Mr D Brian
@dbrian2.bsky.social
UK primary teacher. Interested in fairness/outcomes for all children.
epilepsy. No reply... I'd also add that simply "taking control" and saying no when autistic children are in a state of distress is, in my personal experience, dangerous. But the MH professionals don't have to manage the years of mental illness that follow, do they?
October 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
epilepsy. No reply... I'd also add that simply "taking control" and saying no when autistic children are in a state of distress is, in my personal experience, dangerous. But the MH professionals don't have to manage the years of mental illness that follow, do they?
October 4, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Recently read Caro Giles book, Unschooled. "When children are forced to deteriorate to such a poorly state, recovery is harder to manage and becomes a much longer process than it needs to be... A sick child cannot learn."
October 4, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Recently read Caro Giles book, Unschooled. "When children are forced to deteriorate to such a poorly state, recovery is harder to manage and becomes a much longer process than it needs to be... A sick child cannot learn."
Wonder if I can use this in my next digital citizenship lesson...
September 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Wonder if I can use this in my next digital citizenship lesson...
The strategy advocated here about parents taking charge really bothers me. Not only is it facile, but I've seen it backfire spectacularly with families being left to pick up the pieces.
September 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
The strategy advocated here about parents taking charge really bothers me. Not only is it facile, but I've seen it backfire spectacularly with families being left to pick up the pieces.
Timely and important book that covers/uncovers the difficulties/trauma experienced by families when they are blamed for the illnesses/disabilities of their children. Plenty of coverage of false FII allegations. Parents of children failed by the SEND system will find the content all too familiar.
August 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Timely and important book that covers/uncovers the difficulties/trauma experienced by families when they are blamed for the illnesses/disabilities of their children. Plenty of coverage of false FII allegations. Parents of children failed by the SEND system will find the content all too familiar.
Really enjoyed the real-life stories paired with wider context in this book, but mostly, and unexpectedly, the opportunity to reappraise my teenage years. Also, made me think about how well we prepare and support our children through this stage of life. Also, much is made of school as the stage /1
July 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Really enjoyed the real-life stories paired with wider context in this book, but mostly, and unexpectedly, the opportunity to reappraise my teenage years. Also, made me think about how well we prepare and support our children through this stage of life. Also, much is made of school as the stage /1
CW suicide: just in case part of this blog was a response to me. Pointing out suicide stats amongst autistic people is a reasonable response to O'Sullivan's book. For some of us, managing this risk, as a direct consequence of failures in our education/SEND/MH system is very real.
June 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
CW suicide: just in case part of this blog was a response to me. Pointing out suicide stats amongst autistic people is a reasonable response to O'Sullivan's book. For some of us, managing this risk, as a direct consequence of failures in our education/SEND/MH system is very real.
I often think about this...
June 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I often think about this...
Perhaps you can help me. This seems to be linking a rise in EHCPs with a rise in diagnosis but EHCPs are assigned on the basis of need, not diagnosis, as is the SEND register.
May 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Perhaps you can help me. This seems to be linking a rise in EHCPs with a rise in diagnosis but EHCPs are assigned on the basis of need, not diagnosis, as is the SEND register.
Interesting to note that @pepsmccrea.bsky.social is concerned that autistic children receive disproportionate support and that this is unfair. The research team clearly didn't ask me 😂
May 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Interesting to note that @pepsmccrea.bsky.social is concerned that autistic children receive disproportionate support and that this is unfair. The research team clearly didn't ask me 😂
What fresh hell is this? As a teacher, it's a no. As a parent of a child with severe MH problems, it's hell no!!! We've done the resilience thing and that's why we're in the hole we're in...
May 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
What fresh hell is this? As a teacher, it's a no. As a parent of a child with severe MH problems, it's hell no!!! We've done the resilience thing and that's why we're in the hole we're in...
I read this tonight from 1971 - the language has dated and our understanding has improved, but that last sentence still holds true for too many in our community.
April 28, 2025 at 10:26 PM
I read this tonight from 1971 - the language has dated and our understanding has improved, but that last sentence still holds true for too many in our community.
3. Here is a wish list from Luke Beardon's latest book - autonomy is a big deal for some kids. The only person I ever hear talking about autodidactic learning is Naomi Fisher...
April 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
3. Here is a wish list from Luke Beardon's latest book - autonomy is a big deal for some kids. The only person I ever hear talking about autodidactic learning is Naomi Fisher...
Lots of great choices. I'm particularly interested in the well-being of autistic young people and found this book, featuring a range of voices, to be excellent.
April 11, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Lots of great choices. I'm particularly interested in the well-being of autistic young people and found this book, featuring a range of voices, to be excellent.
Not sure what "mild" autism is, but autism without a learning difficulty can still require careful management. Without this context, discussion of over dx is irresponsible.
March 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Not sure what "mild" autism is, but autism without a learning difficulty can still require careful management. Without this context, discussion of over dx is irresponsible.
Not to mention adult services.
March 17, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Not to mention adult services.
over representation of autistic children in inpatient CAMHS. /4
March 17, 2025 at 5:42 AM
over representation of autistic children in inpatient CAMHS. /4
The suicide rate amongst autistic people is very high, esp in females. There's a lot that is not well understood, but we think that masking contributes to this, and, while this is more prevalent amongst girls, boys do it, too, and it is exhausting. I suspect that this is a key reason behind the /3
March 17, 2025 at 5:38 AM
The suicide rate amongst autistic people is very high, esp in females. There's a lot that is not well understood, but we think that masking contributes to this, and, while this is more prevalent amongst girls, boys do it, too, and it is exhausting. I suspect that this is a key reason behind the /3
This was the local picture from a survey, last year. CW suicide.
February 7, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This was the local picture from a survey, last year. CW suicide.
Thanks for giving this the attention it deserves, Sam. It's a story that, far from being an isolated case, is part of a broader pattern of devastating outcomes for autistic children and their families.
February 7, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Thanks for giving this the attention it deserves, Sam. It's a story that, far from being an isolated case, is part of a broader pattern of devastating outcomes for autistic children and their families.
Just before we went out, my son took this picture of the dog.
January 12, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Just before we went out, my son took this picture of the dog.
Been meaning to read this for years. A whacky jumble of ideas that reminded me of the stories that kids write where they flip quickly from one exciting adventure to the next and you sense how much they enjoyed writing it. Ending was lame, though. Still, loved it. Think the TV show is due a reboot.
January 3, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Been meaning to read this for years. A whacky jumble of ideas that reminded me of the stories that kids write where they flip quickly from one exciting adventure to the next and you sense how much they enjoyed writing it. Ending was lame, though. Still, loved it. Think the TV show is due a reboot.