladies can quickly see the children who need help. This is not something that is used as standard, it is a preventative measure used to identify if something happens.”

Logan stated “Looking back on it I think the classroom teacher mentioned a bib during the week – but I didn’t really think about it, it didn’t click until Charlie said something.”

“I wasn’t informed about this by any means! – They decided to do this and it’s disgusting – it’s discrimination!”. She added: “As far as I’m aware in the mainstream part of the school Charlie is the only child made to wear a bib.”

She added: “I knew during lunch break he’s not always allowed out because he has been accused of hurting the other children, I know there’s an issue there which the school have to work with me on.”

“But they seem to think the best way to deal with it is to make him wear a bib so that teachers know that he’s autistic.”

Responding to Ms Logan last year, headteacher Stephen Whitehouse said:

“The bib is only for medical emergency so that dinner ladies can quickly see the children who need help. This is not something that is used as standard, it is a preventative measure used to identify if something happens.”

“This was a decision with the parent, he had a number of problems with other children, the class teacher had spoken to his mother and suggested that the teacher take appropriate action. We said to the mother, if you do not wish for this to happen, then your child does not need to wear it.”

All in all it seems that Charlie was getting into trouble during play breaks. Perhaps he was being bullied as he is autistic. Or he may have bad reactions in the chaotic environment of the school playground. Indeed Charlie was often not allowed out during lunch due to this. Something that people may label an act of exclusion or discrimination itself.

Charlie obviously needs special care and the jacket was a solution to allow Charlie access while ensuring he didn’t lost in the sea of children. This was presented as an option to an apparently oblivious mother. One who now is suing an establishment that worked to keep her child and the children around him integrated but safe.

The whole issue is being framed as a mark-of-shame conspiracy. In reality, it was more of a, perhaps clumsy, attempt at keeping a child safe and visible in a sea of 700 other kids and letting him integrate. A not great solution to a safety problem during lunch break.

But what other solutions are there? Obviously, there were incidences of violence that lead to this point. Autism itself does not lead to violent behaviour but it makes stress harder to deal with and sadly suffers tend to be bullied much more. So something needs to be done.

• Maybe Charlie can’t function in a mainstream school?
• Perhaps he may have to stay indoors at lunchtime?
• What if he was limited to playing in the same area as the dinner ladies who watch the playground?
• Is it possible to educate Year 1 students to deal with autistic spectrum kids, and expect them to do it well?

What isn’t needed is a mother suing the school after failing to pay attention to proposals put forward by her child’s teachers. Proposals designed to protect her child and the children around him. This kind of action will harm the chances of disabled children who wish to attend mainstream schools by making schools more and more risk averse.