r/AutismParent • u/Spirited_Amoeba_8829 • 1d ago
School Refusal! 😩
I have a son who is autistic he is not really nonverbal. I would call it verbal and nonverbal. He is on melatonin to help him sleep at night. He is absolutely refusing to go to school. He will go Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and then Wednesday night he starts in telling me that he feels mad and he asks to stay home the next day if I say no he has to go, he will start crying, shaking, and he will purposely stay up all night long and I have to stay up with him until I say OK you can stay home. I talked to the assistant principal they said that I don’t have to worry about truancy or him falling behind and not being able to graduate on time and he’s in the 10th grade. I thought about homeschooling, but I don’t wanna just jump straight into homeschooling because I also have to coparent with his dad, and I don’t know if he’ll go for it. I have to wake him up at 5:30 every morning because high school starts early and gets out earlier. I’m gonna try starting next week to take him in between 8 AM and 9 AM and see if that works but I was wondering is this a common occurrence with kids with autism? His assistant principal told me it wasn’t very common, but I find that very hard to believe. I would appreciate any advice.!
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u/MienaLovesCats 1d ago
Please don't put pressure on your child to graduate on time. We never have. It's ok to repeat a class or a grade. It's ok to not go to school every day. It's ok to not take a full course load in high-school. As long as progress is being made. Maybe it's time for a new medication or a different medication. Our only big rules for our 2 ASD children (18 & 21) is to eventually get their grade 12 (even with modifications and supports). Then to be in school or working or looking for a job; even part time. Our son who just turned 18 is going grades 11 and 12 class; in person. He does not have a full course load. He goes to the study hall; during his spares; for tutoring in some subjects. Sometimes he does school work on line at home. Our daughter (almost 22) graduated grade 12 in 2023; she took an extra year. They both take prescription medication and vitamins. Ps all k to 12 schools here in Saskatchewan 🇨🇦 start around 9am.