Reasonable adjustments and accommodations in schools for autistic pupils, a requested thread. Thread also may show some of the additional everyday difficulties autistic children have to cope with at school. Based on my own experiences. #edutwitter. /1

I had most of these accommodations before I had an autism diagnosis. At that time I had anxiety, refused to go to most lessons, ran away from school many times, and had regular panic attacks. I was diagnosed when I was 16. These are some of the adjustments I had. /2

I was allowed to miss PE and sit in the library instead. I found PE changing rooms too crowded and loud and the smells were too strong. This often triggered panic attacks. The anxiety of PE was too much. Sitting in the library instead helped a lot. /3

I didn’t have to go to assemblies. I found assemblies really difficult because I felt trapped. Even if I sat on the edge I still felt like I couldn’t leave because if I did the whole year would see me leave. I sat in the library instead. /4

I had weekly mentoring sessions with the pastoral support in yr10/11, a teacher in yr12 and the SENCO in yr 13. This helped a lot with my mental health, talking about managing school work, and helped build a good support system. /5

For exams I had 25% extra time, rest breaks and did them in a small room. I managed the exams in the big hall in year 8 and that was it. After that even the thought of the hall was too much. Especially since I frequently left the room and had panic attacks. /6

Extra time helped me because it can take me longer to process things. I am also quite obsessive over being neat so being able to take longer to write neatly alleviates some anxiety. Rest breaks also helped if I needed a few minutes to breathe and refocus. /7

I had a time out card which meant I could leave the lesson when I needed to. Though I left so much I didn’t really use it after the first few months. It did help though with teachers who didn’t know I could leave. I was able to go and sit in the library to calm down. /8

I used to get so obsessive over my grades/marks that when I reintegrated back into school from hospital we had an agreement that my teachers wouldn’t give me the grade/mark. They would just tell me what I did well and what I could work on. /9

I was allowed my tangle or fidget toys in lessons. They were banned for the rest of the school, other than specific children. This was good as I needed them to fiddle with, but I hated being singled out. /10

I didn’t join in with the school events (because I would have panic attacks, too loud/noisy, unstructured). On sports day I had the day off. Charity fundraiser days I mainly did too. Any year group meetings/activities I didn’t tend to go to. I found them too much to manage. /11

We had seating plans but I was allowed to pick a friend to sit next to. This helped so much with helping me to feel less anxious and more comfortable in class. I was also always sat by the door so I could leave easily if I needed to. /12

We weren’t allowed to use phones at school or listen to music but I was allowed to listen to music in the library to help me calm down. This didn’t always work as teachers would tell me off for listening to music and when I tried to explain tell me I was talking back to them. /13

It was also agreed I could text my mum in the toilet if I needed to. I found this reassuring as I often needed to go home because I couldn’t cope or needed to talk to my mum about something. /14

I struggled hugely with wearing tights. They would itch my legs, give my legs rashes and I wouldn’t be able to sit still in them. I was allowed to wear leggings instead, but again this got me in trouble despite carrying a note round in my pocket from my head of year. /15

I was given extensions on deadlines and homework (I think only in sixth form though, due to my mental health) since they knew I always tried my absolute best but sometimes couldn’t cope with the work and needed time off. /16

I had a reduced timetable. I didn’t do PE and I did one less GCSE and A-Level and didn’t go to form, so I came in late and went home early. This helped me manage tiredness a lot and in year 10/11 meant I could have a tutor at home to help me catch up with missed lessons. /17

This is about all I can think of right now, though I’m sure there’s more. My school overall was very, very accommodating and helped me stay in school when I was very close to being pulled out in year 10 and helped me return to school after being in hospital in year 12. /18